Translation with the Ideal Equivalent

Oct 13, 2025 by talynt.org 32 views

The Cultural Meaning of Culture in Literature Works: A Study of Cases of the Translation of the Animal Farm Novel in Indonesian

Introduction

The translation of literary works is a complex process that involves not only the transfer of words and phrases from one language to another but also the transmission of cultural meaning and nuances. This study examines the translation of George Orwell's novel, Animal Farm, into Indonesian, "Hewan Pemberontak", by Mahbud Djunaidi, and explores the cultural meaning of culture in the translation process. The research aims to identify the categories of cultural meaning and equivalent variation, reveal the typology of the translation of cultural meaning, analyze the translation strategy used, identify and analyze shifts in translation, and find factors causing shifts.

Variations of the Cultural Meaning of the Meaning of Animal Farm and "Hewan Pemberontak"

The analysis of the data shows that the meaning of culture in Animal Farm and "Hewan Pemberontak" in the form of words and phrases whose equivalents vary. One word or phrase in the source text can be matched with one word or phrase, two or three, even four words in the target text. This variation shows that the translator faces challenges in finding the appropriate cultural meaning and still maintaining the original nuances of the source text.

Typology of the Translation of Cultural Meaning

This research found four typologies of the translation of cultural meaning:

Translation with the Ideal Equivalent: Perfect and accurate equivalent, so that the meaning of culture in the source text is well maintained in the target text.
Translation of Equivalent but Not Correspondent: Equivalent that has a similar meaning but is not exactly the same as the meaning of culture in the source text.
The Translation is Equivalent but the Meaning is Not Correspondent: The equivalent that linguistically has similarities, but the meaning of the cultural implicit in the source text is not well represented in the target text.
The Translation is Not Equivalent: The translation that does not have a similar meaning to the source text.

Translation Strategy Applied

Translation Animal Farm to "Hewan Pemberontak" involves various translation strategies, both structural and semantic:

Structural Strategy:

Reduction: Eliminating linguistic elements in the source text to adjust to the target language structure.
Transposition: Changing the word class or sentence structure in the source text to adjust to the target language structure.

Semantic Strategy:

Synonymy: Using a word or phrase that has a meaning that is similar to the word or phrase in the source text.
Cultural Adaptation: Adjusting the meaning of culture in the source text with the cultural context of the target text reader.
Lending that is Naturalized: Borrowing words or phrases from the source language and adapting them into the target language.
Description/Amplification: Add additional explanations or details to clarify the meaning of culture in the source text.
Removal: Eliminating the meaning of certain cultures in the source text that is considered irrelevant or difficult to translate.

Shifts (Shifts) in Translation

This study found three types of shifts in the translation of Animal Farm:

Unit Shift: Changes in linguistic unit levels, such as the word to phrase, phrases into words, or phrases into clauses.
Structural Shift: Changes in sentence structure or phrases in the target text compared to the source text.
Class Shift: Class changes in words, such as nouns into verbs or vice versa.

Factors Causing Shifts (Shifts)

The main factor causing a shift in the translation of Animal Farm is the uniqueness and arbitrary language of the source language and the target language.

The Uniqueness of Source Language: Structure, meaning, and connotation of words in the source language may not have exact equivalents in the target language.

Target Language Language: The translator must adjust the translation to the grammar rules and the target language style.

Character Shift (Shifts)

The shift that occurs in the translation of Animal Farm can be categorized as:

Mandatory: Shifts caused by differences in structure or meaning between the source language and the target language. Manasuka:* The shift made by the translator based on its own consideration, such as to clarify the meaning or adjust to the cultural context of the target text reader.

Implications and Conclusions

This research provides a deeper understanding of the complexity of translation of the meaning of culture in literary works. Translators face challenges in finding the right equivalent, and often must make complicated decisions to balance the loyalty of the source text with the needs of the target text reader.

This study also shows that shifts in translation are unavoidable things, but this does not mean that translation becomes inaccurate or loss of meaning. Professional and experienced translators are able to make a wise shift and maintain the original nuances of the source text.

In conclusion, the translation of Animal Farm to "Hewan Pemberontak" is an interesting example of how the translator faces challenges in finding the equivalent of cultural meaning, and how the shift that occurs in the translation can affect the understanding of the target text readers.

Recommendations

Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations are made:

Translator Training: Translators should receive training on the cultural nuances of the source and target languages to improve their ability to find the right equivalent.
Translation Strategy: Translators should use a combination of structural and semantic strategies to ensure that the translation is accurate and culturally sensitive.
Shifts in Translation: Translators should be aware of the types of shifts that can occur in translation and make informed decisions about how to handle them.
Cultural Context: Translators should consider the cultural context of the target text reader and adjust the translation accordingly.

