THE COMPARISON OF SLANG TRANSLATION STRATEGIES USED BY THE ENGLISH MAJOR AND NON ENGLISH MAJOR TRANSLATORS IN THE SUBTITILE OF THE HANGOVER FILM.

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Hasya Nur Islami, 2015

THE COMPARISON OF SLANG TRANSLATION STRATEGIES USED BY THE ENGLISH MAJOR AND NON ENGLISH MAJOR

TRANSLATORS IN THE SUBTITILE OF THE HANGOVER FILM

A RESEARCH PAPER

Submitted to the English Education Department of Indonesia University of

Education in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for Sarjana Pendidikan

Degree

Hasya Nur Islami

1006060

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH EDUCATION

FACULTY OF ENGLISH EDUCATION AND LITERATURE

INDONESIA UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION

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THE COMPARISON OF SLANG TRANSLATION STRATEGIES USED BY THE ENGLISH MAJOR AND NON ENGLISH MAJOR

TRANSLATORS IN THE SUBTITILE OF THE HANGOVER FILM

Oleh

Hasya Nur Islami

Sebuah skripsi yang diajukan untuk memenuhi salah satu syarat memperoleh gelar Sarjana Pendidikan pada Fakultas Pendidikan Bahasa dan Seni

Januari 2015

Hak Cipta dilindungi undang-undang.

Skripsi ini tidak boleh diperbanyak seluruhya atau sebagian,

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The Comparison of Slang Translation Strategies Used By English Major and Non English Major Translator in The Subtitle of The Hangover Film

ABSTRACT

Abstract: This paper was aimed at analyzing and comparing the slang

translation strategies employed by the English major and non English major

translators in the subtitle of The Hangover film and finding out the slang

translation quality. A qualitative research method employed in this research. Data

of 281 slang items were collected from both translators and analyzed using Baker

(1992) translation strategies. The data analysis has revealed that both translators

employed various translation strategies. The English major translator employed 6

out of 8 strategies; those are Paraphrase using Related Word (50.18%), More

General Word (Superordinate) (33.8%), Omission (10.32%), Cultural Substitution

(2.85%), Less Expressive Word (1.78%), and Loan Word (1.07%). Meanwhile,

the non English major translator employed 5 of 8 translation strategies; those are

More General Word (Superordinate) (35.23%), Paraphrase using Related Word

(29.54%), Omission (17.44%), Less Expressive Word (16.72%) and Cultural

Substitution (0.71%). Two participants were asked to judge both translators’ slang translation quality using criteria of a good translation proposed by Larson (1984),

Newmark (1998), Nida and Taber (1969), and Tytler (1971) as cited in Bell

(1991). Slang translation quality judgment showed that the English major

translator had better translation quality than that of the non English major

translator, since 260 out of 281 slang items (92.7%) translated by the English

major translator met the criteria of a good translation, while 170 out of 281 slang

items (60.4%) translated by the non English major translator met the criteria of a

good translation. The research finding has shown that strategies employed by the

English major translator resulted in better translation quality.

Keywords: Translation, Slang Translation, Translation Strategies, Comparison,

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v Hasya Nur Islami, 2015

TABLE OF CONTENTS

STATEMENT OF AUTHORIZATION………...i

PREFACE………...……ii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT………..iii

ABSTRACT………iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS………v

LIST OF TABLES………...vii

LIST OF FIGURES………...….x

CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION Background………..…1

Research Question………4

Aims of the Research………...4

Significance of the Research………....4

Clarification of Terms………..5

Organization of the Paper………....5

CHAPTER II: THEORETICAL FOUNDATION 2.1 Definition of Translation………...7

2.2 Slang Theories………8

2.2.1 Definition of Slang………...8

2.2.2 Criteria of Slang………10

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vi Hasya Nur Islami, 2015

2.3.1 Problems in Translating Slang………..13

2.3.2 Slang Translation Strategies………..15

2.4 Translation Quality………..20

2.4.1 Criteria of a Good Translation………..20

2.4.2 Testing Translation Quality………..22

2.5 Theories of Subtitling………..23

2.5.1 Definition of Subtitling……….23

2.5.2 Types of Subtitling………25

2.6 Related Previous Research………...25

2.7 Concluding Remarks………...27

CHAPTER III: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 3.1 Formulation of Problems……….28

