Translation Assignment IV

Analysis of translation techniques

 

Beijing

 

Destination

The Forbidden City

Built in 1406, the Forbidden City was once the residence and the center of government for 24 emperors from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. In addition to boasting an amazing number of ancient buildings, this place is also home to hundreds of thousands of artifacts from various eras.

Tujuan

Kota Terlarang

Dibangun pada 1406, Kota Terlarang adalah kediaman dan pusat pemerintahan bagi 24 orang kaisar dari Dinasti Ming dan Qing. Selain mengoleksi bangunan sepuh dalam jumlah yang mencengangkan, tempat ini menyimpan ratusan ribu artefak dari berbagai era.

Techniques:

1. Literal, the word the forbidden city is translated into kota terlarang based on the function and meaning in the phrase of TL, Indonesian, which is DM (diterangkan menerangkan). It also occurs in translating word Ming and Qing Dynasties which is translated into Dinasti Ming dan Qing, ancient building into bangunan sepuh.
2. Deletion, the word once in the first sentence is not translated in the TL, and it is reduced. The plural form in ancient buildings tends to be reduced rather than translated into bangunan-bangunan.
3. Addition, the phrase an amazing number of ancient buildings is translated into bangunan sepuh dalam jumlah yang mencengangkan. The word dalam and yang are added to make the meaning clearer.
4. Modulation, the word home in the last sentence which is a noun is translated into menyimpan in the TL which is a verb, so the grammatical category is changed.

Wangfujing Street

This prestigious area is a combination of a culinary heaven and a shopper’s paradise. Classy apparel and jewellery shops are worth an extended browse and restaurants can be found residing inside luxurious malls. Meanwhile, in the narrow alleyways around said malls, various trinkets and delicious street food is there for the taking. Better practice your haggling skills though.

Wangfujing Street

Kawasan prestisius ini menawarkan kombinasi surga belanja dan kuliner. Gerai-gerai pakaian, perhiasan, dan restoran berkelas bernaung di interior mal-mal mewah. Sementara di gang-gang sempit di sekitarnya tersedia berbagai pernak-pernik dan makanan jalanan yang ekstra lezat. Kerahkan kemampuan menawar Anda.

Techniques:

1. Borrowing, the word prestigious is translated into prestisius, combination into kombinasi, restaurant into restoran, and mall into mal.
2. Modulation, the word menawarkan is not available in the SL, but it is added to the TL as the meaning of verb is.
3. Reduction, the phrase culinary heaven and a shopper’s paradise is translated surga belanja kuliner. One of the words heaven and paradise is reduced because they have same meaning. The determiner a in that phrase is also deleted rather than translated sebuah. Furthermore, in the second sentence, the word are worth an extended browse provides no equal meaning in the TL. The words can be found are also not translated.
4. Addition, the word restaurants and delicious street food are translated restoran berkelas and makanan jalanan yang ekstra lezat. The words berkelas and ekstra are added to create a specific meaning.

Summer Palace

The Summer Palace will transport you back to the Chinese imperial era. The temples, gardens and lakes here were once enjoyed by emperors and those closest to them, especially during those scorching Beijing summers.

Summer Palace

Tempat ini akan menerbangkan imajinasi Anda ke zaman kekaisaran Cina. Kuil-kuil, taman-taman, paviliun, serta telaga di Summer Palace dulu hanya bisa dinikmati oleh kaisar dan orang-orang terdekatnya, terutama saat musim panas memanggang atmosfer Beijing.

Techniques:

1. Addition, the word imajinasi and paviliun in the TL are not available in the SL.
2. Transposition, the noun phrase scorching Beijing summers is translated in verb phrase-saat musim panas memanggang atmosfer Beijing.

Where to eat

Da Dong Roast Duck

1-2/F, Nanxincang International Plaza, 22A Dongsishitiao, T. 86 10 5169 0329

Crescent Moon Muslim Restaurant

16 Dongsi Liutiao, Dongcheng, T. 86 10 6400 5281

Pure Lotus Vegetarian

Tongguang Building, 12 Nongzhanguan Nanlu, Chaoyang, T. 86 10 6592 3627

Where to stay

Grand Hyatt Beijing

1 East Chang An Avenue, Wangfujing, T. 86 10 8518 1234, beijing.grand.hyatt.com

Ascott Beijing

No 108B Jian Guo Road, Chaoyang District, T. 86 10 6567 8100, www.the-ascott.com

Aman at Summer Palace

1 Gongmenqian Street, T. 86 10 5987 9999, www.amanresorts.com

This part cannot be translated because it consists of proper nouns.

