TRANSLATION SHIFTS AND TECHNIQUES USED IN
AD688G SMARTFREN’S USER MANUAL
A Thesis
Submitted to the English Applied Linguistics Study Program In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of
Magister Humaniora
By:
MASFERU ZULFIKAR
Registration Number: 8136111042
ENGLISH APPLIED LINGUISTICS STUDY PROGRAM
POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL
STATE UNIVERSITY OF MEDAN
MEDAN
i ABSTRACT
MASFERU ZULFIKAR.Translation Shifts and Techniques Used in AD688G Smarfren’s User Manual.English Applied Linguistics Study Program,Postgradate School, State University of Medan. 2015.
ii ABSTRAK
iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Alhamdulillah, in the name of Almighty ALLAH, the most Gracious and the most Merciful, first of all, the writer would like to thank God for His Blessing in the completion of this thesis. Praises are also addressed to our prophet Muhammad SAW who has guided us to the better life of today.
In the completion of this thesis, the writer wishes to acknowledge his deepest gratitude for all generous guidance and assistance which has been given to his by a lot of people.
The highest appreciation goes to his two advisors, Dr. Syahron lubis M.A as his first advisor and Dr. Zainuddin, M.Hum. as his second advisor for their all guidance through the completion of this thesis.
Then, his appreciation also goes to Prof. Dr. Busmin Gurning, M.Pd. as the Head of English Applied Linguistics Study Program and Dr. Sri Minda Murni, M.S. as the Secretary of English Applied Linguistics Study Program who have assisted his in processing the administration requirements during the process of hih studies in the Postgraduate School of the State University of Medan.
The writer’s great thanks also goes to his reviewers and examiners,
iv
Finally, his special gratitude is dedicated to his beloved parents, Bambang Irawan and Ngatinah S.pd who have given their pray, motivation, support, and also endless praying. And also special thank for his sister, brother, and the whole families who always support him and no suitable word that can fully describe their everlasting love and express how much he loves them.
Then, last but not least, his gratitude goes to his friends of LTBI A2 XXII who have supported him to conduct this thesis, especially for Suhartini, Sudariyani, Misla, Habib, Dodi and Friscilla, for their friendship and cooperation.
Medan, August 2015
The writer,
v
CHAPTER IV DATA ANALYSIS, FINDINGS AND DISCUSSIONS ... 45
4.1 Data Analysis ... 45
4.1.1 Kinds of Translation Shifts Used in AD688G Smarfren’s User Manual... 45
4.1.2 Translation Techniques Used in AD688G Smarfren’s User Manual... 50
4.1.3 The Dominant Shifts and Techniques Used in AD688G Smarfren’s User Manual... 75
4.2 Research Findings ... 76
4.3 Discussions ... 77
CHAPTER V CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS ... 79
5.1 Conclusions ... 79
5.2 Suggestions ... 80
REFERENCES ... 81
vi
LIST OF TABLES
Page
vii
LIST OF APPENDICES
Page
viii
LIST OF ABBREVIATION
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
The advances in technology field of communication in this globalization
era is growing rapidly. Communication becomes an essential requirement for
humans, because by communication, everyone can interact with other human
beings all over the worl. Language becomes a mean of communication for human
being (Chaer, 2004: 11) because language has several characteristics that can
mark these symptoms, one of them is which the language is human, it means that
the language as a means of verbal communication only possessed by humans.
Although the language can be used as the primary communication tool for
people in the outside world, in fact almost every place on earth has its own
language with its difference rules from one another. This is in line with the
characteristics of another language that the language is diverse, it means that
although the language has certain rules or the same pattern, but the language is
used by heterogeneous speakers in different social background and different
habits (Chaer, 2004: 14). These facts raises new difficulties for individuals who
do not master these languages. Because the role of language in the development of
human civilization so important, then to find the solving efforts to overcome
communication problems that arise due to different languages. Here is needed
translation field to bridge between one communicator and others so that it creats
communication process by using different languages, so that the exchange of
The advancing of a country cannot be separated from the development of
science and technology. In developing countries, including Indonesia, the
developing of science and technology is indispensable. Indonesia's efforts to
broaden and deepen their knowledge of technology cannot be separated from the
role of foreign countries. The development of science and technology in
developing countries has been very rapidy, technological advances even in some
developing countries can be said to have a global, it means that the results of
technological advances are being enjoyed in other countries. As such this
condition certainly cannot be separated from the support of good cooperation
between countries. One effort to develop a good cooperative relationship can be
created through effective communication by using language, although every
countries has different languages. Therefor translation becomes very important to
master for humans to convey messages from one language (source language) into
another language (the target language) well.