3.2 Research Design………..28

3.3 Source of the Data……….………...30

3.4 Reason of Choosing the Data………..………….30

3.5 Participants………...31

3.6 Data Collection……….32

3.7 Data Analysis………...34

3.8 Concluding Remark……….37

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vii Hasya Nur Islami, 2015

4.1 Slang Found in the Film………...38

4.2 Slang Translation Strategies……….41

4.2.1 Slang Translation Strategies Employed by English Major Translator……..44

4.2.1 Slang Translation Strategies Employed by non English Major Translator...51

4.3 The Comparison of Slang Translation Strategies and Its Quality………55

4.3.1 The Comparison of Slang Translation………..55

4.3.2 Slang Translation Quality……….58

4.4 Concluding Remark……….62

CHAPTER V: CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS 5.1 Conclusions………..63

5.2 Suggestions………..64

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viii Hasya Nur Islami, 2015

LIST OF TABLES

Table 2.1 Indicators of a Good Translation……….………..23

Table 3.1 The Hangover Subtitle………..….………32

Table 3.2 The Hangover Subtitle……….………..32

Table 3.3 Example of The Questionnaire………...33

Table 3.4 Indicators of a Good Translation………...34

Table 3.5 Slang Translation Strategies………...35

Table 3.6 Slang Translation Strategies………...35

Table 3.7 Baker’s Translation Strategies………...36

Table 4.1 Slang Based on Its Freshness……….………38

Table 4.2 Slang Based on Its innovation………...39

Table 4.3 Slang Based on Its Vulgarity……….………39

Table 4.4 Slang Based on Its Obscenity……….………40

Table 4.5 Slang Based on Its Secrecy……….……...…40

Table 4.6 Slang Based on Its Intimacy..……….………40

Table 4.7 Slang Based on Its Jocularity……….………40

Table 4.8 Slang Based on Its Offensiveness…….……….………40

Table 4.9 Baker’s Translation Strategies………...42

Table 4.10 Paraphrase by using Related Word Strategy Used by English Major Translator………...……44

Table 4.11 More General Word Strategy Used by English Major Translator………..….46

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ix Hasya Nur Islami, 2015

Table 4.13 Cultural Substitution Strategy Used by English Major

Translator………...…48

Table 4.14 Less Expressive Word Strategy Used by English Major

Translator………..49

Table 4.15 Loan Word Strategy Used by English Major

Translator………...…51

Table 4.16 More General Word Strategy Used by non English Major

Translator………...51

Table 4.17 Paraphrase by using Related Word Strategy Used by non English

Major Translator………...52

Table 4.18 Omission Strategy Used by non English Major

Translator…………...………...….53

Table 4.19 Less Expressive Word Strategy Used by non English Major

Translator…………...………....54

Table 4.20 Cultural Substitution Strategy Used by non English Major

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x Hasya Nur Islami, 2015

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 2.1 Translation by Illustration………20

Figure 4.1 Baker’s Translation Strategy Employed by Both Translators……..…43

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1 Hasya Nur Islami, 2015

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background

Translation is rendering the meaning of a text into another language in the

way that the author intended the text. (Newmark, 1998, p.5). Another definition is

that translation is a tool of communication, where linguistic and cultural

boundaries are involved (Hatim and Mason, 1999, p.1).

In addition, translation might be determined by the linguistic and cultural

distance that occurs because of the difference in the way the message is

expressed.(Nida, 2001, as cited in Guo, 2012, p. 343). From the definition,

translation has been used for multilingual purposes, one of which is to overcome

the language barrier between people who come from different countries in the

world. When cultures and languages are closely related, the translator faces minor

problems during the translation process.

However, in the process of translation the source-language word may

express a concept which is totally unknown in the target culture (Baker, 1992,

p.21). Baker addresses it as a non-equivalence word, “Non-equivalence word

means that the target language has no direct equivalent for a word which occurs in

the source text.” (Baker, 1992, p.20). Moreover Newmark (1998, p.776),

addresses this as unfindable words. He states that there are at least eighteen types

of unfindable words, one of which is slang (Newmark, 1998, p.776-777).