Garuda Indonesia flies the Jakarta-Beijing route each way five times per week. For transportation within the city, Beijing has a handy selection of affordable underground trains and bus networks which reach all parts of the city.

Garuda Indonesia melayani penerbangan Jakarta-Beijing pp lima kali per minggu. Untuk transportasi di dalam kota, Beijing memiliki kombinasi jaringan kereta api bawah tanah dan bus yang menjangkau seluruh bagian kota dengan tarif terjangkau.

Techniques:

1. Generalization, the word flies in the first sentence is translated melayani penerbangan which is seemed to have general meaning. Furthermore, the phrase a handy selection is translated into kombinasi.
2. Borrowing, the word transportation is translated into transportasi.

Taken from: http://www.garudamagazine.com/cityguide.php?id=9

Translation Assignment III

Summary of Translation Procedures

A.     INTRODUCTION

Translation is a transferring process of a written or spoken text in source language (SL) into an equivalent form in the target language (TL). It aims to make the texts is easily understood by broad readers. However, Languages do not have universal form. They differ in various forms which make the translation process difficult. In short, the bigger the gap between the SL and TL, the more difficult the transferring process will be. This essay will focus on translation procedures which is used for sentences and the smaller units of language.

B.  TRANSLATION PROCEDURES

      According to Nida (1964), translating procedures are divide into two types. They are:

1. Technical procedures, which refers to the steps made before translating the texts into target language. The translators need to examine the content and structures provided in the texts. The steps of technical procedures can be divided into three:

a. Analysis of the source and target languages

A good translator has to understand the target language first, and he needs to understand what the text is telling about. Moreover, analysis is needed because the translator will have broad knowledge about the content of the text. It also helps the translator to find difficulties in the target language, so the translator may find solutions to overcome these difficulties. For example, when we translate an article about health in English, we need to understand English itself first. Then, we start to analyze what the content is about and try to make an understanding based on our interpretation. In short, this analysis aims to make a broad understanding about the content of the text.

b. A through study of the source language text before making attempt translate it

The purpose of this step is to make the translator have more understanding and knowledge about the content of the text. The translator needs to collect information about the content as much as possible. The information can be an explanation about the content, the terms used in the text, or the function of the content provided in the text. By doing through study, the translator will be easy to translate some difficult terms used in the source text based on the meaning in general use. For instance, when we translate a text about computer, it requires us to know terms used in computer such as boot, bug, cookies, and the others. Because some terms may have different meaning in another context, the translator have to know and understand about the terms used in the context in order to avoid misunderstanding.

c. Making judgments of the semantic and syntactic approximations

Structures in the target language plays important roles in making good sense of translation. A good translator has to make a good understanding about the syntactic patterns in the target language, and he also needs to produce meaning according to the syntactic pattern. It helps the translator to avoid making ambiguous meaning which make the readers difficult to understand the text. For instance, when we translate sentence

The man with the telescope in a box.

It is ambiguous to translate whether the man or the telescope is in the box. Hence, it is good for a translator to make sense the syntactic patterns and the semantics.

2. Organizational procedures, which refers to steps done after translating the texts into target language. As translating process done, a translator have to evaluate the product in order to be accepted and understood by the readers. This kind of procedures requires:

a.  Constant reevaluation of the attempt made

Once translating into the target language is done, there are still many corrections to be made, so the translator has to evaluate it carefully which part of the text is still uncovered. In addition, an evaluation is not enough. There must be reevaluation which makes the product appropriate to the source language.

b. Contrast it with the existing available translation of the same text done by other translators

After we have done the reevaluation, it is needed to contrast the product of translation with the other translation done by the other translation. By doing this, we try to make a general acceptance of the meaning produced by the others. When we have differences in translating a text, we need to make consideration with the others what it is exactly about. The translation has to fulfill the need of the reader. Once the meaning produced is so contrast, it will make the reader hard to make an understanding about the meaning of the text. Moreover, by contrasting with the other’s we try to know how accurate our translation is.

c. Checking the text’s communicative effectiveness

The last procedure is to check the text’s communicative effectiveness by asking the target language readers to evaluate its accuracy and effectiveness and studying their reaction. The text we produced must be readable and have clear meaning which make the readers feel comfortable reading the text. Sometimes, the meaning we produced still seems awkward in the reader’s perspective, so we have to observe the reader’s reaction. When they have read our translation, they give comments to the text whether it is easy to understand and catch the meaning we produced.

