1 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION
This chapter intends to offer a brief description about the topic that is related to and discussed in this study. This chapter provides the research background, statement of the problems, purposes of the study, significance of the study, scope and limitation, and definition of the key terms.
1.1 Research Background
“All animals have some system for communicating with other members of their species, but only humans have a language which allows them to produce and understand ever-new messages and to do so without any outside stimulus (Kreidler, 1998:3).” Therefore human is special, they have language as the most important thing that determines the social life runs. It is used to communicate, deliver, and receive ideas among the people. Without language, we may not be able to communicate with other people and say what we intended to do.
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works in simple condition. A complicated situation might be difficult to be explained through gestures/body language itself.
Therefore, English is chosen as a lingua franca, a language which is widely adopted for communication between two speakers whose native languages are different from each other’s and where one or both speakers are using it as a ‘second’ language. However, when the condition is not possible to learn the lingua franca or another language, there is a “language-saver” namely translator, whose job is to make link from one language to another.
Transferring the idea from one language to another language or as we called translating is not an easy thing to do. Language from one to another society is different, and it also contains different culture which is a must for the translator to understand it. Treating the cultural aspects in a source text (ST) and express translating process. Also, Karimi (2006:2) defines translation as “converting one language (Source Language) to another (Target Language) so that the target language could convey the intended message in source language.” In other words, it is a process through which the translator decodes SL and encodes his understanding of the TL form.
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translator has to be aware of not only the structure itself, but also the domains of equivalent which are mentioned by Karimi (2006:2) that covers linguistic units such as morphemes, words, phrases, clauses, idioms and proverbs. “If a specific linguistic unit in one language carries the same intended meaning / message encoded in a specific linguistic medium in another, then these two units are considered to be equivalent.” However, to make an equivalent translation product is a complicated task for the translator, because there is almost no language that has exactly the same characteristics with another language. Thus, finding equivalent is the most problematic stage of translation.
The existence or absence of expression in target language is influenced by the culture that comes from different society, each society has its own culture, and its own language. Each language has its own uniqueness, the thing which makes the language different from another. The uniqueness of every different expression from different societies covers linguistic units such as morphemes, words, phrases, clauses, idioms and proverbs. One of the uniqueness that is interesting to be analyzed is idioms of which the meaning cannot be easily translated equivalently as the source language. Baker (1992:63) states that idioms are frozen patterns of language which allow little or no variation in form and it often carry meanings which cannot be deduced from their individual components.
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different from the meaning that usually we found in daily life. The meaning of the words is implicit, carrying the cultural background of the language itself. Therefore, translating idioms does not require knowledge of only one language (for example, target language only), but it requires the knowledge of at least two languages (source language and target language).
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1.2 Statement of Problems
1. What are the problems in translating idioms in narrative text by students specializing in translation?
2. How do the students specializing in translation cope with their problems in translating idioms in narrative text?
1.3 Purposes of the Study
1. To identify the problems in translating idioms in narrative text by students specializing in translation.
2. To explain how the students specializing in translation cope with their problems in translating idioms in narrative text.
1.4Significance of the Study
This research is expected to enrich student’s knowledge about strategies to solve problems in translating idioms in narrative text. This research is also expected to give deeper knowledge to the lecturer about the problems and their solutions in translating idioms in narrative text, so that the lecturer may determine another way to teach idioms based on problems faced by the students. For the next researcher, it is expected to use this research as the reference when they want to conduct a similar study.
1.5Scope and Limitation of the Study
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semester students of English Department in Muhammadiyah University of Malang who choose translation as an elective course.
1.6Definition of the Key Terms
Idioms - a string of words whose meaning is different from the meaning conveyed by the individual words. The combinations of idioms are fixed as to form and their meaning comes from the combination. (Ahmadi and Ketabi, 2011:10)
Translation is converting one language (Source Language) to another (Target Language) so that the target language could convey the intended message in source language. In other words, it is a process through which the translator decodes SL and encodes his understanding of the TL form. (Karimi, 2006:2) Narrative is a story, whether told in prose or verse, involving events, characters, and what the characters say and do. (Abrams and Geoffrey, 2009:208)
A STUDY ON PROBLEMS IN TRANSLATING IDIOMS IN NARRATIVE TEXT BY STUDENTS SPECIALIZING IN TRANSLATION
THESIS
by:
RINA AGUSTINI 201110100311027
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF TEACHER TRAINING AND EDUCATION UNIVERSITY OF MUHAMMADIYAH MALANG
A STUDY ON PROBLEMS IN TRANSLATING IDIOMS IN NARRATIVE TEXT BY STUDENTS SPECIALIZING IN TRANSLATION
THESIS
This thesis is submitted to meet one of the requirements to achieve Sarjana Degree in English Education
by:
RINA AGUSTINI 201110100311027
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF TEACHER TRAINING AND EDUCATION UNIVERSITY OF MUHAMMADIYAH MALANG
i
This thesis written by Rina Agustini was approved on August 29, 2015
By:
Advisor II Advisor I
ii
This thesis was defended in front of the examiners of the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education of University of Muhammadiyah Malang
and accepted as one of the requirements to achieve Sarjana Degree in English Education
on September 2, 2015.
Approved by:
Faculty of Teacher Training and Education University of Muhammadiyah Malang
Dean,
Dr. Poncojari Wahyono, M.Kes.