Southerland and Katamba (1996, p.555), describe slang as “a label that is

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in the speech community… serve as an affirmation of solidarity with other

members.”. Moreover, Mattiello (2005, p.12-15) describes the differences

between slang and other non standard language varieties as follows:

1) Slang differs from jargon for its lack of prestige and pretentiousness.

2) Slang is not cant, the specialized and secret language of thieves, professional beggars, etc.

3) Slang is not geographically restricted like dialect. 4) Slang is not vernacular.

5) Slang is not accent. (Mattielo, 2005, p.12-15)

Besides having a good perception of the target language and be acquainted

with cultural peculiarities of the source text, a translator should choose the

appropriate strategies in translating slang (Jolanta, 2010, p.21). Thus, Baker

(1992, p.26-42) proposes the translation strategies for slang as follows:

1) Translation by a More General Word (Superordinate)

2) Translation by a More Neutral / Less Expressive Word

3) Translation by Cultural Substitution

4) Translation using a Loan Word or Loan Word with Explanation

5) Translation by Paraphrase using a Related Word

6) Translation by Paraphrase using Unrelated Word

7) Translation by Omission

8) Translation by illustration (Baker, 1992, p.26-42)

Due to excessive exposure of American cultures in Indonesia. The use of

American slang often found in American comedy genre film. One of comedy

genre films that use slang words is The Hangover 1film. There are 281 slang

items used in The Hangover (2009) film dialogues, and subtitles. Subtitiles are

used to understand the meaning of slang words spoken in the film. Gotlieb (2004,

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films, TV, video and DVD), in the form of one or more lines of written text

presented on the screen in sync with the original dialogue.

The study of slang translation in film subtitle has already been conducted

by some previous researchers. A study entitled An Analysis of Slang Translation

in the Subtitle of “The Departed” Movie, was conducted by Eku Baruna Graha (2010). In his study, he analyzed the slang types, the subtitling strategies and also

the quality of slang translation.

Meanwhile, Rina Anita (2010) conducted a study entitled Translation

Analysis of Slang Words in “Bad Boys” Movie (Case Study of English-Indonesian

Translation). This study was aimed to indentify slang words found in the movie

and find out strategies applied by the translator and to describe analyzed the

quality of translation, the equivalence and the appropriateness of the translation.

After reading some research related to slang translation, the writer decided

to conduct a research in the same filed. However, the writer focuses on comparing

the slang translation strategies used by two different translators, English major

and non English major translators, in the subtitle of The Hangover film and

finding out its translation quality.

The writer compares the slang translation strategies by two different

translators since each translator may have a personal strategy on how they

approach the text that needs to be translated (Bassnett, 2002, p.332-33). In

addition, the quality of the translated product depends on the translator and issues

such as what their point of view on the meaning of the text is and what they

consider to be important. Moreover, previous experiences on translations may also

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1.2Research Questions

This research is conducted to answer the following problems:

1. What translation strategies are used by the English major and non

English major translators in translating the slang found in the subtitles

of The Hangover film?

2. How is the slang translation quality by both translators?

1.3Aims of the Research

With reference to the above research problems, the researcher purposes are

to:

1. Analyze the translation strategies used by the English major and non

English major translators in translating the slang in the subtitles of The

Hangover film.

2. Find out the slang translation quality translated by both translators.

1.4Significance of the Research

Since this research is focused on the comparison slang translation strategies

used by the English major and non-English major translators and the analysis of

the translation quality, this research is conducted to encourage those who study

translation to be more aware in translating slang items because it will affect the

appropriateness and quality of the final translation product. This research is also

provides certain findings related to the comparison of slang translation strategies

in film subtitle and gives a reference to those who interested in conducting

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1.5 Clarification of Terms

In this research there are several terms that are needed to be defined as

follows:

Comparison: a consideration or estimate of the similarities or

dissimilarities between two things or people (Oxford Dictionary)

Translation: rendering the meaning of a text into another language in

the way that the author intended the text (Newmark, 1998)

Strategies: a plan of action designed to achieve a long-term or overall

aim (Oxford dictionary)

Slang: a label that is frequently used to denote certain informal or

faddish usage of nearly anyone in the speech community (Southerland

and Katamba, 1996)

Subtitle: the rendering of the verbal message in filmic media in a

different language, in the shape of one or more lines of written text,

which are presented on the screen in synch with the original verbal

message (Gottlieb, 2004)

1.6Organization of the Paper

This paper is presented as follows:

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This chapter contains the research background, the research questions,

aims of the research, the significance of the research, research

methodology, and clarification of terms.

