THE TRANSLATION STRATEGIES OF THE CULTURAL TERMS

FOUND IN THE INHERITANCE OF LOSS

A Thesis

Submitted to Letters and Humanities Faculty

in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for

The Degree of Strata One

Dede Nurillaila

1110026000029

ENGLISH LETTERS DEPARTMENT

LETTERS AND HUMANITIES FACULTY

STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY OF SYARIF

HIDAYATULLAH

JAKARTA

2015

THE TRANSLATION STRATEGIES OF THE CULTURAL TERMS

FOUND IN THE INHERITANCE OF LOSS

Dede Nurillaila

1110026000029

ENGLISH LETTERS DEPARTMENT

LETTERS AND HUMANITIES FACULTY

STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY OF SYARIF

HIDAYATULLAH

JAKARTA

2015

i

ABSTRACT

Dede Nurillaila, The Translation Strategy of the Cultural Terms Found in The

Heritance Of Loss. A Thesis: English Letters Department, Letters and Humanities

Faculty, State Islamic University of Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, March 2015.

This research investigates types of cultural terms related to social system

and the strategies in translating them into Indonesian. The data were taken from

the novel entitled The Inheritance of Loss in English and its translation in

Indonesian translated by Rika Iffati Farihah.

The researcher uses the qualitative method by reading both English and

Indonesian version novels, marking the cultural terms, classifying, selecting and

analyzing them based on the theories of translation strategy which are taken from

some relevant references.

There are 10 cultural terms related to social system found in the novel

based on Ke Ping’s classification. It is also found that from 7 translation strategies

proposed by Mona Baker, 3 strategies can be used in translating the terms: first, 8

terms translated by translation using loan word and 1 terms translated by

translation using loan word with explanation and 1 terms translated by translation

using cultural substitution.

iv

DECLARATION

I hereby declare that this submission is my own work and that, to the best

of my knowledge and belief, it contains no material previously published or

written by another person nor material which to a substantial extent has been

accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma of the university or other

institute of higher learning, except where due acknowledgement has been made in

text.

Jakarta, March 20th

2015

Dede Nurillaila

v

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.

All praises be to Allah SWT, the Lord of Universe, on the overflow of

graces and mercies to mankind, who amazingly guides the researcher in the

process of making this thesis. Peace and Salutation be upon the greatest prophet

Muhammad SAW, his family, companions and adherents, who had changed the

world from the darkness into the lightness.

On this occassion, the researcher wants to say many thanks to her beloved

parents (Hambali and EncunSuryani) and her oldersister (Payuningsih) and

twoolder brothers (Awaludin and Maulana), who have kept, taught, advised and

prayed for her success. The researcher also wants to give her gratitude to Mr. Dr.

Muhammad Farkhan, M.Pd and Mr. M. Agus Suriadi, M.Hum, as the researcher’s

advisors for their time, guidance, patience, kindness, contribution in correcting

and helping her in finishing her thesis.

The researcher would like to express her appreciation to the following

people, namely:

1. Prof. Dr. Sukron Kamil, M.Ag, the Dean of Letters and Humanities

Faculty, State Islamic University of Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta;

2. Mr. Dr. H. Muhammad Farkhan, M.Pd, the Assistant of Dean of Letters

and Humanities Faculty, State Islamic University of Syarif Hidayatullah

Jakarta;

vi

3. Mr. Drs. Saefuddin, M.Pd, the Head of English Letters Department and

Ms. Elve Oktafiyani, M.Hum, the Secretary of English Letters

Department;

4. All lecturers and the staffs of Adab and Humanities Faculty;

5. Special thanks to Agus Mujianto for being her fiancé, friend, beloved,

figures, and shoulders to rely on, “You’re my everything”;

6. The researcher’s beloved FRIENDS: Siti Khodijah, Ratu Shodfatul

Munifah, Hafizah Adha, Siti Lutfah Y, Sheila Khalidah W, and Aden

Irmat. Thanks for all support and memories.

7. All friends of class B and Translation class;

8. The researcher’s friends in Translation Class:Dwi Santika and Khilda

Nida.

9. To all people and friends that are not mentioned, “Thank you very much.”

May Allah, the all-Hearer and all-Knower, always bless’ protects, and gives

them more than they have given to the researcher. Hopefully, this thesis will be

advantageous for all people who read it.

Jakarta, March 20th

, 2015

The Writer

vii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABSTRACT ......................................................................................................... i

APPROVEMENT ............................................................................................... ii

LEGALIZATION ............................................................................................... iii

DECLARATION ................................................................................................. iv

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT .................................................................................. v

TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................... vii

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION ........................................................... 1

A. Background of the Research ....................................... 1

B. Focus of the Research ................................................. 4

C. Research Question ....................................................... 4

D. Objective of the Research ........................................... 5

E. Significance of the Research ....................................... 5

F. Research Methodology................................................ 5

1. Research Method ................................................... 5

2. Technique of Data Analysis ................................. 6

3. Instrument of the Research.................................... 6

4. Unit of Analysis .................................................... 7

5. Time and Place of the Research .......................... 7

CHAPTER II THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK ................................ 8

