translation procedures used by the translator to translate the selected ...... Rudolf
Nababan, Teori Menerjemah Bahasa Inggris (Yogyakarta: Pustaka Pelajar,.
THE TRANSLATION STRATEGY OF CULTURAL WORDS IN LASKAR PELANGI
A Thesis Submitted to Letters and Humanities Faculty in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for The Degree of Strata One
Rizki Gunawan 107026003815
ENGLISH LETTERS DEPARTMENT LETTERS AND HUMANITIES FACULTY STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY OF SYARIF HIDAYATULLAH JAKARTA 2011
THE TRANSLATION STRATEGY OF CULTURAL WORDS IN LASKAR PELANGI
Rizki Gunawan 107026003815
ENGLISH LETTERS DEPARTMENT LETTERS AND HUMANITIES FACULTY STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY OF SYARIFHIDAYATULLAH JAKARTA 2011
ABSTRACT Rizki Gunawan, The Translation Strategy of Cultural Words in Laskar Pelangi. A Thesis: English Letters Department, Letters and Humanities Faculty, State Islamic University of Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, February 2011. In this research, the writer concerns with translation study, that is, the translation strategy in the translation of cultural words in Laskar Pelangi novel translated by Angie Kilbane. The objectives of the research are: (1) to describe translation procedures used by the translator to translate the selected cultural words, (2) to find the most frequently translation strategy applied by the translator in translating the selected cultural words. The writer uses qualitative descriptive method in order to reach the objectives of the research. The writer employs himself to collect data; by reading the novel and its translation, marking the cultural words, classifying, selecting and analyzing them based on the theories of translation procedure and translation strategy which are taken from some relevant references. Findings of this study show that: first, seven procedures are used to render the selected Indonesian cultural words into English include pure borrowing, naturalized borrowing, notes, cultural equivalent, functional equivalent, descriptive equivalent, and reduction; second, the most frequently translation strategy applied is domesticating; third, based on the result of procedure used, it can be classified that pure borrowing and naturalized borrowing are the implementation of foreignizing; notes is neutralizing strategy; while the use of cultural equivalent, functional equivalent, descriptive equivalent, and reduction are the realization of domesticating.
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APPROVEMENT
THE TRANSLATION STRATEGY OF CULTURAL WORDS IN LASKAR PELANGI A Thesis Submitted to Letters and Humanities Faculty in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for The Degree of Strata One
Rizki Gunawan NIM. 107026003815
Approved by:
Drs. H. Abdul Hamid, M.Ed NIP. 150 181 922
ENGLISH LETTERS DEPARTMENT LETTERS AND HUMANITIES FACULTY STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY OF SYARIF HIDAYATULLAH JAKARTA 2011
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DECLARATION I hereby declare that this submission is my own work and that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, it contains no material previously published or written by another person nor material which to a substantial extent has been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma of the university or other institute of higher learning, except where due acknowledgement has been made in text.
Jakarta, February 6, 2011
Rizki Gunawan
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
In the name of Allah, the most gracious, the most merciful
All praises be to Allah SWT, the Lord of Universe, on the overflow of graces and mercies to mankind, who amazingly guides the writer in the process of making this thesis. Peace and Salutation be upon the greatest prophet Muhammad SAW, his family, companions and adherents, who had changed the world from the darkness into the lightness. On this occasion, the writer wants to say many thanks to his beloved parents (Alm. Adi Sumantri and Maiyah), who have kept, taught, advised and prayed for his success. “Thanks, I hope you are proud of my graduation”. The writer also wants to give his gratitude to Mr. Drs. H. Abdul Hamid, M. Ed, as the writer’s advisor for his time, guidance, patience, kindness, contribution in correcting and helping him in finishing his thesis. The writer would like to express his appreciation to the following people, namely: 1. Mr. Dr. H. Abdul Wahid Hasyim, M.Ag, the Dean of Letters and Humanities Faculty, State Islamic University of Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta; 2. Mr. Dr. H. Muhammad Farkhan, M.Pd, the Assistant of Dean of Letters and Humanities Faculty, State Islamic University of Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta;
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3. Mr. Drs. Asep Saefuddin, M.Pd, the Head of English Letters Department and Ms. Elve Oktafiyani, M.Hum, the Secretary of English Letters Department; 4. All lecturers of English Letters Department, especially for Mr. Dr. Frans Sayogie, M.Pd, S.H. and Mrs. Danti Pudjianti, M.Hum who have influenced and inspired the writer to study about translation science; 5. Student Executive Board of English Letters, “ALWAYS BE FOR BROTHERHOOD!”; 6. The writer’s friends in English Letters: Anwar, Sangka, Ilham, Thoriq, Iir, Ichank, Obi, Deden, Nu’man, Yasir, and all of his classmates in the translation class; 7. Special thanks to the writer’s special friend, for all loves and supports; 8. The employers of some University Libraries, especially Atmajaya Library employer, who have helped the writer in finding so many references. 9. To all people and friends that are not mentioned, “Thank you so much”.:-) May Allah, the all-Hearer and all-Knower, always bless’, protects, and gives them more than they have given to the writer. Hopefully, this thesis will be advantageous for all people who read it. Jakarta, February 6, 2011
The Writer
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT
.............................................................................................. i
APPROVEMENT .......................................................................................... ii LEGALIZATION ........................................................................................ iii DECLARATION .......................................................................................... iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENT .............................................................................v TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................. vii LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................ ix LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................x CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION................................................................1 A. Background of the Study..................................................1 B. Focus of the Study............................................................8 C. Research Question............................................................8 D. Significance of the Study .................................................8 E. Research Methodology.....................................................9 1. The Objective of the Research ....................................9 2. The Method of the Research .......................................9 3. Technique of Data Analysis ........................................9 4. Instrument of the Research........................................10 5. Unit of Analysis ........................................................10 6. Time and Place of the Research ................................11
CHAPTER II
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK .................................12 A. Translation......................................................................12 1. Definition of Translation .........................................12
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2. The Process of Translation.......................................14 3. Untranslatability .......................................................17 B. The Procedure of Translation .........................................18 1.
Definition ................................................................18
2.
Kinds of Translation Procedures.............................20
C. The Strategy of Translation............................................26 1.
Definition ................................................................26
2.
Kinds of Translation strategies ...............................27 a.
Foreignizing .........................................................27
b.
Domesticating ......................................................29
c.
Neutralizing..........................................................33
D. Translation of Novel ......................................................34 E. Cultural Words ...............................................................35
CHAPTER III
1.
Definition ...............................................................35
2.
The Types of Cultural Words .................................36
RESEARCH FINDINGS.................................................38 A. Data Description ............................................................38 B. Data Analysis .................................................................40 C. The General Elaboration ................................................58
CHAPTER IV CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION ...........................65 A. Conclusion
.................................................................65
B. Suggestion ......................................................................66 BIBLIOGRAPHY .........................................................................................67 APPENDICES ...............................................................................................71
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LIST OF TABLES
Table 1
: The Data of Cultural Words, Their Classification, the Procedure of Translation, and the Strategy of Translation .............................. 38
Table 2
: The Relation of Translation Procedure to Translation Strategy .................................................................................................... 66
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LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Data Sources.................................................................................. 10 Figure 2: The Process of Translation by Nida & Taber.................................15 Figure 3: The Process of Translation by Larson ............................................16 Figure 4: The Process of Translation by Machali ..........................................17 Figure 5: The Classification of Functional Equivalent Procedure.................24 Figure 6: The Classification of Descriptive Equivalent Procedure................24 Figure 7: The Equality in Conception of Translation Strategy......................32
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CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION
A. Background of the Study
Language is “the system of communication in speech and writing that is used by people of a particular country”.1 All people speak to communicate each other through language, both written and oral. Cartford defines language as a type of pattern of human behavior that is a way in which human beings interacts each other in social situation.2 Language is an object in translation. Without language, translation can not be applied. Translation is a process conducted in language, a process of changing a text in one language into another language. The change consists of some aspects, such as phonetic, grammatical, and semantic. Therefore, a translator must use the theory of language as a footing or the principle that supports him/her. In globalization era, translation is very useful and needed by human. By translation, communication between human beings in various parts of the world can be done effectively. Science and technology which is evolving from many countries may be accessed easily. Transfer of science, culture, and other social activities mostly is done through translation. In other words, translation is an access to the innovation of science, technology, art and culture in order to a media center of the perspective of global communication. As a result, translator is a very 1
A.S. Hornby, Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Current English (New York: Oxford University Press, 2000), p. 752. 2 J.C. Cartford, A Linguistic Theory of Translation (London: Oxford University Press, 1965), p. 1.
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lucrative profession as payment for translation services is quite expensive. Moreover, if a translator has been a professional translator with specialized certified, high-speed translation ability and the translation that he/she produces is good, he/she will get big income. Based on the Association of Indonesian Translators (HPI), the average tariff of written translation from Indonesian to English is Rp.75.000, -/1.500 characters (3 pages), and 50,000, -/1.500 characters for translation from English into Indonesian. As for interpreting, the charge is more expensive. It is Rp.200.000, -/hour or Rp.2.000.000, - in working day (8 hours).
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Of course, a
translator is very benefit job. However, in translating, all of the translators, both amateur and professional will face some problems. Even, in translating literary texts, such as translating a novel. Translating a novel is a difficult job for translator. It consists of figurative language, cultural words, sentences, text coherences and cohesions that require continuous compromise and readjustment. In addition, there is nouniversality among linguist in deciding the term and the concept of the strategy will be used. So that, it makes beginner translator confused whether the better strategy and term which they should use, especially, in translating literary text, such as novel.
3
Anonymous, Tarif Penerjemahan Himpunan Penerjemah Indonesia. Accessed on November 7th 2010.http://anindyamaharani.blogdetik.com/2010/10/21/tarif-penerjemahan-hpi/, p.1
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One of the problems in translating a novel is translating a word or phrase that is bound by culture, in which a translator must find a direct lexical equivalent for a thing or event that is unknown (foreign) in receptor language culture. The word or phrase is mentioned as cultural words. As C. Thriveni declares that “A transmitting cultural element through literary translation is a complicated and vital task. (By the reason of) culture is a complex collection of experiences which condition daily life; it includes history, social structure, religion, traditional customs, and everyday usage.”4 In other words, a translator has difficulty in finding an equivalent of cultural words, because there is no direct and right equivalent which is used to express the messages of source language in word or phrase of receptor language. The word buku in Indonesian has a direct equivalent in English, that is book, but the cultural word such as golok (a type of Indonesian knife) is not found in English. There is no such knife in England. Otherwise, the word Halloween (The night of October 31th which is believed to be the moment of the emergence of the people have dead) in English is unknown in the Indonesian language. In this case, there is non-equivalence in translating. It causes the untranslatability in rendering the message between two languages. The untranslatability is due to cultural differences and the nature of language that is called "sui generis". Cultural differences, like differences in point
4
C. Thriveni, Cultural Elements in Translation (2004). Accessed on November 7th 2010. http://accurapid.com/journal/19culture.htm
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of view, customs, beliefs, environment, and others between source language and receptor language. The nature of language "sui generis” means language has its own characteristics that are different from other languages.5 Language is unique or has characteristics in culture. A language, however, has its meaning only in the culture, as Newmark states that a language is partly the repository and reflection of a culture. Thus, different language may contain different cultures of different ways of thinking.6 It causes the difficulty in translating cultural words for translator. In fact, the translator should be able to translate it even though there is no equivalent or hard to find it. Therefore, it is necessary to find a procedure or a certain way to obtain the equivalent in translating the non-equivalence which is cultural words. Thus, the translation is acceptable and easily understood by readers who are not familiar with source language culture. The reader should get the intent of the author as a form of establishment of communication between writer and foreign reader. For example, in a novel, there is written phrase panjat pinang which is translated into English to be an Indonesian game like pole climbing. Of course, the translation is acceptable for the readers, because it is comprehensible, and it can communicate between the writer and the reader. In the translation, the phrase panjat pinang is described. This way is one of the translation procedures, which is mentioned as descriptive equivalent. Descriptive equivalent is used to produce a natural translation.
5 6
J.C. Cartford (1965), op.cit. p. 27. Peter Newmark, Approaches to Translation (Oxford: Pergamon Press, 1981), p. 183.