One of the global communication technology product is mobile. The
existence of mobile phones, internets and so forth. It is kinds of an opening eyes
that there is no distance between one man to others in the world. The existence of
these communication tools greatly simplify perceived humans in performing its
duties and work. Such technological advances are not only felt by developing
countries in producing these technologies, but also can be felt by other countries,
who become consumers for goods or tools such technology.
In marketing the product, needs to include the manuals of these products
in order to assist users in operating the product in question. Ideally, the products
into different languages the user state (in this case English - Indonesian), so that
the manual can be used as a guidance to guide the user in assembling or operating
the technology products, even people who buy or use a product which person does
not have a particular skill in that field (technicians). Thus the existence of the
manual is very important.
To translate the manuals book must be carefully and accurately so in deli
vering a message from the source language into the target language, it will not be
one missed or deviated from the actual intent. Inaccuracy in translating the
manual can lead to fatal errors, such as a tool does not function properly, or even
not be operated appropriately.
Text or phrase in the manual book by accompanying a product, it usually
has a different form or type of sentences or existing text in the other books, the
literary, the scientific creation or others. The sentences are contained in manual
book usually simple form, straightforward and command sentences form.
In translating the manual text, it is used the certain way of translation. It is
useful to creat the right and accurate translation form that is needed by a user.
Commonly when we will translate manual book, it uses kinds of pragmatic
translation, eventhough there will always be possible by using another kinds of
translation. For instance, free translation, word for word, and so forth. It is
cetaintly line with the concept of pragmatic translation that refers to rendering a
meaning by concerning the message occuracy to inform from source language to
target language precisely (Nababan, 2003: 34). In translating the manual text, it is
translation form that is needed by a user. Commonly when we will translate
manual book, it uses kinds of pragmatic translation, eventhough there will always
be possible by using another kinds of translation. For instance, free translation,
word for word, and so forth. It is cetaintly line with the concept of pragmatic
translation that refers to rendering a meaning by concerning the message occuracy
to inform from source language to target language precisely (Nababan, 2003: 34).
Furthermore, to translate manual book, a translator must considers the shifts and
techniques occur in translation. It is choosen so that the translation product can
have a certain quality and readable for readers (technology users) translate manual
book, there are many words, phrase, clause and sentences occur shifted in
structural shifts. It is based on Catford‟s theory in his entitled book “ A linguistic
Theory of Translation”. Catford (1965: 73) states that by shift we mean the
departure from formal correspondence in the process of going from the source
language to the target language. Further, he states that basically, in shift of
translation, or transposit ion he says, it is only the form that is changed. In
addition, he urges the translation shift is done to get the natural equivalent of the
source text message into the target text (1978: 76). Translation shifts also occur
when there is no formal correspondence to the syntactic item to be translated
(Machali, 1998: 3). According to Bell (1991: 33), to shift from one language to
another is, by definition, to alter the forms.
Based on the definition above, it is clear that in translating a text means
that to transfer source language to target language. Translation is the constitute of
material text changing from source language to the target language. Likewise also
meaning but also the shift in the level of morpheme. Bacause it more talks about
the technology that mostly the word terms come from western country, so that it
is used frequently maintained, for instance :
1. Sl : Volume Key
TL : Tombol Volume
2. SL : To adjust the volume level
TL : Untuk menyesuaikan tingkat volume suara
Based on the example above, it is clear that the sample number 1 shows
that “volume key” is translated into “tombol volume”. In this sample occurs a
shift in grammatical which is called structure shift. It occurs from word structure
of Modifier Head in SL becomes Head Modifier in TL.
SL : Volume Key
TL : Tombol Suara
While the sample number 2, the clause “To adjust the volume level” is
translated into “Untuk menyesuaikan tingkat volume suara”. In this sample there
is a shift in intra system. It occurs when SL and TL in posses approximately
corresponding system, but the translation product does not show the correlation of
term “The” to the TL system .