Examiners: Signatures:
1. Bayu H. Wicaksono, S.Pd., M.Ed., Ph.D. 1.……….
2. Erlyna Abidasari, M.A., M.Ed. 2………..
3. Puji Sumarsono, M.Pd. 3………..
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MOTTO AND DEDICATION
MOTTO
نﺎ ﺬﻜﺗ ﺎﻤﻜ ر ءﻻآ يﺄ ﻓ
T hen which of t he f avor s of your Lor d wil l ye deny?Sejatinya, bahagia itu adalah bersyukur.
(Drs. Syaiful Anwar)
DEDICATION This thesis is especially dedicated to: My special mother Hj. Wardiah My super father H. Wardan My lovely Sister Renny Papilaya;
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ORIGINALITY DECLARATION
The undersigned:
Name : Rina Agustini
Student ID number : 201110100311027
Program of Study : English Department
Faculty : Faculty of Teacher Training and Education
I declare the work presented in this thesis was carried out by myself and does not incorporate without acknowledgement any material previously submitted for a degree or diploma in any university. To the best of my knowledge, this thesis does not contain any materials previously published or written by another person where due reference is made in the text.
Malang, August 29,2015
Rina Agustini M at erai
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A STUDY ON PROBLEMS IN TRANSLATING IDIOMS IN NARRATIVE TEXT BY STUDENTS SPECIALIZING IN TRANSLATION
Abstract
In this study, the writer was eager to analyze the problems students faced in translating idioms in University of Muhammadiyah Malang. This study focused on the problems of translating idioms in narrative text faced by students specializing in translation in University of Muhammadiyah Malang, and their ways to cope with the problems.
This study was conducted by means of qualitative design to draw data of the topic discussed. This study involved 14 English Department students of University of Muhammadiyah Malang. More specifically, the students were eighth semester students in academic years of 2014-2015 who took translation as an elective course. The instrument to collect the data was interview guideline; meanwhile, the method to collect the data was semi or partially structured interview.
The result of this study showed that students’ problems in translating idioms in narrative text wererecognition, no equivalence, similar counterpart with different context of use (false friend), and the difference between the convention, context and frequency of use in the source and target languages. Further, they used several strategies to overcome each problem. Students overcame recognition problem by translating the text word for word, rearranging the structure to Bahasa, and paying attention to “odd” words; while to overcome no equivalence, students used four different strategies: (1) similar idiom dissimilar form; (2) paraphrase; (3) Omission. Moreover, they developed their background knowledge and adjusted the meaning of idiom to the context to overcome false friend. For the difference between the convention, context and frequency of use in the source and target languages problem, they considered the target readers’ understanding as the strategy to translate the idiom.
Key Words: (Translation Problems,Idiom, Translation, Narrative)
Advisor I, The Writer,
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Alhamdulillahirrabbil‘alamin wassolatu wassalamu‘ala sayyidina
muhammadin wa’ala alihi wa sohbihi ajma’in. First, the writer’s salute is offered
to Allah SWT who gives her blessing and guidance so the writer can pass all obstacles in life. Sholawat and Salam also offered to the only one best role model ever who derives many life lessons for human.
Second, the writer would like to convey her sincere appreciation to her first advisor Puji Sumarsono, M.Pd. who has given his time, and energy through numerous inputs, correction, consistent care, and continuous support. Then, to her second advisor Riski Lestiono, M.A. who has kind understanding, suggestions, and feedback in writing her thesis. To Nydha Ajeng Pangestuti, who has been very kind to share and discuss about this thesis, the writer is also thankful to Qorina and Agatha, her teammates and sisters for good who always make her happy. To Dayah, Abar, Yustin, Wiwin, Meyla, Laila, and Nova who support her through valuable life lessons, boosting encouragement, and patience friendship during bachelor journey.
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Finally, many thanks and unlimited blessing are presented to all friends who have been her second family in Malang.
Malang, August 29, 2015 The Writer,
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
APPROVAL ... i
LEGALIZATION ... ii
MOTTO AND DEDICATION ... iii
ORIGINALITY DECLARATION ... iv
1.2 Statement of Problems ... 5
1.3 Purposes of Study ... 5
1.4 Significance of Study ... 5
1.5 Scope and Limitation ... 6
1.6 Definition of Key Terms ... 6
CHAPTER II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 2.1 Language and Culture ... 7
2.2 Definition of Translation ... 9
2.3 Untranslatability ... 12
2.4 Translation Methods ... 14
2.5 General Strategies for a Good Translation ... 16
2.6 Idioms ... 18
2.6.1 Problems of Translating Idioms ... 20
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2.7 Narrative ... 28
CHAPTER III RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 3.1 Research Design ... 30
CHAPTER IV RESEARCH FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION 4.1 Research Findings ... 35
4.1.1 Problems in Translating Idioms in Narrative Text by Students Specializing in Translation ... 35
4.1.2 The Ways Students Specializing in Translation Cope with Their Problems in Translating Idioms in Narrative Text ... 39
4.2 Discussion ... 46
CHAPTER V CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTIONS 5.1 Conclusion ... 52
5.2 Suggestions ... 53
REFERENCES ... 55
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LIST OF APPENDICES
xi
LIST OF FIGURE
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