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The translation procedure chosen is caused by the translation method that the translator decides. The method selected is caused by the ideology that translator believes.7 In other word, first, the ideology that the translator considers, will decide the method he/she uses. Secondly the method he/she uses will choose the strategy which is used. Related to the ideology of translating (Behtash-Firoozkoohi, Munday and Wenfen Yang mention it as translation strategy)8, another problem that the translator faces in translating literary text is no universality in translation, As Savory says that: “there are no universally accepted principles of translation, because the only people who are qualified to formulate them have agreed among themselves but have so often and for so long contradicted each other that they have bequathed a volume of confused thought which must be hard to parallel in other fields of literature.”9
Every linguist has the term and the notion own self in applying the translation. For example the translation theories had been in debating if translation should be literal (word-for-word) or free (sense-for-sense) since Cicero time (10643 B.C.) to the twentieth century.10 The central problem of translating has been going on, that is, the distinction of concept among scholars whether to translate literally or freely since at least the first century BC. Up to the beginning of the
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Roswita Silalahi, “Dampak Teknik, Metode, dan Ideologi Penerjemahan pada Kualitas Terjemahan Teks Medical-Surgical Nursing dalam Bahasa Indonesia”, Dissertation (Medan: The Library of North Sumatra University, 2009), pp.4-5. u.p. 8 E.Z. Behtash and Sepideh Firoozkoohi, “A Diachronic Study of Domestication and Foreignization Strategies of Cultural-Specific Items: in English-Persian Translation of Six of Hemingway’s Works”, World Applied Science Journal 7 (December 2009). Accessed on January 2th 2011.http://www.idosi.org/wasj/wasj7%2812%29/19.pdf.p. 1576. 9 Theodore Savory, The Art of Translation (London: Jonathan Cape Ltd, 1986), pp. 49-50. 10 Wenfen Yang, “Brief Study on Domestication and Foreignization in Translation”, Journal of Language Teaching and Research, Vol.1, No.1, pp. 77-80 (January 2010). Accessed on January 2th 2011.http://ojs.academypublisher.com/index.php/jltr/article/view/2413.
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nineteenth century, many writers favor some kind of free translation, namely: the spirit, not the letter; the sense, not the words; the message rather than the form; the matter, not the manner.11 Lately, the conflict in that concept is going on between Nida and Venuti. Nida as the representative, favors domesticating as the right translation strategy. Meanwhile Venuti selects foreignizing as the better strategy.12 He Sanning tries to overcome those debates by introducing the new strategy. It is neutralizing. This notion is presented in FIT5th Asian Translator Forum in Bogor, April 11-12th 2007. He states that it may be used to translate culture specific items to prevent the reader from misunderstanding that uniquely cultural factor in a certain area becomes a common phenomenon all over the world.13 Therefore, there are three strategies that are different in conception. Those differences make student of translation or beginner translator puzzled in applying the strategy and using term for translating. Terminological diversity and the overlapping of terms make it difficult to use them and to be understood. Beside that, those strategies are not specialized in translating cultural words. Those are not explained to how the translator translates cultural words, what procedure, method, and strategy that a translator uses. The transfer of meaning to the word or phrase that requires the procedure as the implementation of the strategy of translation applied by the translator in
11
Peter Newmark, A Textbook of Translation (Hertfordshire: Prentice Hall International Ltd, 1988), p. 45 12 Wenfen Yang (2010), op.cit. p. 78. 13 He Sanning, “Lost and Found in Translating Tourist Text: Domesticating, Foreignising or Neutralizing Approach”, Translation and Cultural Dialogue, (Bogor: Association of Indonesian Translator, 2007), p. 125.
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translating cultural words is included on the popular novel of Indonesia. The title of novel is Laskar Pelangi which was translated into English to be the Rainbow Troops. In Laskar Pelangi, the writer finds some cultural words of Indonesian which are translated into the Rainbow Troop, for example Dul Muluk is translated into Dul Muluk. The translator still uses the word Dul Muluk without giving the explanation what it means in order to solve the untranslatability in translating cultural words. Beside that, the cultural word Dul Muluk can be domesticated, foreignized, or neutral. Thus, the writer interested in doing the research. From the explanation above, there are two main problems; they are noequivalence and no-universality in translation. No-equivalence is no appropriate word in changing source language word that is bound by culture into receptor language word that is caused the untranslatability. No-universality is there is no uniformity in the term and notion translation strategy. In this study, the writer tries to analyze the cultural words in Laskar Pelangi which are translated by Angie Kilbane to English version, the Rainbow Troops.
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B. Focus of the Study
Based on the background of study above, the research will focus on finding whether Indonesian cultural words are domesticated, foreignized or neutral in the translation of Laskar Pelangi by analyzing the result of translation procedures used.
C. Research Question
From the focus of the study above, then the research questions are: 1. What kinds of translation procedures are used by the translator (Angie Kilbane) to translate the selected cultural words of Laskar Pelangi? 2. What is the most frequently translation strategy applied by the translator (Angie Kilbane) in translating the selected cultural words of Laskar Pelangi?
D. Significance of the Study
This study will be advantageous to the writer himself and the readers. Based on the experience of the writer how hard in translating literary text is, the writer wants to know how translation procedures and translation strategies which are used by professional translator to solve the untranslatability in translating cultural words. It can be also a contribution in the development of translation theory and gives the information to the translators in translating literary text.
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E. Research Methodology
1. The Objective of the Research Based on the research questions above, so the aims of this research are: a. To describe translation procedures used by the translator (Angie Kilbane) to translate the selected cultural words of Laskar Pelangi. b. To find the most frequently translation strategy applied by the translator (Angie Kilbane) in translating the selected cultural words of Laskar Pelangi.
2. The Method of the Research
The method used in the research is descriptive qualitative method which tries to find the translation procedures and translation strategies applied by the translator (Angie Kilbane).
3. Technique of Data Analysis
The writer uses descriptive analysis technique which is supported by the relevant theories. To analyze the data, the researcher uses the following steps: a. Reading the novel and its translation; b. Marking all cultural words in both of versions and making notes about them in a piece of paper. In Laskar Pelangi, one side of the paper consists of the Indonesian cultural word and the other side has the translation; c. Classifying the data, based on Newmark’s category of cultural words;
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d. Selecting the data by considering the most specific cultural words, that is the concept of Indonesian cultural words that are not found in English; e. Analyzing the selected data, based on Duff’s concept for translation procedures; while Venuti’s and He Sanning’s notion for translation strategies; f. Writing a report of the study.
4. Instrument of the Research
The writer acts as the instrument of the research to get data in the research by reading, marking, classifying, and selecting the data of the cultural words in Laskar Pelangi and its translation, the Rainbow Troops.
5. Unit of Analysis
The analysis units of the research are Laskar Pelangi novel by Andrea Hirata (Indonesian Novelist) and its translation, the Rainbow Troops, by Angie Kilbane (English Journalist).
Title Author/Translator Year of Publication Publisher Number of Pages
Indonesian → English Laskar Pelangi Andrea Hirata 2008 sixteenth edition PT Bentang Pustaka 534 Figure 1: Data Sources
the Rainbow Troops Angie Kilbane 2009 PT Bentang Pustaka 470
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6. Time and Place of the Research
The writer starts doing the research from December 2010 up to February 2011 in English Letter Department, Letters and Humanities Faculty, State Islamic University of “Syarif Hidayatullah” Jakarta. The research is located at the English Letters Department, Library of State Islamic University of “Syarif Hidayatullah” Jakarta, some of University Libraries in Jakarta, and the writer’s house.
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CHAPTER II THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
A. Translation 1.
Definition of Translation
There are so many views from some scholars on the definition of translation. Based on Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, translation is “the process of changing something that is written or spoken into another language”.14 Cartford stressed the notion of translation as the process of substituting a text from one language into another language.15 Nida and Taber state that the translation should be the closest natural equivalent of source language, both in the meaning and the style of receptor language.16 In other words, a translator optimally attempts to convey the content and the style of source language. Newmark defines translation as “rendering the meaning of a text into another language in the way that the author intended the text”.17 According to Larson, “translation consists of transferring the meaning of the source language into the receptor language”.18 Thus, they agree that something which is transferred in a translation is meaning, not form. Besides that, there should be naturalness in
14
A.S. Hornby (2000), op.cit. p. 1438. J.C. Cartford (1965), op.cit. p. 20 16 E.A. Nida and C. Taber, The Theory and Practice of Translation (Leiden: E.J. Brill, 1982), p. 12. 17 Peter Newmark (1988), op.cit. p.5 18 Mildred L. Larson, Meaning-Based Translation: A Guide to Cross-Language Equivalence (Lanham: University Press of America, 1984), p. 3. 15
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the meaning as the rules of receptor language.19 Then Machali states that the translation must be able to communicate or to act as "the bridges of meaning" between the manufacturer of the source text and receptor text reader. Translation is an act of communication that conveys messages from authors to readers.20 Wills argues that the purpose of translation is to get the optimal equivalent and there must be semantic and pragmatic understanding in receptor language text and there also must be analytical processing in finding the equivalent. He also pointed that translation is a written transferring.21 In their book, Hatim and Mason propose the definition of translation which is suitable to literary translation. It can be used as a foundation for understanding of literary text translation. They say that translating is looked upon as “an act of communication which attempts to relay, across cultural and linguistic boundaries, another act of communication (which may have been intended for different purposes and different readers/hearers)”22. In this case, a translator is receiver the message of source language then he acts as sender to receptor language.23 In other words, a translator has two task, first he must be a good receiver, that is wiling understand what the author mean, secondly he acts as sender in which he must be able to render the sense what he had got accurately to
19
Maurits. D.S. Simatupang (2000), op.cit. p. 2. Rochayah Machali, Pedoman Bagi Penerjemah (Jakarta: Grasindo, 2000), p. 6. 21 Wolfram Wills, “Translation Equivalence”, Ten Paper on Translation, ed. Richard B.Noss (Singapura: SEAMEO Regional Language Centre, 1982), p. 3. 22 Basil Hatim and Ian Mason, The Translator as Communicator (London: Routledge, 1997), p. 1 23 Benny H. Hoed, Kala dalam Novel: Fungsi dan Penerjemahannya (Yogyakarta: Gadjah Mada University Press, 1992), p. 81. 20
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readers.24 A translator also should convey the message whereas there are language barriers like cultural and linguistic boundaries. Furthermore, Sumardiono defines translation with orientation approach that states “Translation is a process of transferring message from one language to another by considering the aspects of accuracy and acceptability. Accuracy tends to the source language; while acceptability tends to the target language.”25. It means there are two orientations that the translator considers, namely: source language oriented by focusing the accuracy of meaning and receptor language oriented by focusing the acceptability of a translation. Based on the various ideas about the definition of translation, the writer concludes that translation is a process of written transferring message or sense that contains figurative language and aspects related to aesthetic function compromising among other rhymes, tones, and sound effects in the source that is equal to receptor language, and the result is the effect of deciding the aspects of accuracy and acceptability.
2.
The Process of Translation
Process is a series of things that are done in order to achieve a particular result in natural changes.26 In context of translation, the process of translation is a step that is used in getting the best result of translation. The process is started by a
24
M. Rudolf Nababan, Teori Menerjemah Bahasa Inggris (Yogyakarta: Pustaka Pelajar, 2003), p. 80. 25 Sumardiono, Lokalisasi dalam Penerjemahan. Accessed on January 9th 2011. http://dion-zydion2i.blogspot.com/2009/10/karya-ilmiah-lokalisasi-dalam.html, p. 1. 26 A.S. Hornby (2000), op.cit. p. 1050.
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translator to understand source language text, and then he conveys it to reader of receptor language. Nida and Taber propose the process of translation and its illustration as follows:27 a) Analysis, In this step, a translator explores the meaning and the grammatical relationship of source language word or compound word; b) Transfer, the transfer of the sense which is in the mind of translator from language A to language B; c) Restructuring, the sense that has been transferred is restructured in order to make the final message fully acceptable in the receptor language.
Source Language
Receptor Language
Analysis
Restructuring Transfer
Figure 2: The Process of Translation by Nida & Taber
There is another opinion about that concept, Larson says that translation consist of three steps, namely: (1) studying the lexicon, grammatical structure, communication situation, and cultural context of the source language text; (2) analyzing the source language text to determine the meaning; and (3) reconstructuring the same meaning by using the lexicon and grammatical structure
27
E.A. Nida and C. Taber (1982), op.cit. p. 33.
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which are suitable in the receptor language and its cultural context.28 He presents the diagram as follow:29
Source Language
Receptor Language
Text to be translated
Translation
Discover the meaning
Re-express the meaning
MEANING
Figure 3: The Process of Translation by Larson
Basically, both of the theories have the same in the aim and the step. The aim of them is to produce the good translation. The Nida’s steps are begun with analysis, transfer, and restructuring which is same with the step of discovering the meaning, meaning, and re-expressing the meaning by Larson. But, the writer thinks that both of models are not clear and not complete. Actually, in doing translation, we should be back to the first step when the translation is still unnatural. Then, go to the next step. Go back again if there is still mistakes and ambiguous. The good process one is like a cycle. Therefore, the writer agrees with Machali concept as she explained in her book as follow:30
28
Mildred L. Larson (1984), op.cit. pp. 3-4. Ibid. p. 4 30 Rochayah Machali (2000), op.cit. p. 38. 29
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Analysis 1 → Transfer → Analysis 2 → Transfer Correction 1→ Analysis 3 → Transfer Correction 2 → … etc. Figure 4: The Process of Translation by Machali
3.