Based on the data above, it shows that when a translator will translate a
text, such as user manual smartfren‟s book that is occuring shifts. Aside from
shifts, there are also techniques used in translate the text book of smartfren‟s.
Translation techniques are procedure in collecting text as local eventhough
of real linguistic. Molina and Albir ( 2002:509) defines translation techniques as a
translation process that is carried out in relation to the purpose of translation.
Molina and Albir classified 18 techniques that can be used for translator in
analyzing and classifying how equivalence translation is applied in different part
of linguistic. In this case, smartfren‟s user manual as the sample. There are many
technology terms can not be translated and understandable less for laymen.
Sometimes technology language terms is only understood by a part of person that
involve field particularly. As the sample from translation techniques include to
smartfren‟s user manual as follow :
1. SL : The Bluetooth messenger
TL : Bluetooth messenger
2. SL : Download
TL : Download
In the sample number 1 above, it is clear that the SL “the Bluetooth
messenger” is translated into Bluetooth messenger. In this sample used borrowing
technique. It is just deleting „the’ in the target language but it does not change the
real meaning of SL. The clause „The Bluetooth messenger’ is left-untranslated
because Indonesian has already known kinds of this term. Actually the form of
The Bluetooth messenger can be translated into PesanBluetooth, but the translator
does not change the form into Indonesian form. Bluetooth is a wireless protocol
that connects electronic devices while they are close to each another. The
Bluetooth messenger is searching for active devices on which this service is
running or needed it will allow users to transfer text messages via bluetooth
phones. The name "Bluetooth" is derived from the name of a king in the late 10th
century. "Harald Blatand" or also called Harald Bluetooth, likely because it's dark
teeth. While the Bluetooth logo come from the union of two German letters with
the letter 'H' and 'B' (abbreviation; Harald Bluetooth), namely (Hagall) and
(Berkanan) then both are combined. That is why the translator does not change the
source language into target language. And the second preliminary data above the
word, there is a source language that is translated into a target language by using
borrowing technique. The word „download’ is translated into download. The word
„download’ is not translated, and it does not change the real meaning of the source
language. It is because Indonesian has already known this term. Download is kind
of process in computer. Actually the form of download can be translated into
unduh, but the translator does not change the form into Indonesian form.
From explanation and data sample above, translation is not a simple thing
that we are thinking about. But translation is a complex way and needed wide
knowledge and accurate source to transfer that translation product can be
understood and accepted. Especially technology language which its existance is
too close with us. Almost the whole the technology product has been imported
from western country. The user manual uses English as source language and
indonesian language as target language.
The views and phenomena described above is the background of the
researcher's interest to make the problem of translation as a research topic of a
product issued by a Telecommunications Company.
This research is entitled: "Translation Shifts and Techniques Used in
product from the source language to the target language in terms of the applicable
techniques as well as the shift in the process of translation in text books that
correlate to each other.
The initial observations related to the title of this study is the identification
of these text books related to the translation process, which in general is the
approach to word for word translation, literal translation, faithful translation, idio
matic translation, and communicative translation in the target language will be
helpful to 'bridge' understanding between the two languages (source and target
languages). To facilitate its work, the achievement of desired outcomes technical
translation the translator uses some of the translation shifts and techniques as a
reference in the translation process which then produce good translations
contained suitability of meaning between the source language and the target
language. Thus the translation will be a product that is readable and acceptable for
public users.
The application of appropriate shifts and techniques on text translation of
technology is a necessity. The necessary expertise in the application of specific
techniques in the process of translation. Through paraphrasing for example, by
modifying, adding, removing, and other relevant translation techniques that exist
among some translation techniques are commonly used, as well as the shift is an
option that can assist in the stuck to achieve the equivalent of translation product,
1.2 The Problems of the Study
Based on the description of the background of the study state above, the
problems of the study are formulated as in the following.
1. What kind of shifts occur in translating AD688G Smartfren‟s User Manual ?
2. How are the techniques used in translating AD688G Smartfren‟s User Manual?
3. Why are the dominant shifts and techniques used in translating AD688G
Smartfren‟s User Manual?