CHAPTER II : THEORETICAL FONDATION

This chapter contains the literature review which serves several theories

that related to the research.

CHAPTER III : RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This chapter contains the methodological research which deals with the

steps and procedures of the research.

CHAPTER IV : FINDINGS AND DISCUSSIONS

This chapter contains the findings and data analysis of the research result

CHAPTER V : CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS

This chapter contains the conclusion and suggestion for further research in

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CHAPTER III

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This chapter explains the research method employed by the writer in order

to seek answers of the problems proposed in the first chapter. It includes

formulation of problems, research design, source, data collecting procedure and

procedure of analyzing data.

3.1Formulation of Problems

Formulating research problem is the first step in conducting a research.

The formulation of problems that has already been mentioned by writer in the first

chapter, are listed as follows:

1. What translation strategies are used by the English major and non

English major translators in translating the slang found in the subtitles

of The Hangover film?

2. How is the slang translation quality by both translators?

3.2Research Design

In this study the writer investigates slang translation used in the subtitles

of The Hangover film. This study discussed two research problems. First,

analyzing subtitles strategies used by the English major and non English major

translators in translating the slang items found in the film subtitles, and finding

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The writer uses The Hangover (2009) film in this research because this

film contains 281 slang items where this research is focused on analyzing and

comparing slang translation. In addition, the writer compares the slang translation

strategies by two different translators, the English major and non English major

translators, since each translator may have a personal strategy on how they

approach the text that needs to be translated. (Bassnet, 2002, p.33). Moreover, the

English major translator has learned about translation when she was a student in

English department of a well known institution in Bandung, while the non English

major translator never learned about translation since he majored in

communication department of a well known university in Bandung.

Thus, in order to answer the research questions this research employs a

qualitative research. Qualitative method is a research studies that investigate the

quality of relationship, activities, situations, or materials (Fraenkel, Wallen and

Hyun , 2002, p.426). Maxwell in Alwasilah (2012, p. 64-67), describe five

characteristics of qualitative research as follows: “(1) Understanding the meaning,

(2) Understanding particular contexts, (3) Identification the phenomena and the

effect that unexpected, (4) Existing grounded theory, (5) Understanding the

process, and (6) causal explaination.”.

Qualitative methods have been used in many different academic

disciplines, traditionally in social sciences, but also in market research and further

context. Moleong (2005, p.5), states that qualitative research method consists of

interview, observation, and document analysis.

Document analysis method is used since the film subtitles are analyzed

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strategies translated by English major and non English major translators, this

study also uses descriptive research method which explained by Arikunto (2002,

p.40) as the method which emphasis on words instead of numbers used to explain,

analyze and classify something.

3.3Source of the Data

The data in this research is taken from The Hangover film subtitle, the first

part of The Hangover film trilogy distributed in 2009. Moreover, the writer

compares strategies in translating slang by both translators, thus there are two

different subtitles of The Hangover film employed in this research. The

Indonesian subtitles of The Hangover film which is translated by the English

major and the Indonesian subtitles of The Hangover film which is translated by

the non English major translators.

3.4Reason of Choosing the Data

The writer chooses The Hangover film, since it contains around 281 slang

items, where 108 slang items were found and 173 slang items were repeated

several times in the film.

The reason of employs the subtitles translated by the English major translator

and non English major translator because the English major translator studied

translation and has some experience in translating when she was a student in

English department of a language institution in Bandung. On the other hand, the

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in communication department of a private university in Bandung; however he also

has some experience in translating.

3.5Participants

The writer uses personal judgments to select the participants as the sample

of the study that the information from them will provide the data needed in the

study (Fraenkel, Wallen & Hyun, 2012, p.100). The writer chooses herself, as

first participant (first reviewer) and other person to be the second participant

(second reviewer) to judge the slang translation quality since the writer and the

other participant are the native of the target language, have skill in the target

language and have some experience in translating. The participants are given a

check list questionnaire to judge the slang translation quality.