Untranslatability
In translating, a translator faces the problem. It is untranslatability. Untranslatability is caused by the word of source language which can not be translated or hard to find the direct receptor language word as the equivalent of source language word. Cartford states that “untranslatability occurs when it is impossible to build functionally relevant features of the situation into the contextual meaning of the TL text”.31 Newmark argues that untranslatability happens if a meaning of word cannot be rendered literally and precisely to another word.32 There are two types of untranslatability based on the cause. They are:33 1. Linguistic untranslatability. Of course, it is the untranslatability caused the linguistic side. This untranslatability occurs when an ambiguity which is strange in the source language text is a functionally relevant feature. 2. Cultural untranslatability. The reason of this untranslatability is a culture which has characterization itself that has not found in other culture. In other words, there is the distinction between the culture of source language and the culture of receptor language.
31
J.C. Cartford (1965), op.cit. p. 94. Peter Newmark (1988), op.cit. p. 79 33 J.C. Cartford (1965), op.cit. pp. 94-103. 32
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B. The Procedure of Translation 1. Definition
There are distinctions in science of translation. The distinction is in mentioning the certain way of translator to translate words, phrases, clauses, and sentences. Newmark states it as translation procedure.34 Baker says this concept as translation strategy.35 Moreover, Molina and Albir mention this notion as translation technique.36 Which is the right term whether procedure, strategy, or technique is? To make it clear, it’s better to see each definition in dictionary. Based on Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, procedure is “a way of doing something, especially the usual or correct way”.37 In Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia (KBBI), prosedur as an equivalent of procedure refers to “tahap kegiatan untuk menyelesaikan suatu masalah; metode langkah demi langkah secara pasti dalam memecahkan suatu masalah”.38 (a step of activity to solve the problem or a step by step method exactly in solving the problem). The word “strategy” means “a plan that is intended to achieve a particular purpose.”39 The other definition is “rencana yang cermat mengenai kegiatan untuk mencapai sasaran khusus”.40(a neatly plan of activity to get a certain goal). While,
34
Peter Newmark (1988), op.cit. pp. 81-91. Mona Baker, In Other Words (Newyork: Routledge, 1992), pp. 26-42 36 Lucia Molina and Amparo. H. Albir, “Translation Techniques Revisited: A Dynamic and Functionalist Approach”, Meta: Translators’ Journal. Vol.47 no.4 (2002), pp. 509-511. Accessed on January 2th 2011.http:/www.erudit.org/revue/meta/2002/v47/n4/008033ar.pdf. 37 A.S. Hornby (2000), op.cit. p. 1050. 38 Departemen Pendidikan Nasional, Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia: Edisi Keempat (Jakarta: PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama, 2008), p. 1106. 39 A.S. Hornby (2000), op.cit. p. 1336. 40 Departemen Pendidikan Nasional (2008), op.cit. p. 1340. 35
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“a particular way of doing something, especially one in which you have to learn special skills” is mentioned as technique.41 According to KBBI, technique that refers to teknik, is “cara (kepandaian dsb) membuat atau melakukan sesuatu yang berhubungan dengan seni; metode atau sistem mengerjakan sesuatu”.42(a way or talent in making or doing something which is related to arts; method or system in doing something) All of three types states the rather same definition, that is a way in doing something, but there are little diverse. The procedure is specialized in “usual or correct way” and “to solve the problem”. The strategy has the particular concept, which are “a plan” and “to achieve the aim”, while, the certain notion in definition of technique are “skills” and “talent”. Based on the translation of cultural words context, something that is needed is a right way in solving the problem, such as non-equivalence or hard in finding the equivalence. Therefore, “procedure” is the best term of all. In this case, procedure is a correct way to cope the problem which is non-equivalence or hard to find the equivalence between source language and target language both it is caused by “sui generis” (the characteristic language itself) and the distinction in culture as an implementation to get the idiomatic translation or adequate translation.
41 42
A.S. Hornby (2000), op.cit. p. 1388. Departemen Pendidikan Nasional (2008), op.cit. p. 1422.
20
2. Kinds of Translation Procedures
There are so many procedures of some linguist to translate various type of text, both formal text and literary text. Newmark mentions nineteen procedures,43 machali declares “pemadanan berkonteks” (contextual conditioning) as one procedure of five procedures which the rest is adapted from Newmark,44 VinayDarbelnet propose seven procedures,45 Baker asserts seven procedures,46 Larson suggests three procedures and some specific of those procedures,47 Molina-Albir mention eighteen procedures,48 Moentaha states eleven procedures,49 and Duff asserts seven procedures.50 As a solution to translate words or phrases that are bound by culture (cultural words), the translation procedure which is postulated by Duff is the most appropriate suggestion. The procedures suggested by him are the appropriate solution in translating the cultural words. As he says that “I should like to recall some of the commonest solutions for translating words that are culturally bound”. They are as follows:51 a) The word is retained in its original form and no explanation is given. Molina and Albir divide this notion into two kinds, namely:52
43
Peter Newmark (1988), loc.cit. Rochayah Machali (2000), op.cit. pp. 71-73. 45 Jean Paul Vinay and Jean Darbelnet.“A Methodology for Translation.” The Translation Studies Reader.2nd edition, ed. L. Venuti (London and Newyork: Routledge, 2000), pp. 85-93. 46 Mona Baker (1992), loc.cit. 47 Mildred L. Larson (1984), op.cit. pp. 166-172. 48 Lucia Molina and Amparo. H. Albir (2002). loc.cit. 49 Salihen Moentaha, Bahasa dan Terjemahan (Jakarta: Kesaint Blanc, 2006), pp. 48-78. 50 Alan Duff, The Third Language: Recurrent Problems of Translation into English (Oxford: Pergamon Press, 1981), pp. 26-27. 51 Ibid. 52 Lucia Molina and Amparo. H. Albir (2002), op.cit. p. 510. 44
21
1) Pure borrowing. This way is the procedure in using a loan word purely. It is same with “transliteration” notion by Hervey and Higgins in which a source language word is taken over unchanged to receptor language.53 Baker mentions it as “Using loan word”;54 while VinayDarbelnet states this concept as “Borrowing”,55 and Newmark asserts it as “Transferrence”,56 for example the word manggis is translated into manggis; 2) Naturalized borrowing. This procedure is conducted by using a loan word that is modified as phonetic and morphological norms of receptor language. It is the same as what Hervey and Higgins mentioned “exoticism”,57 that is, the name of source language is adapted to conform to the phonic/graphic conventions of receptor language; and this corresponds to Newmark’s “Naturalization”,58 for example mantera → mantra. b) The word is retained in its original form, with either: 1) A literal translation in brackets, e.g. batak → batak (an ethnic of Indonesian); 2) An official or accepted translation in brackets, e.g. balai-balai → balai-balai (the sleeping platform); 3) An explanatory footnote. 53
Sándor Hervey and Ian Higgins, Thinking Translation: A Course in Translation Method: French-English (London and Newyork: Routledge, 1992), p. 29. 54 Mona Baker (1992), op.cit. p. 36. 55 Jean Paul Vinay and Jean Darbelnet (2000), op.cit. p. 85. 56 Peter Newmark (1988), op.cit. p. 81 57 Sándor Hervey and Ian Higgins (1992), loc.cit. 58 Peter Newmark (1988), op.cit. p. 82.
22
Machali mentioned this notion as pemadanan bercatatan (equivalence by using notes).59 Meanwhile, Newmark states this way as the procedure of notes. He classifies notes into various forms, namely:60 1) Notes within text, includes: (a) As an alternative to the translated word: abon → abon, or preserved meat; (b) As an adjectival clause: selendang → selendang, which was the scarf for the woman; (c) As a noun in apposition: ningrat → a ningrat, noble blood; (d) As a participial group (using present or past participle): dukun → dukun, a man knowing the magic; (e) In brackets, often for a literal translation of a transferred: batak → batak (an Indonesian ethnic). This way is similar with Duff solutions above; however; he differentiates “notes within text and in brackets” into two kinds: a literal translation in brackets and an official or accepted translation; (f) In parentheses: angklung → an angklung – traditional musical instrument of Indonesian. 2) Notes at the bottom page. This solution is equal with Duff’s “an explanatory footnote” above; 3) Notes at the end of chapter; 4) Notes or glossary at the end of book. 59 60
Rochayah Machali (2000), op.cit. pp. 72-73. Peter Newmark (1988), op.cit. p. 92.
23
c) The word is never mentioned in its original form. It means the translator uses another word which is familiar to RL (Receptor Language) readers’ culture in order to express SL (Source Language) word (cultural equivalent). This concept is same with Newmark’s “cultural equivalent”,61 Larson’s “cultural substitute”,62 and Baker’s “cultural substitution”,63 for example: arisan → playing cards, kutu buku → worm-book (kutu is changed into worm). d) The word is never mentioned in its original form, but the translator expands the text in order to convey all the associations. It means the translator doesn’t present the original word without the other words that relate to it. SL word is described by explaining the component of the word. Newmark differentiates this way into two procedures, namely:64 1) Functional equivalent. It is an equivalent modified by explaining the function of the SL word, for example gubuk → a place for living. Based on Larson’s suggestion, it can be divided into two types of functional equivalent, they are:65 (1) generic word of source language equivalent modified by the function, for example langgar → a house where Indonesian Muslim pray; and (2) loan word explained by the function, for example gendang → the traditional musical instrument called gendang to make the rhyme stable. Here is the illustration:
61
Ibid. pp. 82-83. Mildred L. Larson (1984), op.cit. pp. 170-172. 63 Mona Baker (1992), op.cit. p. 31. 64 Peter Newmark (1988), op.cit. pp. 83-84. 65 Mildred L. Larson (1984). op.cit. pp. 167-169. 62
24
Modifying a generic word Functional Equivalent Modifying a loan word
Figure 5: The Classification of Functional Equivalent Procedure
2) Descriptive equivalent. It is an equivalent modified by describing the source language word, for example tukang panjat pohon → the men who climbed the trees to get money. Based on Larson’s suggestion, it can be divided into two types, namely:66 modifying a generic word and modifying a loan word. Modifying a generic word includes modified with features of form, for example lumbung padi → the rice raised barn and modified by a comparison, for example gonggo → animal like a spider. Meanwile, modifying a loan word consist of two kinds, they are modified with a description of form, for example keris → the knife called keris is small but dangerous to use and modified by a classifier, for example Belitong → the district called Belitong. Here is the illustration
Modified with feature of form Modifying a generic word Descriptive Equivalent
Modified by a comparison Modified with a description of form Modifying a loan word Modified by a classifier
Figure 6: The Classification of Descriptive Equivalent Procedure
66
Ibid.
25
e) Different translations of the same word are used, because the receptor language differentiates more than the source language. It means the procedure to use the more specific word of original words, e.g. rice → padi, beras, gabah, or nasi. This concept is same with “chunking down” Kattan proposes.67 Chunking down means the reverse operation from the general to specific concept, for instance: we → kita, kami and dia → he, she. f) Part of the source language expression is reduced, even omitted. This concept is called as reduction as Newmark declares.68 It is used for suppressing a SLT information item in RLT, thus, there will be change in semantic field, that is, general to specific concept, for example: ikan sapusapu → fish. g) A receptor language expression is given, although it is not derived from anything in the text. It is a procedure to add the implicit meaning of SL word. It aims to introduce details that are not formulated in SLT. Molina and Albir mention it as “amplification”.69 For example cocor bebek → cocor bebek leaves.
From Duff’s notion and some supporting theories by scholars above, it can be concluded that there are nine translation procedures, namely: pure borrowing, naturalized borrowing, notes (pemadanan bercatatan), cultural equivalent,
67
David Kattan, Translating Culture: An Introduction for Translators, Interpreters, and Mediators (Manchester: St. Jerome Publishing, 1999), pp. 147-148. 68 Peter Newmark (1988), op.cit. p. 90. 69 Lucia Molina and Amparo Hurtado Albir (2002), op.cit. p. 510.
26
descriptive equivalent, functional equivalent, chunking down, reduction, and amplification.
C. The Strategy of Translation 1. Definition
It should be known that there are two fields of ideology in the science of translation, namely the ideology of translating and the translation of ideology.70 The ideology of translating refers to the notion of foreignizing (source language oriented) and domesticating (receptor language oriented). Foreignizing and domesticating are very broad terms that cover many translation procedures, since the ideology of translating influences a translator in deciding the procedure will be used that comprises deciding text will be translated, solving the problem, the role of translator and how a text will be accepted in literary system of receptor language.71 Meanwhile, the translation of ideology is the mediation, interference, and distortion that the translator does when he translates the sensitive text by inserting his knowledge and beliefs into the translated text. However in this research, the writer will discuss about the notion of ideology of translating that will be mentioned as translation strategy adapted from the concept of Behtash-Firoozkohi. Wenfen Yang also says it is translation strategy.72 As the explanation on the page 19, the particular concepts of strategy are “a plan” and “to achieve them”. Meanwhile, Kamei and He Sanning say this 70
Basil Hatim and Ian Mason (1997), op.cit. pp. 145-150. Tresnati S. Sholichin, “Penerjemahan Karya Sastra dan Penerjemahan Buku Anak”. Jurnal Lintas Bahasa No. 23/XI/8/2003 (Depok: Pusat Penerjemahan Fakultas Ilmu Budaya Universitas Indonesia, 2003), p. 3. 72 Wenfen Yang (2010), op.cit. p.77 71
27
notion as “approach”.73 Therefore, it is clear that strategy is a plan or approach that a translator applies on a given text to achieve his/her aims whether he/she wants to introduce the foreign culture (foreignized), prefers to produce the local concept (domesticated) or chooses both of them (neutral).