C.     PROCEDURES OF TRANSLATING CULTURE-SPECIFIC CONCEPTS (CSCs)

Graedler (2000:3) puts forth some procedures of translating CSCs:

1.      Making up a new word.

2.      Explaining the meaning of the SL expression in lieu of translating it.

3.      Preserving the SL term intact.

4.      Opting for a word in the TL which seems similar to or has the same "relevance" as the SL term.

Newmark (1988b) propose these different translation procedures:

·         Transference: it is the process of transferring an SL word to a TL text. It includes transliteration.

·         Naturalization: it adapts the SL word first to the normal pronunciation, then to the normal morphology of the TL.

·         Cultural equivalent: it means replacing a cultural word in the SL with a TL one.

·         Functional equivalent: it requires the use of a culture-neutral word.

·         Descriptive equivalent: in this procedure the meaning of the CBT is explained in several words.

·         Componential analysis: it means "comparing an SL word with a TL word which has a similar meaning but is not an obvious one-to-one equivalent, by demonstrating first their common and then their differing sense components."

·         Synonymy: it is a "near TL equivalent." Here economy trumps accuracy.

·         Through-translation: it is the literal translation of common collocations, names of organizations and components of compounds. It can also be called: calque or loan translation.

·         Shifts or transpositions: it involves a change in the grammar from SL to TL, for instance, (i) change from singular to plural, (ii) the change required when a specific SL structure does not exist in the TL, (iii) change of an SL verb to a TL word, change of an SL noun group to a TL noun and so forth.

·         Modulation: it occurs when the translator reproduces the message of the original text in the TL text in conformity with the current norms of the TL, since the SL and the TL may appear dissimilar in terms of perspective.

·         Recognized translation: it occurs when the translator "normally uses the official or the generally accepted translation of any institutional term."

·         Compensation: it occurs when loss of meaning in one part of a sentence is compensated in another part.

·         Paraphrase: in this procedure the meaning of the CBT is explained. Here the explanation is much more detailed than that of descriptive equivalent.

·         Couplets: it occurs when the translator combines two different procedures.

·         Notes: notes are additional information in a translation.

D.  CONCLUSION
      After the translating process is done, it is important that the translator ask target-language readers to read the translation to check their understanding about the message transferred. This is the important thing in the end of translation process, for we have to look back on the goal of translation that makes readers understand about the content conveyed. In doing that, a translator needs to use translation procedures which can helps him to form a good result.

Translation Assignment II (Sumpah Pemuda)

Analyzing techniques of translation

·         Sentence 1

Tsu : The first Indonesian youth congress was held in Batavia, capital of the then-Dutch East Indies in 1926, but produced no formal decisions but did promote the idea of a united Indonesia.

Tsa : Kongres Pemuda Indonesia pertama yang diadakan di Batavia, ibukota Hindia-Belanda pada tahun 1926. Kongres ini tidak menghasilkan keputusan resmi tetapi hanya mempromosikan ide Negara Kesatuan Republik Indonesia.

Techniques :

Transposition technique

"The first Indonesian youth congress was held in Batavia,...". It is translated to "Kongres Pemuda Indonesia pertama yang diadakan...". There is addition "yang" which changes the form of Tsu (sentence) into Tsa (phrase).

Compensation

The words "produced no formal decision" are also translated to "tidak menghasilkan keputusan resmi".  It is translated so because there it cannot be replaced in the same place as in source text.

Addition

The words "but produced no formal decisions" are translated "Kongres ini tidak menghasilkan keputusan resmi". there is additional word "Kongres ini" as the subject of the sentence.

Reduction

The word "a" in "a united Indonesia" is not translated "sebuah", but reduced.

Generalization

"united Indonesia" is translated into "Negara Kesatuan Republik Indonesia" which has more general meaning.

Borrowing

congress (kongres), promote (mempromosikan), idea (ide)

·         Sentence 2

Tsu : In October 1928, the second Indonesian congress was held at three different locations.