Limitations of the Study

This study has several limitations, including:

Limited Data: The study only analyzed a single translation of Animal Farm, which may not be representative of all translations of the novel.
Limited Scope: The study only examined the translation of cultural meaning and did not consider other aspects of translation, such as syntax and semantics.
Limited Generalizability: The findings of this study may not be generalizable to other translations of literary works.

Future Research Directions

Future research should build on the findings of this study and explore the following research directions:

Translation of Cultural Meaning: Further research should examine the translation of cultural meaning in other literary works and explore the challenges and strategies involved.
Shifts in Translation: Research should investigate the types of shifts that occur in translation and how they affect the understanding of the target text readers.
Cultural Context: Research should explore the role of cultural context in translation and how it affects the translation of cultural meaning.

Conclusion

This study provides a deeper understanding of the complexity of translation of the meaning of culture in literary works. The findings of this study highlight the challenges faced by translators in finding the right equivalent and the importance of considering the cultural context of the target text reader. The study also provides recommendations for translators and future research directions.
Q&A: The Cultural Meaning of Culture in Literature Works

Introduction

The translation of literary works is a complex process that involves not only the transfer of words and phrases from one language to another but also the transmission of cultural meaning and nuances. In our previous article, we explored the cultural meaning of culture in the translation of George Orwell's novel, Animal Farm, into Indonesian, "Hewan Pemberontak". In this Q&A article, we will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about the cultural meaning of culture in literature works.

Q: What is the cultural meaning of culture in literature works?

A: The cultural meaning of culture in literature works refers to the way in which cultural values, norms, and practices are represented and transmitted through language. It involves the translation of cultural nuances, idioms, and expressions that are specific to a particular culture or language.

Q: Why is the cultural meaning of culture important in literature works?

A: The cultural meaning of culture is important in literature works because it helps to convey the cultural context and nuances of the source text. It also helps to ensure that the translation is accurate and culturally sensitive, which is essential for effective communication between cultures.

Q: What are some of the challenges faced by translators in finding the right equivalent of cultural meaning?

A: Some of the challenges faced by translators in finding the right equivalent of cultural meaning include:

Linguistic differences: Different languages have different grammatical structures, vocabulary, and idioms, which can make it difficult to find the right equivalent.
Cultural differences: Different cultures have different values, norms, and practices, which can make it difficult to translate cultural nuances.
Contextual differences: Different contexts can affect the meaning of cultural expressions, making it difficult to translate them accurately.

Q: What are some of the strategies used by translators to overcome these challenges?

A: Some of the strategies used by translators to overcome these challenges include:

Using cultural adaptation: Translators can use cultural adaptation to adjust the meaning of cultural expressions to the target culture.
Using loanwords: Translators can use loanwords to borrow words or phrases from the source language and adapt them to the target language.
Using description/amplification: Translators can use description/amplification to add additional explanations or details to clarify the meaning of cultural expressions.

Q: What are some of the types of shifts that can occur in translation?

A: Some of the types of shifts that can occur in translation include:

Unit shift: Changes in linguistic unit levels, such as the word to phrase, phrases into words, or phrases into clauses.
Structural shift: Changes in sentence structure or phrases in the target text compared to the source text.
Class shift: Class changes in words, such as nouns into verbs or vice versa.

Q: How can translators minimize the impact of shifts in translation?

A: Translators can minimize the impact of shifts in translation by:

Being aware of the types of shifts that can occur: Translators should be aware of the types of shifts that can occur in translation and make informed decisions about how to handle them.
Using a combination of structural and semantic strategies: Translators should use a combination of structural and semantic strategies to ensure that the translation is accurate and culturally sensitive.
Considering the cultural context: Translators should consider the cultural context of the target text reader and adjust the translation accordingly.

Q: What are some of the implications of shifts in translation?

A: Some of the implications of shifts in translation include:

Loss of meaning: Shifts in translation can result in a loss of meaning or cultural nuances.
Inaccurate translation: Shifts in translation can result in an inaccurate translation that does not convey the intended meaning.
Cultural insensitivity: Shifts in translation can result in cultural insensitivity, which can be damaging to the target culture.

Q: What are some of the recommendations for translators and future research directions?

A: Some of the recommendations for translators and future research directions include:

Translator training: Translators should receive training on the cultural nuances of the source and target languages to improve their ability to find the right equivalent.
Translation strategy: Translators should use a combination of structural and semantic strategies to ensure that the translation is accurate and culturally sensitive.
Shifts in translation: Translators should be aware of the types of shifts that can occur in translation and make informed decisions about how to handle them.
Cultural context: Translators should consider the cultural context of the target text reader and adjust the translation accordingly.

Conclusion

The cultural meaning of culture in literature works is a complex and multifaceted concept that involves the translation of cultural nuances, idioms, and expressions. Translators face challenges in finding the right equivalent of cultural meaning, and shifts in translation can occur. However, by being aware of the types of shifts that can occur and using a combination of structural and semantic strategies, translators can minimize the impact of shifts in translation and ensure that the translation is accurate and culturally sensitive.