2. Kinds of Translation Strategies
There are three kinds of translation strategies, namely foreignizing, domesticating and neutralizing. Domesticating and foreignizing are two basic translation strategies that are postulated firstly by German theologian Friedrich Schleiermacher in 1813, then the further developed by Italian scholar Lawrence Venuti.74 Meanwhile, neutralizing is the new strategy that is coined by He Sanning.75
a. Foreignizing
According to Venuti, foreignizing is “an ethnodeviant pressure on those (cultural) values to register the linguistic and cultural difference of the foreign text, sending the reader abroad“.76 It designates the type of translation in which a receptor text deliberately breaks target conventions by retaining something of the foreignness of the original.77 This strategy is an effort to keep the source language
73
Chuici Kamei, “Domesticating and Foreignizing Approaches in Japanese-English Translation.” Translation and Cultural Dialogue, (Bogor: Association of Indonesian Translator, 2007), p. 99. 74 Lawrence Venuti, The Translator Invisibility: A History of Translation (London & Newyork: Routledge, 1995), p. 15. 75 He sanning (2007), op.cit. pp. 124-128. 76 Lawrence Venuti (1995), loc.cit. 77 Wenfen Yang (2010), op.cit. p. 77.
28
word which sounds foreign for receptor language reader or hearer but it is a common one for source language.78 Munday says that foreignizing is applied to make the readers of receptor language feel that translator is “visible” and they will tell “they are reading a translation.79 That statement means the translation that looks like a translation is a translation that contains form and element of source language. It is clear that foreignizing is the strategy that is oriented on source language. By using foreignizing strategy, a translator will use the equivalence concept of Nida’s “Formal Correspondence”; Larson’s “Form-Based Translation”; and Newmark’s “Semantic Translation” which are the equal concepts. Formal correspondence is basically oriented on source language which is produced as much as possible of form and content of the original message.80 Form-based translation is a notion which is focused on rendering the form of source language than the meaning.81 Semantic translation is the method which is preferred the accuracy of the meaning.82 Here is the example of a translator who applies foreignizing: SLT
: …The boy reached out for his father. “Dad!” Their eyes locked for one terrifying second.
78
Darja Mazi-Lezkovar, Domestication and Foreignization in Translating American Prose for Slovenian Children (2003). Accessed on January 2th 2011. http://www.erudit.org/revue/meta/2003/v48/n1-2/006972ar.html. p. 1 79 Jeremy Munday, Introducing Translation Studies: Theories and Applications (London and Newyork: Routledge, 2001). p. 147 80 E.A. Nida, Toward Science of Translating (Leiden:E.J.Brill, 1964), p.165 81 Mildred L. Larson (1984), op.cit. p. 10. 82 Peter Newmark (1988), op.cit. p. 46.
29
(Dan Brown, The Lost Symbol, p. 5) RLT
: Bocah itu menjangkau ayahnya. “Dad!” Mereka bertatapan selama satu detik yang mengerikan.
(Dan Brown, The Lost Symbol, translated by Ingrid Dwijani, p.26)
From that example, the translator attempts to keep cultural atmosphere of source language that is American-English culture. The word “Dad” which is borrowed makes the readers fell that the conversation is in USA. Such translator choice shows that he/she applies foreignizing strategy.
b. Domesticating
According to Venuti, domesticating is “an ethnocentric reduction of the foreign text to target-language cultural values, bring the author back home”.83 Domesticating refers to the translation strategy in which a transparent and fluent style is adopted in order to minimize the strangeness of the foreign text for receptor language readers.84 This strategy that has the Indonesian cultural equivalent as lokalisasi means making the text recognizable and familiar and thus bringing the foreign culture closer to that of the readers. It is concerned on acceptable result translation. As the concept of transparency by Hoed, the translation must be seen original (transparent), do not read like translation and become part of the text that
83 84
Lawrence Venuti (1995), loc.cit. Wenfen Yang (2010), loc.cit.
30
are acceptable and in accordance with receptor language. Therefore, to produce a good translation, translators are required to create a translation that does not look like a translation (invisible), as if the translation is like the author's original essay. However, he also says that the accuracy of message in translation must be preserved although the principle of transparency is employed.85 Sumardiono states that there are some reasons that make a translator chooses domesticating strategy, they are:86 1) The acceptability reason. It produces understandable translation for readers; 2) The politeness reason. To make euphemism translation of source language word which is taboo, it is required domesticating; 3) The political reason. Ideology and political that a translator believes influences the result of translation. The first and second reason are based on the purpose of translator, while, the last is based on the translator’s attitude toward source and receptor culture. By using domesticating, a translator will choose the notion of Nida “Dynamic Equivalence” that is based upon the principle of equivalent effect87 which is equal to Larson’s Meaning-Based Translation which is concerned in conveying the sense, not form88 that is same with Newmark’s Communicative Translation that is attempted to produce the easy understanding for the readers.89
85
Benny Hoed, “Transparansi dalam Penerjemahan”, PELBBA 18 (Pertemuan Linguistik Pusat Kajian Bahasa dan Budaya Atma Jaya Kedelapan Belas), ed. Yasir Nasanius (Jakarta: Pusat Kajian Bahasa dan Budaya UNIKA ATMA JAYA JAKARTA, 2007), pp. 25-36. 86 Sumardiono (2011), op.cit. p.15. 87 E.A. Nida (1964), op.cit. p.166. 88 Mildred L. Larson (1984), op.cit. p.11. 89 Peter Newmark (1988), op.cit. p. 47.
31
Here is the example of translator that employs domesticating: SLT
: kill two birds with one stone.
RLT
: Sambil menyelam minum air. In that translation, a translator wanted to produce acceptable translation for
readers. He translated the English “Metaphor” kill two birds with one stone by changing the metaphor into Indonesian “Metaphor” Sambil menyelam minum air. So, it may be said that foreignizing and domesticating are a paradox concept. The key words of foreignizing are “not transparent” and “visible”. The word “not transparent” means the translation doesn’t like original, but it seems a translation. The word “visible” refers to the presence of translator that is visible by showing the foreign identity of source text up. Meanwhile, the key words of domesticating are “transparent” and “invisible”. The “transparent” means the translation does not seem to be translated, it is like original, so the existence of translator is “invisible”.90 Foreignizing and domesticating are separated into two categories. The first one is the category which is focused on source language and preferred to the accuracy of original message, while the second one is concerned on receptor language and tend to the acceptability and readability of the translation. In other word, “Foreignizing vs. Domesticating” strategy by Venuti is equal to Nida’s “Formal Correspondence vs. Dynamic Equivalence” which refers to Larson’s “Form-Based Translation vs. Meaning-Based Translation”, is also equal to
90
Jeremy Munday (2001), op.cit. pp. 146-147.
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Newmark’s “Semantic Translation vs. Communicative Translation” notion. For clearer understanding, here is the illustration of their concept:
Venuti’s “Foreignizing vs. Domesticating” = Nida’s “Formal Correspondence vs. Dynamic Equivalence” = Larson’s “Form-Based Translation vs. Meaning-Based Translation” = Newmark’s “Semantic Translation vs. Communicative Translation”. Figure 7: The Equality in Conception of Translation Strategy
For example:91
SLT
: In our notion the object of a university education is to train intellectual men for the pursuits of an intellectual life.
RLT 1 : Menurut gagasan kita sasaran dari suatu pendidikan universitas adalah untuk melatih laki-laki intelektual untuk pengejaran suatu kehidupan intelektual. RLT 2 : Dalam gagasan kita, tujuan pendidikan tinggi adalah untuk melatih manusia intelektual demi mengejar kehidupan intelektual.
From the example above, RLT 1 (Receptor Language Text 1) is oriented on source language, because the translation is faithful to source language by using the style and word-order of source language. It indicates that RLT 1 is translated by using foreignizing strategy. The second translation, RLT 2, is oriented in receptor language, because it is focused on acceptability by showing the natural
91
Rochayah Machali (2000), op.cit. p. 45.
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translation for readers. Therefore, it can be said that it is translated by using domesticating strategy.
c. Neutralizing
Neutralizing is the new strategy to overcome the dispute between foreignizing and domesticating strategy that are debated by scholars (Nida prefers domesticating and Venuti selects foreignizing as the better strategy). It is postulated by He Sanning in translating the cultural specific items of tourist text.92 It can be applied to render cultural words that is uniquely cultural factor in a certain area becomes phenomenon all over the world without make the readers confuse or misunderstand. He Sanning states that:
“It (the neutralizing) can help promote cultural exchange through translation because, in order to achieve the same effect, the translator should try his/her best to transfer the cultural message from source language to receptor language while retaining readability and acceptability of the translation. It is referred to the act and process that the translator constantly modulates his/her own awareness of what he/she will translate, satisfy all the needs that the readers meets and tries to approach correlative equivalent between the ST and the TT.” 93
Neutralizing is the strategy that has sense of balance that is emphasized on source language and receptor language in which it shows the foreign nuance and local taste. It is not only focused on accuracy, but also acceptability, for example kuda lumping is rendered into kuda lumping - the Indonesian traditional art in which the players act like horse and do the magic attraction. As the example, by using this strategy, we can preserve the cultural word kuda lumping in the
92 93
He Sanning (2007), loc.cit Ibid. p. 127
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translation and at the same time ensure acceptability and readability for the reader by explaining that word after the “hyphen mark”.
D. Translation of Novel
Suryawinata and Hariyanto states that the translation of novel must be focused on the rendition of the wholly story, it is not the rendition of sentence for sentence.94 It aims to make the translation which is enjoyable to read and make the reader keep going on to read the next page. Meanwhile, Hoed states that a translator of novel has two task, first he must be a good receiver, that is wiling understand what the author mean, secondly he acts as sender in which he must be able to render the sense what he had got accurately to readers.95 Hendarto cited in Ganesha says that a translator of novel should attempt to produce a translation that makes receptor language readers feel the same experience with source language readers.96Similarly, Sayogie says that the good novel translation occurs when the impression of receptor language readers is same with the impression of source language readers.97 It may be concluded that the translation of novel should be pay attention in the rendition of wholly story and must gives the same experience/impression between SL readers and RL readers.
94
Zuchridin Suryawinata and Sugeng Hariyanto, Translation: Bahasan Teori dan Penuntun Praktis Menerjemahkan (Yogyakarta: Kanisius, 2003), pp. 155-156. 95 Benny H. Hoed (1992), op.cit. p. 81. 96 Surjo Ganesha, “Penerjemahan Novel Dalam Diskusi”. Jurnal Lintas Bahasa No.26/XII/8/2004 (Depok: Pusat Penerjemahan Fakultas Ilmu Budaya Universitas Indonesia, 2004). p. 5. 97 Frans Sayogie (2009), op.cit. p. 204.
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Sayogie, 98 who is in line with Hendarto cited in Ganesha,99 suggests some abilities that a translator of novel has, namely: (1) Literary Sense; (2) Mastery of Source Language; (3) Mastery of Receptor Language; (4) Familiar with the Culture of Source Language (5) Familiar with the Culture of Receptor Language; (6) Good Knowledge, (7) Supporting Reference. Then he proposes some steps to translate the novel. The first step is a translator must read the original novel fully to obtain the information about the character, plot, setting, utterance style, and implicit meaning in the novel. The second is finding the other information or the extrinsic elements of novel such as the background and the author of novel. The third is deciding the utterance style will be used in the translation. The fourth is marking the problem or something hard to translate. The last is solving it by finding the appropriate equivalent cyclically.100
E. Cultural Words 1. Definition
Translation is a process which involves two languages, namely source language and receptor language. It can also be said that translation involving two different cultures. Translation is the process of finding meaning and conveys the meaning of a culture into another culture. Therefore, cultural differences between source language and receptor language makes translator difficult in producing translation well, because it needs to know and learn the culture of both languages. 98
Ibid. p. 204-206 Surjo Ganesha (2004), loc.cit. 100 Frans Sayogie (2009), op.cit. pp. 206-207 99
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According to Newmark, definition of culture is “the way of life of manifestations that are peculiar to a community that uses a particular language as its means of expressions.”101 Corder describes culture as sets of beliefs, political or ethical and behavior common to the member of community in which they share to a large extent of the way they see the world around them, interpret events, and consider what an important to them. Accordingly, culture includes beliefs, norms, values, assumptions, expectations, and plans of action.102 Related to the words bounded by culture, Newmark says, “most cultural words are easy to detect, since they are associated with a particular language and cannot be literally translated … where literal translation would distort the meaning and a translation may include an appropriate descriptive-functional equivalent”.103 Therefore, it can be concluded that cultural words is as a particular words living embodiment in a group of people interact or communicate each other in a period time which can not be literally translated.