Tsa : Dua tahun kemudian tepatnya pada bulan Oktober 1928, diadakanlah kongres pemuda Indonesia kedua yang dilaksanakan di tiga lokasi yang berbeda.

Techniques :

Generalization

"In October 1928" is translated to "Dua tahun kemudian tepatnya pada bulan Oktober 1928" which make the meaning clearer.

Reduction

"The second Indonesian congress" is omitted.

Addition

"was held at three different locations" is translated to "yang dilaksanakan di tiga lokasi bereda". There is additional word "yang".

Borrowing

congress (kongres), location (lokasi).

·         Sentence 3

Tsu : In the first session, the hope was expressed that the congress would inspire the feeling of unity.

Tsa : Pada sesi pertama, terungkaplah harapan bahwa kongres itu sebaiknya menginspirasi rasa persatuan

Techniques :

Modulation

"the hope was expressed" is translated to "terungkaplah harapan" which changes the point of view.

Borrowing

session (sesi), congress (kongres).

·         Sentence 4

Tsu : The second session saw discussion about educational issues.

Tsa : Pada sesi kedua diadakan diskusi tentang isu-isu pendidikan, ...

Techniques :

Modulation

There is a changing of point of view which translates the sentence in Tsa into passive (diadakan)

Discursive creation

The word "saw" is not translated into "melihat", but diadakan. Is is out of context.

·         Sentence 5

Tsu :In the third and final session, held at Jalan Kramat Raya No, 126, on October 28 participants heard the future Indonesian national anthem Indonesia Raya by Wage Rudolf Supratman.

Tsa : ..., sedangkan pada sesi ketiga dan sebagai sesi terakhir, yang diadakan di Jalan Kramat Raya No, 126, pada tanggal 28 Oktober, semua peserta mendengarkan lagu kebangsaan Indonesia “Indonesia Raya”, lagu kebangsaan masa depan Indonesia pada saat, yang diciptakan oleh Wage Rudolf Supratman.

Techniques :

Addition

There is additional word "sedangkan" and "sebagai" in the beginning of the sentence of Tsa. The word "yang" in "yang diciptakan oleh Wage Rudolf Supratman" is also an addition since Tsu only provides word "by".

Description

"Indonesian national anthem" is translated into "Indonesia Raya, lagu kebangsaan masa depan Indonesia pada saat, ..." which provides more details.

·         Sentence 6

Tsu : The congress closed with a reading of youth pledge.

Tsa : Kongres ditutup dengan pembacaan Sumpah Pemuda.

Technique :

Modulation

"The congress closed with" is translated into passive "kongres ditutup".

Reduction

The word "a" is omitted in Tsa.

Tsu : Youth Pledge

Tsa : Sumpah Pemuda

Technique :

Literal

Youth Pledge is translated word for word based on the syntactic pattern. "sumpah pemuda" is used rather tna "pemuda sumpah" because the pattern of Indonesian is DM (diterangkan menerangkan).

·         Sentence 7

Tsu : Firstly

We the sons and daughters of Indonesia, acknowledge one motherland, Indonesia.

Tsa : Pertama

Kami poetera dan poeteri Indonesia, mengakoe bertoempah darah jang satoe, tanah air Indonesia.

Techniques :

Transposition

"the sons and daughters" is translated into "poetra dan poetri". The form of plural is ignored. 

Adaptation

The words "acknowledge one motherland" are translated into "mengaku bertoempah darah jang satoe" rather than "mengaku satu tanah air".

·         Sentence 8

Tsu : Secondly

We the sons and daughters of Indonesia, acknowledge one nation, the nation of Indonesia.

Tsa : Kedoea

Kami poetera dan poeteri Indonesia, mengakoe berbangsa jang satoe, bangsa Indonesia.

Techniques :

Transposition

"the sons and daughters" is translated into "poetra dan poetri". The form of plural is ignored. 

Estabilished equivalent

The sentence is translated using equivalent form in the TL.

·         Sentence 9

Tsu : Thirdly

We the sons and daughters of Indonesia, uphold the language of unity, Indonesian.

Tsa : Ketiga

Kami poetera dan poeteri Indonesia, mendjoendjoeng bahasa persatoean, bahasa Indonesia.

Techniques :

Transposition

"the sons and daughters" is translated into "poetra dan poetri". The form of plural is ignored. 

Estabilished equivalent

The sentence is translated using equivalent form in the TL.