As stated by Larson, (1998, p.542), “The purpose of the translation

judgment is to see if the translation form is natural and its style is appropriate…

this testing is done by reviewers.”. Reviewers are peoples who have skill both in

the source and target language, and willing to spend time in reading through the

translation checking its naturalness and style. In addition, Larson (1998,

p.542-5434) says that the reviewers should be the native of the target language, thus he

knows better his language styles and naturalness.

3.6Data Collection

Data is commonly viewed as information used to decide and discuss object(s)

of investigation. (Alwasilah, 2012, p.26). According to Fraenkel, Wallen and

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research: interview, observation and documents. In the collecting data, the

researcher employs several procedures as follows:

1. Procedure used in collecting English-Indonesian Slang Translation

Strategies

a. Identifying the English and Indonesian subtitiles of The Hangover

subtitles by both translators, the English major and non English

No English Text Indonesian Text 1

(translated by English major translator) 1 00:01:43,186 --> 00:01:45,437

I'm freaking out.

Aku cemas sekali.

2 00:01:51,027 --> 00:01:52,194 We fucked up.

Kami tertimpa musibah.

Table 3.2

The Hangover Subtitle

(translated by non English major translator) 1 00:01:43,186 --> 00:01:45,437

I'm freaking out. Aku cemas sekali.

2 00:01:51,027 --> 00:01:52,194

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c. Analyzing and comparing the translation strategies employed by

both translators.

2. Procedure used in collecting English-Indonesian Slang Translation

Quality

a. Asking the participants to watch The Hangover film in order to

understand the slang used in the film.

b. Giving the participants the questionnaire which contains slang

items.

Table 3.3

Example of the Questionnaire

(translated by non

Itu omong kosong. Cultural

Subtitution

c. Asking the participant to judge the slang translation quality using

the criteria of a good translation proposed by Larson, 1984,

p.532;Newmark, 1998, p.24-25;Nida and Taber,1969, p.13;Tytler,

1971, as cited in Bell, 1991, p.11 using indicators made by the

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participants. According to Boyce and Neale (2006, p.3), in-depth

interview is an individual interview with a small number of

respondent to give their perspective on a particular idea, situation

or program. In this research, the interview is an informal

interview.

e.Analyzing the result.

3.7Data Analysis

After collecting the data, it is analyzed through the following stages:

1. Procedure used in analyzing the English-Indonesian Slang Translation

Strategies. Table 3.4

Indicators of a Good Translation adopted fromLarson (1984); Newmark (1998); Nida and Taber (1969); Tytler (1971) as cited in Bell (1991)

Indicators Descriptions

Good The translation is understandable by the target text audience. It flows as the source text and sounds natural as the target text. It also correctly conveys the meaning of does not sounds natural in the target text. Thus, the target text audience can not feel the strong emotion or the message implied in the slang expression.

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a. Analyzing the slang translation strategies using the theory of

translation strategies proposed by Baker (1992).

Table 3.5

Slang Translation Strategies

No English Text Indonesian Text

1

Aku cemas sekali. Paraphrase using a Related Word

No English Text Indonesian Text

2

b. Presenting the calculation of slang translation strategies using a

simple descriptive statistic to determine the percentage of

subtitle strategies used. It is used to compare all strategies used

in both subtitles in order to find out the most frequent

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P = F x 100% N

P= Percentage of slang translation strategy

F= Frequency of strategy used in the study

N= Overall number of slang translation

c. Comparing the translation strategies employed by both

translators as follows:

d. Drawing conclusions of the comparison of slang translation

strategies according to result.

2. Procedure used in analyzing English-Indonesian Slang Translation Quality

a. Calculating both translators slang translation quality using a

simple descriptive statistic to determine the percentage of slang

translation quality by both translators Table 3.7

Baker’s Translation Strategies

No Strategies English Major

Translator

Non English Major Translator

Differences

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P = F x 100% N

P= Percentage of slang translation quality

F= Frequency of the qualified an unqualified slang translation

N= Overall number of slang translation

b. Drawing conclusions of the slang translation quality according

to result.

3.8 Concluding remark

This chapter has presented how the study is designed and implemented. It

has outlined the aspects of methodology used which includes research strategy

that consists of research design, source, data collection and data analysis. The

forthcoming chapters will develop the analysis of the result while later chapters