2. The Types of Cultural Words
Newmark states, cultural words can be categorized into five, namely: a. Ecology. It is a geographical feature that can be normally distinguished from other cultural terms in that they are usually value-free, politically and commercially. It includes flora, fauna, mountain, river, natural conditions, for example wedus gembel (a fog), serindit melayu bird, etc; 101
Peter Newmark (1988), op.cit. p. 94. S.Pit Corder, Introducing Applied Lingustics (Great Britain: Hazell Watson 7 Viney, 1973), p. 68. 103 Peter Newmark (1988), op.cit. p. 95. 102
37
b. Material culture (artefacts). It is the culture specific element that includes clothing, food, transportation, tools and equipments, etc. For example getek, pempek, kebaya, etc; c. Social culture: work and leisure such as the names of music, games or dance that is typical in certain areas such as keroncong, kuda lumping, malam takbiran, kopi darat, etc; d. Organization, customs, ideas: political, social, legal, religious, artistic. The linguistic manifestations of this concept cannot be translated into a language where the audience is unfamiliar with it, for example SLB (the Special Needs School), kepala desa, sumpah pemuda, and so on; e. Gestures and habits. In this case, there is a distinction between description and function which can be made where necessary in ambiguous cases: thus, if people smile a little when someone dies or give a thumbs-up to signal OK, all of which occur in some cultures and not in others. These are activities or actions carried out from generation to generation, like kerja bakti, bersila, nujuh bulan, aben, lamaran, etc104
104
Peter Newmark (1988), op.cit. p. 95.
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CHAPTER III RESEARCH FINDINGS
A. Data Description
In data description, the writer tabulates the selected data of cultural words which are taken from Laskar Pelangi and the Rainbow Troops including the types of cultural words, the procedure of translation, and the strategy of translation that are used by the translator, Angie Kilbane. The selected data can be tabulated as follows. Table 1: The Data of Cultural Words, Their Classification, the Procedure of Translation, and
the Strategy of Translation
No
Laskar Pelangi Dul Muluk (2)
The Types of
The Procedure of
The Strategy of
Cultural Words
Translation
Translation
the Rainbow Troops Dul Muluk (2)
Idea: play
1
2
3
wholly italic) Pamanda Guru (6) Pamanda Guru (6)
air jeruk sambal
orange juice (49)
(32)
4
Pure Borrowing (with Foreignizing
Idea: traditional
Pure Borrowing (with Foreignizing
address.
partial italic)
Material Culture:
Cultural Equivalence
Domesticating
drinks
Dasa Dharma
Dasa Dharma
Pramuka (74)
Pramuka – the Boy
Idea: Thinking
Notes
noun: Neutralizing
(as
compound noun)
Scout Promise (62) 5
libur lebaran (77)
azan zuhur (133) 6
Equivalent Domesticating
Lebaran school break
Social Culture:
Descriptive
(63)
leisure
(using loan word)
zuhur call to prayer
Idea: religious
Functional Equivalence
(115)
(using loan word)
Domesticating
39
No
7
Laskar Pelangi
the Rainbow Troops
The Types of
The Procedure of Translation
The Strategy of
mantri suntik
male hospital orderlies
Cultural Words Social Culture:
(143)
in charge of giving
occupation
(using generic word)
Ecology:
Pure Borrowing
recreation places
(without Italic)
Idea: arts
Notes (as a participial Neutralizing
Functional Equivalence
Translation Domesticating
vaccinations (124)
8
9
Pangkalan Punai
Pangkalan Punai (149)
(179) menata janur
menata janur - a
(191)
Malay wedding
Foreignizing
group)
decoration (157)
10
11
pontang-panting
scramble back with
Gestures and Habits:
Descriptive Equivalent
memikulnya
them on your
Activities
+ Cultural Equivalent
(193)
shoulders (158)
kopiah (219)
Traditional Muslim
Material Culture:
Descriptive
caps (178)
clothes
(using generic word)
a tabla – traditional
Material Culture:
Notes (as noun: noun
drum (181)
musical instrument
phrase)
cinta monyet
cinta monyet –
Idea: human relation
Notes (as alternative)
Neutralizing
(251)
monkey love, or puppy
Notes (as parentheses)
Neutralizing
tabla (223) 12
13
Domesticating
Equivalent Domesticating
Neutralizing
love (204) 14
peneng sepeda
peneng sepeda – the
Material Culture:
(305)
stickers used back in
equipments
the day to show that the bicycle tax had been paid (263) 15
16
randu (441)
random (421)
Ecology: plant
Naturalized Borrowing
Foreignizing
apel Korpri (Page
Indonesia Government
Gestures and Habits:
Descriptive Equivalent
Domesticating
443)
Employee Corps flag
activities
(explaining the
ceremony (Page 423)
17
bungkus rokok Jambu Bol (467)
cigarette packs (440)
abbreviation) Material Culture: tools
Reduction
Domesticating
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B. Data Analysis
From the tabulated data above that contains 17 cultural words which are chosen by consideration whether it is culture-specific item or not, the writer tries to classify and analyze the selected cultural words by using the relevant theories. The data can be analyzed as follows:
1. Dul Muluk …, membuat wajahnya coreng moreng …, streaking her face and making her seperti pemeran emban bagi permaisuri look like the queen’s servant in Dul dalam Dul Muluk, sandiwara kuno Muluk, an ancient play in our village. kampung kami. (Page 2)
(Page 2)
Data (1) shows that the Belitong play Dul Muluk which is cultural word that refers to arts/play (idea) is translated into Dul Muluk. As Newmark says, cultural words consist of ecology, material culture, social culture, organizationcustom-idea, and gesture-habits.105 Behtash and Firoozkohi mention cultural words as “culture specific items”;106 while He Sanning declares it as “cultural specific elements”.107 This word is preserved in the translation without any change, therefore it can be said that the translator uses the procedure of borrowing. Beside that, it can be identified that she borrows Indonesian cultural word by using italic for each word, so this procedure can be mentioned as pure borrowing with “wholly italic”. 105
Peter Newmark (1988), loc.cit. He Sanning (2007), op.cit. p. 128. 107 E.Z. Behtash and Sepideh Firoozkoohi (2009). loc.cit. 106
41
In the writer’s opinion, the translator uses italic form in the translation because SL word is used in italic form. The translator doesn’t change the form totally. In addition, based on the context, there is an explanation after the word Dul Muluk, so it’s enough to just borrow that word. Related to translation strategy, there are three types of strategies, namely: foreignizing, domesticating, and neutralizing. Foreignizing entails the strategy that designates the translation deliberately breaks RLT (receptor language text) convention by preserving something foreign of SLT (source language text); while domesticating refers to the strategy that respects on RL (receptor language) by minimizing or losing the foreign nuance and adopting the local taste in the translation.108Meanwhile, neutralizing is the new strategy as the solution of the dispute whether foreignizing or domesticating in the translation of culture words, since this strategy will compose the balance translation that respects on SL and RL.109 Despite the fact that the name Dul Muluk is senseless for the reader, the translation may have the same effect on the reader as the original, since the Indonesian name in both the original and the translation functions as a link to the Indonesian culture for the reader. Moreover, such RLT (Receptor Language Text) reflects reality, as it is a widespread practice to know Indonesian play by the original names, which usually function as marks of high quality. As a result, in this case, it can be claimed that the translator applies foreignizing.
108 109
Lawrence Venuti (1995), loc.cit. He Sanning (2007), loc.cit
42
2. Pamanda Guru “Baru
sembilan
orang
Pamanda “Just nine people, Pamanda guru,” Bu
Guru…,” ucap Bu Mus bergetar sekali Mus uttered shakily once again. (Page lagi. (Page 6)
6)
Data (2) shows, Pamanda Guru as the cultural words that refers to “traditional address” (idea) is translated into Pamanda Guru. It is identified that the translator (Angie Kilbane) uses the pure borrowing procedure to translate that word in which she preserves the phrase Pamanda Guru in its original word. This procedure can be mentioned as pure borrowing with partial italic. The “partial italic” means the borrowed word written in italic form is just a half of the phrase Pamanda Guru. The word here is Pamanda. It can be assumed that the translator wants the readers to know that the word Pamanda is the foreign word. The translator emphasizes the word Pamanda as “saying to elder person” in Indonesian culture concept. Such translator’s choice produces the foreign nuance in order to introduce the Indonesian concept about the traditional address in Indonesian culture. In Indonesian, the word Pamanda is known as the saying to the elder people. Despite the fact that it is equal to English equivalent that is uncle, the word Pamanda here is not same with the concept of “uncle” in English, that’s why she makes it italic form. Looking at the result of analysis above, it can be assumed that pure borrowing is the procedure that refers to foreignizing strategy, because the translation is focused on SL by borrowing the original word in RL. In other
43
words, the data (2) is translated by using the procedure of pure borrowing as the realization of foreignizing strategy.
3. Air Jeruk Sambal …, dan kadang-kadang membuatkan …, and from time to time made us kami air jeruk sambal. (Page 32)
orange juice with their bare hands. (Page 49)
Here is the case that the translator uses the procedure of cultural equivalent in which she renders air jeruk sambal into orange juice. Air jeruk sambal is cultural word that refers to drinks (material culture). The translator uses for a word in RL (orange juice) which seems similar to or has the same relevant as the SL term (air jeruk sambal). The concept of air jeruk sambal is different with orange juice. The former refers to the drink from orange which is made traditionally; while the latter is the drink made by using a modern tool (blender). According to The Free Dictionary, orange juice is “bottled or freshly squeezed juice of oranges”.110 In this case, the translator chooses the word orange juice since the English people know this word. The other reason that makes the translator choose that word is the form of the concept of air jeruk sambal is not found in English, but there is the word that has the similar function with air jeruk sambal that is orange 110
The Free Dictionary. Accessed on February 1st 2011 http://www.thefreedictionary.com/orange+juice
44
juice. The similarity of the function between air jeruk sambal and orange juice are the drink to refresh the body when the summer is going on. Considering the fact that the result of translation by using cultural equivalent procedure seems close to receptor language by presenting the English drinks orange juice and far away from source language by losing the foreign concept in the translation, thus it can be claimed that this is a domesticating procedure. Domesticating procedure is the implementation of domesticating translation strategy.
4. Dasa Dharma Pramuka Ia seorang pemuda santun harapan He was a well mannered, promising bangsa yang memenuhi semua syarat young citizen who was a model of Dasa Dharma Pramuka. (Page 74)
Dasa Dharma Pramuka – the Boy Scout Promise. (Page 62)
According to data (4) above, the compound word Dasa Dharma Pramuka as the cultural word that refers to the promise of the student organization in Indonesia (idea/thinking) is rendered into Dasa Dharma Pramuka – the Boy Scout Promise. The noun phrase Dasa Dharma Pramuka is preserved in the translation without any change and it is added by an explanation after the separated mark (hyphen mark). The explanation is the compound noun the Boy Scout Promise. In Duff’s theory about the commonest solution in translating the words that are culturally bound, this way is classified in the second point, namely “the word is
45
retained in its original form, with either.”111 According to Newmark, this way is the procedure that is called notes. He classifies notes into four forms, namely: notes within text (it comprises: notes as an alternative, as an adjectival clause, as a noun in apposition, and as a participial group), notes at the bottom, notes at the end of chapter, and notes or glossary at the end of book.112So, it can be said that the translator uses the procedure of notes as noun: compound noun. In this case, the translator produces the balance translation. It means the translator respects on source language by still showing the original word (Dasa Dharma Pramuka) and giving the explanation in order to make the readers understand what the SL word means (the Boy Scout Promise). Therefore, it can be decided that the translator applies the neutralizing strategy.
5. Libur Lebaran …, “Ibunda Guru, kapan kita akan libur …, “Ibunda Guru, when will we have lebaran?” (Page 77)
our Lebaran school break?” (Page 63)
According to data (5) above, Libur lebaran is rendered into Lebaran school break. Libur lebaran is classified into cultural word that refers to leisure (social culture). That example indicates that the translator describes libur into school break and it is followed by Lebaran as a loan word of source language word. It indicates that the translator does the procedure of descriptive equivalent by using loan word as a part of the explanation. As Larson suggests, descriptive
111 112
Alan Duff (1981), op.cit. p. 26. Peter Newmark (1988), op.cit. p. 92.
46
equivalent can be divided into two types, namely: 113 modifying a generic word and modifying a loan word. In this case, the translator attempts to express the word libur by explaining the component of meaning of this word that is school break. In other words, the translator tries to find the component of SL word meaning first, and then she uses the loan word lebaran that is mixed to the descriptive phrases school break. Considering the fact that the result of the procedure of descriptive equivalent appears to tend on receptor language that is the translation which is comprehensible for RL readers by employing the description, thus, it can be concluded that the translator applies domesticating strategy.