1.3 The Objectives of the Study
The objectives of the study are formulated as in the following:
1. To describe the shifts occur in translating AD688G Smartfren‟s User Manual.
2. To describe the techniques are used in translating AD688G Smartfren‟s
User Manual.
3. To find out the dominant shifts and techniques are used in translating AD688G
Smartfren‟s User Manual.
1.4 The Scope of the Study
This scope of the study deals with translation shifs and techniques in user
Manual Smartfren AD688G which are translated from english into bahasa
indonesia. This study wants to find out what kinds of shifts and techniques on
Manual Smartfern AD6889G dominantly, to find out how shifts and techniques of
User Manual Smartfren AD688G. The scope of the study that is reflected from the
title above, it is relatively wide because it includes many different kinds of
translation shifts and techniques, as well as various aspects related to both these
There is a book of User Manual from Smartfren‟s from English by PT
Smartfren Telcom that is used as the data indonesia Therefore, to avoid the scope
of this study. And this research takes some important shifts and techniques in
translation.
Therefore, to avoid the scope of this study is too wide and that more
focused research, the researcher make a limitation that is :
1. In analyzing shifts in translation that consists two parts, firstly level shifts
and secondly category shifts. But researcher makes a limitation just
in category shifts. It consist structural shifts, unit shifts, class shifts and
intra system shifts
2. In analyzing techniques in translation that focuses based on phrase,and
clause. But limitation of this research just analysis singular techniques.It
means that just concerns with element techniques in each of phrase and
clause.
1.5 The Significances of the Study
The finding of the study are expected to be relevant and significant
theoritically.The findings can give conribution to all readers for those who are
concerned with this field. In the following significances of the study are stated
theoritically and pratically:
1. Theoritically
Theoretically, the use of the finding is described as follow :
1) The study can enrich the knowledge about translating from SL to the
2) The study improves the implication of shifts and techniques in
translating from SL to the TL.
2. Practically
Practically, the usefulness of findings is described as the following :
1) By knowing the shifts and techniques, it is expected that the
translator will find the right way in translating the technology book
into Indonesian.
2) It would like to contribute information to practitioners, prospective,
translator and student of translation courses and any others readers
who are interested in studying translation especially in shifts and
79 CHAPTER V
CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS
5.1 Conclusions
From the overall anlysis of the shit category and translation techniques in
AD886G Smartfren’s User Manual, it was concluded that:
1. There were four kinds of category shifts used in AD886G Smartfren’s User
Manual into Indonesia namely structure shift,class shift,unit shift and intra-system
shift.
2. From eighteen techniques based on theory of Molina and Hortado Albir, there
were eleven techniques used in the translation of AD886G Smartfren’s User
Manual namely: borrowing technique 36,07%, calque 24,68%, litaral translation
13,29%, transposition 8,86%, reduction 8,22%, discursive creation 3,79%, estabili
sh equivalent 1,89%,adaptation 1,26% and amplification and description 0,63%.
3. The dominant shift used in AD886G Smartfren’s User Manual was structure
shift. Structures, where one element is typically obligatory while other elements
are optional and an agreement between the head its modifier are usually to
observe in some languages. However, language varies so widely the restriction.
Whereas, dominant techniques used in AD886G Smartfren’s User Manual in the
translation was borrowing technique. Because the translator took a word or
expression straight from SL and then it could be pure and naturalized that found in
the AD886G Smartfren’s user manual even though as spelling rule, word and
80
5.2 Suggestions
Based on the result of the study, some suggestions were proposed as
follows:
1. To translate technology terms, a translator should take the original technology
category into consideratino, because the original category reflect not only types
of value in the SL but also the characteristics of the source term in the source
text.
2. It is better to hire a translator who has competence in two languages and has
experiences in translation of technology terms.:
3. To translator of user manual book of Smartfren’s AD886G expect to more
accurately to translate in selecting words in the equivalent meaning. So that
the translation product is always consitent to the same words in TL.
4. To another researcher who interests to develop and conduct this research,
suggested in order to more focus with another aspects, such as unit shift and
class shift, equivalent meaning, and so forth. Because in this book was found
some problems that coverd about words, phrases and clauses. Next another
researcher will be deeper in relating about translation that is developed from
the process side, and then it is found something wider else from this translation
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