2025/1 Translation

Translation is basically a change of form. The form of a language refers to the actual words, phrases, clauses, sentences, paragraphs, etc. These forms are referred to as the surface structure of a language. Translation consists of transferring the meaning of the source language into the target language which is done by going from the form of the first language/source language (Bahasa Indonesia) to the form of the second language/target language (English) by way of semantic structure. It is meaning which is being transferred and must be held constant. Only the form changes. Translation, then, consists of 1) studying the lexicon, grammatical structure, communication situation, and cultural context of the source language text, 2) analyzing it in order to determine its meaning, and then 3) reconstructing this same meaning using the lexicon and grammatical structure which are appropriate in the target language and its cultural context. For example: English: What is your name? Spanish: Como se llama? (literally “how yourself youcall?”) (Larson, 1984: 5) Indonesian: Siapa namamu? (literally “who is your name?”) Indonesian: telur ceplok (telur mata sapi) English: sunny side-up Javanese: Joko uripe lola. Indonesian: Joko hidup sebatang kara. English: Joko lives alone. Joko has nobody.

Thus, the best translation is the one which a) uses the normal language forms of the receptor language, b) communicates, as much as possible, to the target language speakers the same meaning that was understood by the speakers of the source language, and c) maintains the dynamics of the original source language text.