6. Azan Zuhur “…, nyanyikan sebuah lagu sambil kita “…, sing a song while we wait for the menunggu azan zuhur.” (Page 133)
zuhur call to prayer.” (Page 115)
The data (6) above shows that azan zuhur is translated into zuhur call to prayer. This phrase is cultural word that refers to religion system. The translator does the different way for each word of the phrase azan zuhur. The word azan is described into call to prayer as the function of azan; meanwhile she retains the word zuhur in the translation. She makes the word zuhur to be a loan word in RL. It is identified that the translator uses functional equivalent by using loan word as a part of the explanation. As Newmark says, functional equivalent is the
113
Mildred L. Larson (1984). op.cit. pp. 167-169
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procedure used by the translator by explaining the function of the loan word114. Then, Based on Larson’s suggestion, it can be divided into two types of functional equivalent. They are:115 (1) Modifying a generic word that is a generic word of SL equivalent which is modified by the function; and (2) Modifying a loan word that is SL word which is used as loan word which is explained by the function. This case is categorized into second type that is the procedure of functional equivalent with modifying SL word by the function and put a loan word. By thinking of the effect of translation, it can be assumed that this procedure is used based on the domesticating strategy that the translator applied, since the result of this way is the word with local situation of receptor language through the descriptions.
7. Mantri Suntik … ke Belitong menyamar sebagai … to Belitong Island disguised as male mantri suntik di klinik PN Timah, … hospital orderlies in charge of giving (Page 143)
vaccinations at the PN clinic, … (Page 124)
Here the translation of mantri suntik that is rendered into male hospital orderlies in charge of giving vaccinations. Mantri suntik is a cultural word that refers to social culture (Indonesian occupation). Despite the fact that there is no similar name for the concept of Mantri suntik, this word is described by explaining the function of generic word that is male hospital and the function is 114 115
Peter Newmark (1988), loc.cit. Mildred L. Larson (1984), loc.cit.
48
orderlies in charge of giving vaccinations. It can be said that the SL word is never mentioned in its original form but it is portrayed by its function. In contrary with data (6) azan zuhur translation, it is the procedure of functional equivalence with modifying a generic word. Considering the result of translation, in which the translator attempts to reduce the taste of foreignness in the translation by cutting the original name Mantri suntik, but describing its function with generic word to be male hospital orderlies in charge of giving vaccinations in order to make the translation more understandable, so it can be claimed that she adopts the domesticating strategy to translate this word.
8. Pangkalan Punai Meskipun setiap tahun kami me- Even though we visited Pangkalan ngunjungi Pangkalan Punai, aku tak Punai every year, I never grew tired of pernah bosan dengan tempat ini. (Page the place. (Page 149) 179)
Here, the word Pangkalan Punai is Indonesian cultural word that corresponds with recreation place (ecology). This case is the pure borrowing procedure without using italic word. Pangkalan Punai is rendered into Pangkalan Punai. The translator preserves the word in its original form, since she thinks that the RL readers may know what the meaning of that word although they don’t know the reference. It indicates that the translator want to introduce this name to the reader. Beside that, it can be claimed that the translator doesn’t know clearly
49
about the form of Pangkalan Punai. So, she preferred to make it as the loan word in the translation to describe it. Such translator choice emphasizes the Indonesian flavor in the translation, therefore the result of translation by using pure borrowing seems foreign in the nuance, therefore, it may be said that it is used from the foreignizing translation strategy that the translator applied. However, considering the possibility that the readers don’t know what Pangkalan Punai is, a possible translation the recreation place called Pangkalan Punai can been used to make the translation more comprehensible.
9. Menata Janur …, ketrampilan menyulam, menata …, embroidery, and menata janur – a janur, membuat pupuk dari kotoran Malay wedding decoration. (Page hewan … (Page 191)
157)
As the data (9) above, the Indonesian art for the weeding party menata janur, is translated into menata janur – a Malay wedding decoration. It is identified that the translator uses the procedure of notes. It shows that the translator takes the SL word as loan word and then she gives the explanation after that word. The suffix –ing in the word weeding indicates that this procedure is notes with the explanation as a participial group, since it shows the participle word. In English grammatical, there are two kinds of participle, that are, present participle (-ing) and past participle (-ed).116
116
A.S. Hornby (2000), op.cit. p. 961.
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Such translator choice is done because there is no concept of the art menata janur. It is only in Indonesia. Therefore, she prefers to borrow the original word and gives it explanation in order to get the same effect between SL readers and RL readers. As data analysis (4), Dasa Dharma Pramuka translation, the procedure of notes is categorized as the neutralizing strategy (the mixture of domesticating and foreignizing), since the result of translation by using this procedure is oriented on source language and respects receptor language.
10. Pontang Panting Memikulnya Selain harus mengisi penuh dua buah Aside from having to fill two big kaleng cat 15 kilogram dan pontang buckets and scramble back with them panting memikulnya, sumur tua yang on your shoulders, you also had to angker itu sangat mengerikan. (Page face the creepy old well. (Page 158) 193)
The description above shows that the cultural word (activities) pontang panting memikulnya is rendered into scramble back with them on your shoulders. Scramble is cultural equivalent of pontang panting. Meanwhile, memikulnya is described to be back with them on your shoulder. Based on the context, the pronoun for object position them in the words back with them on your shoulder, refers to two big buckets of water. Therefore, the clear description of memikulnya is back with two big buckets of water on your shoulder.
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Hence, there are no English equivalents for the word pontang panting and memikul, the translator applied cultural equivalent and descriptive equivalent procedures. In this case, the word scramble that the translator used in the translation is her struggle to give the accepted though in receptor language readers mind, because that word has been already known for them. According to Oxford Dictionary, scramble refers to “to move quickly, especially with difficulty, using your hands to help you”;117 while pontang panting can be defined as an effort of someone with work hard. The component of meaning of them are almost same, therefore the translator chooses scramble as the cultural equivalent of pontang panting. And then, the translator attempts to describe the word memikulnya as the way to make easy understanding for the readers by showing the component meaning of the word memikulnya, Based on the analysis above, both cultural equivalent and descriptive equivalent has qualities of domesticating. Looking at the combination of the two procedures discussed above and the tendency between source language and receptor language of the result of that translation, it can be said that cultural equivalent and descriptive equivalent are the domesticating strategy.
11. Kopiah … para siswa yang memakai sarung, … three rows of students wearing kopiah, dan baju takwa. (Page 219)
sarongs, traditional Muslim caps and Islamic outfits. (Page 178)
117
A.S. Hornby (2000), op.cit. p. 1192.
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As data (11) shows, kopiah is translated into traditional Muslim caps. It is classified into cultural word that refers to clothes (material culture). Hence, there is no similar name for kopiah in English; the translator applies the procedure of descriptive equivalent by describing this word into traditional Muslim caps. The word caps as the generic word of kopiah is described by addition the phrase traditional Muslim as the component of meaning of the word kopiah in order to make reader without difficulty understand the words. It can be said that the translator employs descriptive equivalent with a generic word. Such translator’s choice emphasizes the comprehensible translation for RL readers by its description. The analysis of procedure shows that the translator cut the foreignness taste since she does not retain the original word kopiah. The SL word is never mentioned in its original form; as a result, the SL culture concept does not seem to be translated. So, it can be assumed that description equivalent is domesticating strategy.
12. Tabla Dia duduk sendirian menabuh tabla, He beat a tabla – traditional drum … … (Page 223)
(Page 181)
The data (12) indicates that the Belitong musical instrument tabla is translated into a tabla – traditional drum. This word is cultural word that refers to musical instrument (material culture). It is identified that the translator uses the procedure of notes in translating the word tabla. She borrows the original word
53
first and then gives the addition within text. The addition is an explanation traditional drum as noun phrase, therefore it can also be stated that this case of cultural word is translated by using notes with the explanation as noun. Same with data (4) and (9), in this case, this procedure can be said as the procedure of notes which is developed by neutralizing strategy.
13. Cinta Monyet … bahwa hal ini sedikit banyak … that my sudden change of heart berhubungan
dengan
urusan
monyet. (Page 250)
cinta more or less had to do with cinta monyet – monkey love, or puppy love. (Page 204)
The data (13) above shows that the word cinta monyet as cultural words that refers to social culture (human relation), is rendered into cinta monyet – monkey love, or puppy love. There are three ways that the translator does, namely: she borrows the word cinta monyet, she translates that word literally into monkey love, and she gives the addition puppy love. As the data (4), (9) and (12), it is identified that the translator also uses notes as the way to translate this culture word. However, for this case, the explanation after the loan word is an alternative by using preposition “or”. Related to translation strategy, it can be mentioned as neutralizing strategy, since the procedure used is notes in which it composes the balance result. It means the result of translation above is at the middle point of the consideration of the tendency of source language and receptor language.
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14. Peneng Sepeda … di sana sini ditempeli bekas peneng … it was covered in peneng sepeda – sepeda … (Page 305)
the stickers used back in the day to show that the bicycle tax had been paid (Page 263)
The data (14) above shows that the cultural word peneng sepeda that refers to equipments (material culture) is translated into peneng sepeda – the stickers used back in the day to show that the bicycle tax had been paid. As the data analysis (4), (9), (12) and (13), this way is identified as the procedure of notes. The word peneng sepeda is borrowed first, and then the translator gives the explanation the stickers used back in the day to show that the bicycle tax had been paid. It can be assumed that this is the procedure of notes in parentheses. The parentheses means the long form in addition that is the stickers used back in the day to show that the bicycle tax had been paid This procedure is the way for introduce the Indonesian culture as the implementation of faithful principle in translation and produce the translation that is accepted for the receptor readers. This procedure can be claimed as neutralizing strategy, that is, oriented on source language by preserving the original word and form and also focused on receptor language by giving explanation to make the translation to be more comprehensible.
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15. Randu Setiap pulang kerja aku sering duduk One day, when I came home from melamun di pokok pohon randu, …. sorting letters, I sat down alone under a (Page 441)
random tree … (Page 421)
As data (15) above, it can be identified that the noun phrase pohon randu is rendered into a random tree. This word is a cultural word that refers to the name of tree (ecology). pohon randu is only partially translated by naturalized borrowing, as the word pohon is literally translated into tree. The rendition of the word randu into random is misleading, since it will be occurred the different meaning in the mind between SL readers and RL readers. It won’t be the same effect as the concept of Nida’s dynamic equivalent. Actually, randu is the name of tree in Indonesia. According to KLII, the English equivalent of randu is “kapok (tree); Roger (message received and understood in radio communication”.118 Meanwhile, based on OXFORD dictionary, the word random means “done, chosen, etc. without somebody thinking or deciding in advance what is going to happen”.119 Those definitions are exactly not relevant with the translation random. This procedure should not be applied to translate that proper name. Related to translation strategy, the translator seems to produce the translation that makes the readers confuse by her translation a random tree. The readers can be assumed that a random tree is a tree chosen at random from all the
118
Alan M. Stevens and A. Ed. Schmidgall-Tellings, Kamus Lengkap Indonesia Inggris (Bandung: Mizan, 2009), p. 804. 119 A.S. Hornby (2000), op.cit. p. 1090.
56
names of trees, or whatever meaning which is ambiguous. Moreover, she throws away the original concept of pohon randu by rendering the word randu into random. So, it can be concluded that this translation is developed by foreignizing strategy.
16. Apel Korpri Aku mengutuki diri sendiri terutama I cursed myself every time I had to ketika apel Korpri tanggal 17. (Page stand in the post office’s yard on the 443)
17th day of every month for the Indonesian Government Employee Corps flag ceremony. (Page 423)
Here, the words apel Korpri in SL text is rendered into Indonesian Government Employee Corps flag ceremony. These words can be categorized into cultural word that refers to habits. It is an Indonesian people habit to mainly memorize the Indonesian heroes that had done the struggle to fight for the Indonesian independence. The translation Indonesian Government Employee Corps flag ceremony is identified as the result of the procedure of descriptive equivalent by the translator in which she explain the words in abbreviation form to be detail in order to make the translation to be comprehensible. The word apel is described as flag ceremony; while the abbreviation Korpri that refers to “Korps
57
Pegawai Republik Indonesia”120 is elucidated into Indonesian Government Employee Corps flag ceremony. From Larson’s suggestion, descriptive equivalent can be divided into two kinds, namely: descriptive equivalent with a generic word and descriptive equivalent with a loan word. However, this way is not mentioned in that suggestion. It is descriptive equivalent by explaining the abbreviation. Looking at the effect of that translation that is understandable for RL readers by describing the component of word, it can be assumed that the translator applies domesticating strategy.
17. Bungkus Rokok Jambu Bol … Di pojok bertumpuk-tumpuk kaleng … In the corner, there were piles of minyak solar, bungkus rokok Jambu kerosene cans, cigarette packs, … Bol, … (Page 467)
(Page 440)
According to data (17) above, the phrase bungkus rokok Jambu Bol as cultural word that refers to tools (material culture) is translated into cigarette packs. Jambu Bol as the brand of Indonesian cigarette is not rendered. The translator does not present that word. It is identified that the translator uses the procedure of reduction. It can be assumed that the translator doesn’t want to make the reader confuse when they understand the meaning, therefore she cuts the foreign word Jambu Bol. It is also done for avoiding the ambiguity; since the
120
Departemen Pendidikan Nasional (2008), op.cit. p. 1638.
58
English equivalent of jambu is the rose-apple as fruit,121 not the brand of cigarette. Moreover, the word cigarette packs is enough to express the word bungkus rokok Jambu Bol and may convey the information of SL words. This procedure is assumed as the domesticating translation strategy, because the result is focused on receptor language in which the translator does not present the foreign word (Jambu Bol).
C. The General Elaboration
The general elaboration is divided into two sections, namely: the procedure of translation and the strategy of translation. Here are the explanations:
1. The Procedure of Translation
Based on data analysis, there are seven procedures used by the translator to translate 17 selected cultural words in Laskar Pelangi, namely: pure borrowing, naturalized borrowing, notes (pemadanan bercatatan), cultural equivalent, functional equivalent, description equivalent, and reduction. The context of cultural words is the main reason for the translator in deciding the procedure. Each context of cultural words has the problem itself which must be solved by the translator through choosing the right procedure in order to get the best result for RL readers. As Newmark says, there are some contextual factors in translating, such as purpose of text, motivation-cultural-
121
John M. Echols and Hassan Shadily, Kamus Indonesia Inggris (Jakarta: Gramedia, 2003), p. 233.
59
technical-linguistic level of readership, importance of referent in SL text, setting (does recognized translation exist?), recency of word/referent, and future of referent.122 In translating cultural words, the most commonly procedure used by the translator are pure borrowing, notes, and descriptive equivalent. Pure borrowing is employed for three times by its variety, namely: wholly italic, partial italic, and without italic. Data
SL
RL
1
Dul Muluk
Dul Muluk (Wholly Italic)
2
Pamanda Guru
Pamanda Guru (Partial Italic)
8
Pangkalan Punai
Pangkalan Punai (Without Italic)
As the explanation in data analysis, “wholly italic” is applied for the cultural words written in italic form in original version. Dul Muluk is written in “wholly italic” in original form. “Partial italic” is conducted for the case of cultural word that has double meaning or the ambiguous cultural word. In this case, the word Pamanda is ambiguous. The first meaning refers to English word uncle, while, the second meaning is the saying to elder people in Malay culture, especially in Belitong. “Without italic” is done for the cultural words that can be easily understood by the readers. Pangkalan Punai is the recreation place that is probably known by the readers if they understand the context of it. Here, the writer takes into opinion that it is needed to apply pure borrowing in translating cultural words in novel, since it aims to make the readers
122
Peter Newmark (1988), op.cit. p. 103.
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feel the situation of Indonesian culture. Of course, it will be advantageous for the readers. The English readers can get the new knowledge about the Indonesian culture. The procedure of notes within the text is used for five times by its variety, such as notes as compound noun, notes as a participial group, notes as noun phrase, notes as alternative, and notes as parentheses. This procedure is applied to render the real cultural words. It means cultural words that are unique and really unknown in receptor language.
Data 4
SL Dasa Dharma Pramuka
RL Dasa Dharma Pramuka – the Boy Scout Promise (as compound noun)
9
menata janur
menata janur - a Malay wedding decoration (as a participial group)
12
tabla
a tabla – traditional drum (as noun phrase)
13
cinta monyet
cinta monyet – monkey love, or puppy love (as alternative)
14
peneng sepeda
peneng sepeda – the stickers used back in the day to show that the bicycle in tax had been paid (as parentheses)
Meanwhile, descriptive equivalent is conducted for three times by the different ways, namely: descriptive equivalent with a generic word, descriptive equivalent with a loan word and descriptive equivalent by explaining the abbreviation. Descriptive equivalent is appropriate in translating cultural words that are not found in English culture but considered important enough in the text.
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Data
SL
RL
5
libur lebaran
Lebaran school break (using loan word)
11
kopiah
Traditional Muslim caps (using genericword)
16
apel Korpri
Indonesia Government Employee Corps flag ceremony (explaining the abbreviation)
The translator also applies functional equivalent for two times in the different case, namely: functional equivalent with a loan word and generic word.
Data
SL
RL
6
azan zuhur
zuhur call to prayer (using loan word)
7
mantri suntik
male hospital orderlies in charge of giving vaccinations (using generic word)
The first one (data 6 translation) is almost same with notes, that is, there is a loan word zuhur and the explanation as the function. But, there is no hyphen mark at the middle between them. The second one is different with the first one, since the generic word male hospital is a componential analysis of the word mantri. It also can be said, the translator applies functional equivalent for Indonesian occupation and religion concept which are unknown for readers. Descriptive equivalent and functional equivalent are employed to neutralize or generalize a SL cultural word by using a form or function. On the other hand, they are applied when the translator finds SL word cannot be transferred as it is. Therefore, it needs obvious explanation to translate it.
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Naturalized borrowing (naturalization) is employed for translating the proper name randu (of the phrase pohon randu) into random. Cultural equivalent is conducted when communicative situation is difficult to understand in the culture of RL. When the situation of SL doesn’t exist in RL, other equivalent situation has to be created. Cultural equivalent is used for translating the drink air jeruk sambal, since there is a drink in RL culture that resembles to air jeruk sambal. This procedure is the good solution in applying “dynamic equivalence”. Meanwhile, reduction is applied for translating the word bungkus rokok jambu bol into cigarette packs. It is used to delete the brand of cigarette that is not needed in the translation. The translator seems to use this procedure if the word’s meaning is not found in RL culture and the importance is minor. In addition, she also does the mixed procedure, namely cultural equivalent + descriptive equivalent. This mixed procedure is specialized to translate the complex cultural word pontang panting memikulnya into scramble back with them on your shoulder.
2. The Strategy of Translation
According to data analysis, the translator applies all strategies, namely: foreignizing, neutralizing, and domesticating. Foreignizing is applied in translating four selected cultural words, such as Dul Muluk, Pamanda Guru, and Pangkalan Punai. Neutralizing is applied to translate five selected cultural words, like menata janur, tabla, and cinta monyet. Meanwhile, the translator employs domesticating in translating eight selected cultural words, for example kopiah, azan zuhur, and air jeruk sambal. In other words, from 17 selected cultural words,
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it can be terminated that 4 SCW (selected cultural words) are foreignized, 5 SCW are neutral, 8 SCW are domesticated. Therefore, it can be concluded that, the most frequently translation strategy applied is domesticating. As the issue of meaning-based translation to form-based translation that implicates the debate between foreignizing and domesticating. Then the neutralizing tries to neutralize the dispute. The translator has three options to render a cultural word. It can be foreignized, domesticated, or neutral. It depends on the aims that the translator intends. Cultural words in Laskar Pelangi are mainly domesticated in translation. It indicates that the translator aimed at acceptability. Despite the fact that domesticating will cut the promoting the foreign culture for RL readers, bearing in mind the novel lovers mainly interested at the entertaining story which is developed by the comprehensible translation. Their interests are in the plot, but not in the SL culture. Domesticating includes four procedures, namely: cultural equivalent, functional equivalent, descriptive equivalent, and reduction. In the writer’s opinion, the factor affecting the choice of domesticating is the purpose of the translator. This translation is made for general kinds of readers, thus domesticating is preferred. As the translator (Angie Kilbane) says in her note, “one of our goals in translating Laskar Pelangi into English is to share it with the world-not just Southeast Asian Studies libraries and classes. In the hope that Laskar Pelangi will appeal to a wider audience, …”123
123
Andrea Hirata, the Rainbow Troops. Translator, Angie Kilbane. (Yogyakarta: Bentang, 2009), p. 467.
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Meanwhile, neutralizing as the solution of the dispute between foreignizing and domesticating, is the second most commonly strategy applied by the translator. It is the best way to translate the cultural words. As Nababan states that the best way for translating the word that has no equivalent in other language is preserved the original word then giving the annotation to explain it.124 The result by using this way will be accurate as source language and accepted for receptor language. This strategy employs the procedure of notes. However, the translator tends to use receptor language oriented translation by employing domesticating. For the reason that it is not good to apply notes procedure which is developed by neutralizing for all cultural specific items in whole text, since it will make the reader busy to read the explanation. For the best way, using notes just for really specific cultural words in which the RL readers don’t know that concept. Foreignizing includes pure borrowing and naturalized borrowing. It occurs when cultural words have already been known by readers such as cultural word of proper name Pangkalan Punai. Considering the fact that such cultural words that the readers probably know and understand the concept, the translator hardly ever applies foreignizing. The translator doesn’t make the reader confused when they read the novel. She wants to make the translation that does not look like a translation (invisible), but like the author's original essay, so, the readers feels the translation as if the original.
124
M. Rudolf Nababan (2003), op.cit. p. 37.
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CHAPTER IV CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION
A. Conclusion
Language is unique. It has special characteristic that is bound by culture, therefore in the case of translating of cultural words in which its concept is unknown for readers, the translator often face the problem which is untranslatability. However, because of language is universal, it may be to render the cultural words in a language to another language. Despite the fact that translation of cultural word is hard job evens it is impossible, in the writer’s opinion, it is possible. Actually, the impossible is the rendition of the same surface structure (grammatical); while for the case of rendition of the similar deep structure (meaning), it is possible. Based on research finding, it can be concluded that are as follows: 1. The translator uses 7 procedures in translating selected cultural words of Laskar Pelangi, namely: a. Pure borrowing: (1) with italic, (2) partial italic, and (3) without italic; b. Naturalized borrowing; c. Notes: (1) as alternative, (2) as noun: compound noun and noun phrase, (3) as a participial group, (4) as parentheses; d. Cultural equivalent; e. Functional equivalent: (1) using a generic word and (2) using a loan word;
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f. Descriptive equivalent: (1) with a generic word and (2) with a loan word, and (3) explaining the abbreviation; g. Reduction. 2. The most frequently translation strategy of cultural words in Laskar Pelangi is domesticating; 3. The relation between translation procedure and translation strategy can be illustrated as follows:
Table 2: The Relation of Translation Procedure to Translation Strategy
THE STRATEGY
Foreignizing
Neutralizing
Domesticating Cultural Equivalent Functional
Pure Borrowing Notes
THE PROCEDURE Naturalized Borrowing
Equivalent Description Equivalent Reduction
B. Suggestion
It should be noted that the best strategy for translating the cultural words is neutralizing by employing the procedure of notes. It is a solution to solve the untranslatability and to resolve peacefully the dispute between foreignizing and domesticating. In the writer’s suggestion, it is necessary to conduct the further research about the procedure of notes (pemadanan bercatatan) and its categorization based on Newmark’s notes theory.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
Books: A.S. Hornby. 2000. Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Current English. New York: Oxford University Press. Baker, Mona. 1992. In Other Words: A Coursebook on Translation. Newyork: Routledge. Brown, Dan. 2009. The Lost Symbol. Newyork: Doubleday. ________. 2010. The Lost Symbol, translated by Ingrid Dwijani Nimpoeno. Yogyakarta: Bentang. Cartford, J.C. 1965. A Linguistic Theory of Translation. London: Oxford University Press. Corder, S.Pit. 1973. Introducing Applied Lingustics. Great Britain: Hazell Watson 7 Viney. Duff, Alan. 1981. The Third language: Recurrent Problems of Translation into English. Oxford: Pergamon Press. Echols, John M. and Hassan Shadily. 2003. Kamus Indonesia Inggris. Jakarta: Gramedia. Ganesha, Surjo. “Penerjemahan Novel Dalam Diskusi”. Jurnal Lintas Bahasa No.26/XII/8/2004. Depok: Pusat Penerjemahan Fakultas Ilmu Budaya Universitas Indonesia. Hatim, Basil and Ian Mason. 1997. The Translator as Communicator. London: Routledge. Hervey, Sándor and Ian Higgins. 1992. Thinking Translation: A Course in Translation Method: French-English. London and Newyork: Routledge. Hoed, Benny H. 1992. Kala dalam Novel: Fungsi dan Penerjemahannya. Yogyakarta: Gadjah Mada University Press. ___________. 2007. “Transparansi dalam Penerjemahan”, PELBBA 18 (Pertemuan Linguistik Pusat Kajian Bahasa dan Budaya Atma Jaya Kedelapan Belas), ed. Yasir Nasanius. Jakarta: Pusat Kajian Bahasa dan Budaya UNIKA ATMA JAYA JAKARTA.
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Hirata, Andrea. 2008. Laskar Pelangi. Yogyakarta: Bentang ___________. 2009. the Rainbow Troops, translated by Angie Kilbane. Yogyakarta: Bentang Kamei, Chuici. 2007. “Domesticating and Foreignizing Approaches in JapaneseEnglish Translation.” Translation and Cultural Dialogue. Bogor: Association of Indonesian Translator. Larson, Mildred. 1984. Meaning-Based Translation: A Guide to Cross-Language Equivalence. Lanham: University Press of America. Machali, Rochayah. 2000. Pedoman bagi Penerjemah. Jakarta: Grasindo. Moentaha, Salihen. 2006. Bahasa dan Terjemahan. Jakarta: Kesaint Blanc. Munday, Jeremy. 2001. Introducing Translation Studies: Theories and Applications. London and Newyork: Routledge. Nababan, M. Rudolf. 2003. Teori Menerjemah Bahasa Inggris. Yogyakarta: Pustaka Pelajar. Newmark, Peter. 1981. Approaches to Translation. Oxford: Pergamon Press. ____________. 1988. A Textbook of Translation. Hertfordshire: Prentice Hall International Ltd. Nida, E.A. 1964. Toward Science of Translating. Leiden: E.J.Brill. Nida, E.A. and Charles Taber. 1982. The Teory and Practice of Translation. Leiden: E.J. Brill Sakri, Adjat. 1985. Ihwal Menerjemahkan. Bandung: ITB. Sanning, He. 2007. “Lost and Found in Translating Tourist text: Domesticating, Foreignising or Neutralizing Approach”, Translation and Cultural Dialogue. Bogor: Association of Indonesian Translator. Savory, Theodore. 1986. The Art of Translation. London: Jonathan Cape Ltd. Sayogie, Frans. 2009. Teori dan Praktek Penerjemahan: Bahasa Inggris ke dalam Bahasa Indonesia. Tangerang: Pustaka Anak Negeri. Sholichin, Tresnati S. 2003. “Penerjemahan Karya Sastra dan Penerjemahan Buku Anak”. Jurnal Lintas Bahasa No. 23/XI/8/2003. Depok: Pusat Penerjemahan Fakultas Ilmu Budaya Universitas Indonesia.
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Silalahi, Roswita. 2009. “Dampak Teknik, Metode, dan Ideologi Penerjemahan pada Kualitas Terjemahan Teks Medical-Surgical Nursing dalam Bahasa Indonesia”, Dissertation. Medan: The Library of North Sumatra University. Simatupang, Maurits. 2000. Pengantar Teori Terjemahan. Jakarta: Direktorat Jenderal Pendidikan Tinggi Departemen Pendidikan Nasional. Stevens, Alan M. and A. Ed. Schmidgall-Tellings. 2009. Kamus Lengkap Indonesia – Inggris. Bandung: Mizan. Suryawinata, Zuchridin and Sugeng Hariyanto. 2003. Translation: Bahasan Teori dan Penuntun Praktis Menerjemahkan. Yogyakarta: Kanisius. Vinay, Jean Paul and Jean Darbelnet. 2000. “A Methodology for Translation”, The Translation Studies Reader.2nd edition, ed. L. Venuti. London and Newyork: Routledge. Venuti, Lawrence. 1995. The Translator Invisibility: A History of Translation. London & Newyork: Routledge. Wills, Wolfram. 1982. “Translation Equivalence”, Ten Paper on Translation, ed. Richard B.Noss. Singapura: SEAMEO Regional Language Centre.
Websites: Anonymous, Tarif Penerjemahan Himpunan Penerjemah Indonesia. Accessed on November 7th 2010. http://anindyamaharani.blogdetik.com/2010/10/21/tarifpenerjemahan-hpi/ Behtash, E. Z. and Sepideh Firoozkoohi, 2009. “A Diachronic Study of Domestication and Foreignization Strategies of Cultural-Specific Items: in English-Persian Translation of Six of Hemingway’s Works”, World Applied Science Journal 7. Accessed on January 2th 2011. http://www.idosi.org/wasj/wasj7%2812%29/19.pdf Mazi-Lezkovar, Darja. 2003. Domestication and Foreignization in Translating American Prose for Slovenian Children. Accessed on January 2th 2011. http://www.erudit.org/revue/meta/2003/v48/n1-2/006972ar.html Molina, Lucia and Amparo. H. Albir. 2002. “Translation Techniques Revisited: A Dynamic and Functionalist Approach”, Meta: Translators’ Journal Vol. 47 no. 4. Accessed on January 2th 2011. http://www.erudit.org/revue/meta/2002 /v47/n4/008033ar.pdf.
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Sumardiono, Lokalisasi dalam Penerjemahan. Aceessed on January 9th 2011. http://dion-zydion2i.blogspot.com/2009/10/karya-ilmiah-lokalisasidalam.html The Free Dictionary. Accessed on February 1st 2011. http://www.thefreedictionary.com/orange+juice Thriveni,C. 2004. Cultural Elements in Translation. Accessed on November 7th 2010. http://accurapid.com/journal/19culture.htm Yang, Wenfen. 2010. “Brief Study on Domestication and Foreignization in Translation”, Journal of Language Teaching and Research, Vol.1, No.1, PP. 77-80. Accessed on January 2th 2011.http://ojs.academypublisher.com/index. php/jltr/article/view/2413
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APPENDICES
A. SYNOPSIS Laskar Pelangi or the Rainbow
Troops set on Belitong Island,
Indonesia. It tells the story about a tight-knit group of students and
their teacher fighting for education
and dignity, even as they face continual hardship. Fabulously rich
in natural resources, Belitong is also home to chronic poverty and
educational discrimination. This amazing story tells of a persistent-young teacher and her tireless
efforts to fight for her ten students’ right to an education. Together,
they take the reader on a journey through the beauty of childhood
friendship, the inspiration of love,
and the power of education. The
students’ magnetic personalities
and unflagging determination are sure to inspire.
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B. BIOGRAPHY 1. Andrea Hirata (The Author) Andrea Hirata Seman Said Harun was born in Belitong, October 24th (the year of his birth was secret for public). He is the fourth son of his parent, Seman Said Harun and N.A. Matsurah. In Belitong, he spent his childhood until senior high school. After graduating from senior high school, he moved to Java to study in University of Indonesia. He is an intellectual-man and a backpacker. He graduated from University of Indonesia for economic department and then he got scholarship program of Europe for Master of Science study in Universite de Paris, Sorbonne, Perancis and Sheffield Hallam University, United Kingdom. He earned Cum Laude and his thesis in economic of telecommunication was appreciated by both of universities. That thesis has been adapted in the book of telecommunication economic theory in Indonesian. Laskar Pelangi is the first book of Laskar Pelangi quartet. It shattered national sales records, making Andrea Hirata the bestselling author in Indonesia to date, reached over 5 million readers, and contributed significantly to the development of modern Indonesian literature. The second, third and fourth book of Laskar Pelangi quartet are Sang Pemimpi, Edensor, and Maryamah Karpov. Actually, Laskar Pelangi is not the first book of him, it is his second book. The first book is the business economic book. The title is “The Science of Business”.
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2. Angie Kilbane (The Translator) Laskar Pelangi was translated into English to be the Rainbow Troops by Angie Kilbane. Angie Kilbane is a woman journalist from England who certainly is not ordinary translator. She came to Indonesia in 2007 as a Fulbright scholar, then, she picked up a “Darmasiswa” scholarship in 2008. Next thing she knew, she was sitting in lecture halls at the University of Indonesia studying Indonesian literature. When
she
especially
visited to
Belitong,
Andrea
Hirata
brother’s home, she was asked by Andrea Hirata to translate Laskar Pelangi. She began the translation at the end of March 2008. She worked it everywhere, at home, in taxis, at cafes, on airplanes, in airports and during lunch at school. She had finished the translation for seven months. In Indonesia, she has also taught in elementary and junior high school of the Lazuardi Global Islamic School in Cinere and Cilandak for three year by using Cambridge Curriculum.
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C. TRANSLATOR’S NOTE
Translator’s Note I FIRST heard the name Laskar Pelangi in September 2008. All of a sudden it was everywhere: the book, the song, the movie. The first book of Andrea Hirata’s life-inspired quartet, Laskar Pelangi has taken Indonesia by storm since its release in 2005, selling a record number of copies. Its popularity remains unsurpassed. In 2008, it was adapted to film, and in that medium it has earned awards and gained recognition worldwide. As both a story and a literary work, Laskar Pelangi is priceless — so admired that men have proposed to women using this book in place of a ring. It contains a unique, new way of telling a story. Set on the Indonesian island of Belitong, Laskar Pelangi conveys a sad tale with laughter and lightheartedness. It tells of oppressed people protesting in admirably good humor, without swearing, without violence, without a divisive political movement, and without anyone to take up their cause. The vicissitudes of growing up are depicted brilliantly; the reader will be touched by an absurd yet pure first love, and one can’t help but smile at the innocence of the children as they earnestly plan their futures. Above all, Laskar Pelangi tackles serious issues, such as the right to education and corporate exploitation, while framing them within the tale of a beautiful childhood journey and friendship. Having been deeply affected by the Belitong I encountered in the book, I had to go there. So my friend Kate and I planned a Christmas trip to Belitong— and by planned, I mean bought tickets and left the rest up to fate. We happened to stay with Andrea Hirata’s brother, Pak Diding, and his family while we were there. We fell in love with Belitong: the people, the landscape, the culture. It felt like a home away from home. A few months later, Andrea asked me to review two drafts of translations for the book. I gave him my opinion, and he eventually asked me if I would translate it. As a student of literature at Universitas Indonesia at the
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time, I was both delighted and intimidated by this offer. I accepted, and we began the translation at the end of March 2009. Translating this masterpiece was no easy task. It took seven months. I worked on it at home, in taxis, at cafés, on airplanes, in airports and during lunch at school. I worked on it on Java, Bali, Sumatera and Belitong; in Singapore, America, Malaysia and South Korea. This translation has seen its fair share of places. Some parts were easier than others, and I had a lot of help along the way.One thing that was very important and difficult to master was conveying the correct emotion in English in the same way Andrea conveyed it in the Indonesian version. Along with trying to tap into universal emotions, the overall construction of irony in the book was one of the biggest challenges in taking on this translation, as was trying to figure out how we wanted to translate the words Laskar Pelangi. The film has had a number of international debuts, and in those debuts they used “Rainbow Troops,” we decided to stick with that for consistency. I am not crazy about the phrase in English and have already heard many criticisms of it, and for those reasons, after the phrase Laskar Pelangi is used in the book and defined in English, the Indonesian phrase is used for the duration. Cultural translation and its attendant quandaries—knowing when to explain something and when to just leave it as is—were our constant concern. One of our goals in translating Laskar Pelangi into English is to share it with the world—not just Southeast Asian Studies libraries and classes. In the hope that Laskar Pelangi will appeal to a wider audience, we decided to stay away from glossaries and footnotes. Another goal in translating Laskar Pelangi was to provide Indonesian students of English with a study reference written by someone from their own country. Indonesian students are often given assignments with English novels— what better inspiration and motivation for them than a book by one of their countrymen about their country. The epic journey that is Laskar Pelangi, the character of the book itself and the central theme of education (from any angle: the way people value their existence, in the community, amongst each other) all contribute to making this
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book a universally touching experience. Education is a basic human right, and all over the world there are children and teachers who are still struggling to secure this right. I recently had a discussion with a teacher in Central Java who sometimes loses junior high students due to their need to work. Not unlike Bu Mus and Pak Harfan, he makes less than $25 USD/month, and often goes above and beyond his teaching duties, making house calls to check up on students who have been absent more than three days in a row. For reasons of poverty, marriage, lack of teachers, lack of students, not to mention natural and social disasters, many children do not have access to education. Laskar Pelangi is a product of and a medium for the inspiration to overcome these circumstances. This is one of the reasons the book has been so popular in Indonesia. I am honored to have had the opportunity to translate this book. Many people have helped me, and this is part where I write my elongated Thank Yous. I would like to thank Andrea Hirata for entrusting me with translating his masterpiece. Andrea himself has had a very active role in the translation. We have had many ups and downs while working on this project, and it would not be anywhere near as good as it is without him. I recruited some very intelligent friends to help with the project. My editors, Emily Hanna Mayock and John Colombo, have spent countless hours reviewing the work. Their input and corrections have been invaluable. Jewel Aldea has been kind enough to be the final proofreader (aside from Andrea), and her contributions have really given the translation a polished finish. I would like to thank Pak Haidar Bagir and Pak Putut Widjanarko from Mizan Publishing, and also Pak Salman Faridi from Bentang Publishing for their support and patience throughout this process. Thanks to Azmil Tayeb for his comments, Lindsey Frick for being my coffeeshop working companion while I was in the States, Intan for sharing his experiences, and my friends in Belitong for welcoming me into their lives. I would like to also thank SMK Muhammadiyah 3, Singosari-Malang and Lazuardi Global Islamic School (SD SMP Cinere and SMP Cilandak) for giving me the opportunity to teach at their schools and providing me with precious life
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experiences. Thank you to Bonang and Menteng Jaya communities for studying with me and showing me the value of informal education and community togetherness (made possible by Nurani Dunia Foundation). Of course a big terima kasih to my Bahasa Indonesia teachers from my days at Ohio University: Ibu Suharni and Ibu Maryani. Thanks to Nidji for their inspirational song Laskar Pelangi, which has the power to pick anyone up when they are down, and to Mira Lesmana and Riri Riza for adapting the book into such a powerful film? I owe many thanks to Bu Gita and Pak Imam Prasodjo for their advice and encouragement, to all of my ETA friends from our grant period 2007-2008, and those who came after us—you are all great. And last but not least, to my family, for tolerating my absence and their constant support and love. I hope everyone loves this story as much as I do. Selamat membaca.
Angie Kilbane Jakarta, October 4th, 2009 (Cited in the Rainbow Troops page 465-470)