A. Translation................................................................... 8

1. Definition of Translation ....................................... 8

2. The Types of Translation ...................................... 9

B. The Strategy of Translation ......................................... 11

C. Cultural Words ............................................................ 14

1. Definition .............................................................. 14

2. The Types of Cultural Words ................................ 15

viii

D. Cultural Untranslatability Word .................................. 17

E. Types of Cultural Untranslatability ............................. 18

F. Translation Novel ........................................................ 20

CHAPTER III RESEARCH FINDINGS ................................................ 21

A. Data Analysis .............................................................. 22

CHAPTER IV CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION .......................... 32

A. Conclusion .................................................................. 32

B. Suggestion ................................................................... 33

BIBLIOGRAPHY ............................................................................................... 34

APPENDICES ..................................................................................................... 36

1

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

A. Background of the Research

Language is the important aspect in the life of all beings. We use language to

express our inner thought, to learn and to communicate each others. This is in

appropriate with the definition of language in Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

of Current English “Language is the system of communication in speech and writing

used by people of a particular country”.2 It means that language consists of the

elements or components that are regularly arranged according to a certain pattern and

form a unity. We must be able to speak by using language that is structured according

to the correct system.

Essentially, language serves as a communication tool for people in the world

that is used in various levels, and diverse interests. Therefore, using communicative

language requires knowledge and skills using a wide variety of languages. In the field

of translation, the translators are required to translating any text communicatively

from various sources all over the world.

2 A.S Hornby, Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Current English (New York: Oxford

University Press, 2000), p.752.

2

Meanwhile, translation is the liaison between countries in the world that have

a different language and custom. Translation can connect people between the

countries in the world, as Hoed states that, translation is the activity diverts messages

from one language (source language/SL) to another (target language/TL).3

Basically translating text is translating culture, because language is essentially

a product of a particular culture. As we know, language is a part of culture.

Meanwhile there were so many kinds of different cultures in the world, because every

country has its own culture, so that the language used varies also.

Moreover, every culture has its own incongruity that is not owned by another

culture. This fact may cause many kinds of unique cultural products that make other

people from different culture difficult to find the equivalence in their cultures and

languages. This is in line with Catford’s opinion that says “The central problem of

translation practice is that of finding TL translation equivalents”4. This means that the

main problem in translation is to find the equivalent as precise as possible.

In order to find the cultural equivalent, the translator will deal with the

concept of translatability and untranslatability. The larger the differences between

source language and target language in their language structures and cultures, the

more the untranslatable factors are produced. For example, the word “Kejawen” in

Indonesian was not found the equivalent in English word, and “Halloween” in

English was not found the equivalent in Indonesian. The differences of cultural

3 Benny Hoed, Penerjemahan dan Kebudayaan, (Jakarta: Pustaka Jaya, 2006), p. 33.

4 J.C Catford, A Linguistic Theory of Translation (New York: Oxford University Press, 1974),

p. 21

3

between English and Indonesian language is the major problem that a translator needs

to concern about. Therefore, the translator should make the readers understand about

the message of the target language by giving an explanation about those cultural

words.

For instance, when translating the novel text, the translator will face some

problems of the way to translate a title, choose personal pronoun pronominal, and

translate metaphor and idiom.5 All of problems and difficulties that appear when

translating a novel text is a challenging job for a translator to produce the translation

result which is equal to the source text and also acceptable in the target text.

In this case, the researcher wants to analyze about what are the cultural terms

related to social system found together with what the translation strategies used in

translating The Inheritance of Loss into Senja di Himalaya in order to produce the

acceptable work also to keep the messages of the source language that can be

received by the target reader comprehensively. The Inheritance of Loss is authorized

by Kiran Desai, she is an Indian author, a citizen of India, also a permanent resident

of the United States. Her second novel, The Inheritance of Loss, launched in the

2006, won the 2006 Man Booker Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Fiction

Award. This novel becomes the best seller which is translated into Indonesian

language by Rika Iffati Farihah. The Inheritance of Loss tells about two main

characters Biju and Sai. Biju is an illegal Indian immigrant living in the United

5 Frans Sayogie, Teori dan Praktek Penerjemahan Bahasa Inggris ke dalam Bahasa

Indonesia (Tangerang: Pustaka Aanak Negeri, 2009), pp. 208-212

4

States. Sai is a girl living in mountainous Kalimpong. Desai switches the narration

between both points of view. The action of the novel takes place in 1986. In this

novel, there are many words giving obstacles for translator to reach the equivalent

word in the target language, because of the cultural differences between source and

target language.

In this research, the researcher tries to find words containing cultural terms, to

classify them based on the categories of cultural terms related to social system

adapted from Ke Ping, indeed the researcher tries to analyze the translation strategies

used by the translator to translate the cultural terms in The Inheritance of Loss. This

research can lead the translator be more reasonable in translating cultural terms.

B. Focus of the Research

This research focuses only on the translation of cultural terms related to social

system found in the novel entitled The Inheritance of Loss written by Kiran Desai and

translated into Indonesian language by Rika Iffati Farihah also what translation

strategies are used by the translator.

C. Research Question

Based on the limitation above, the researcher formulates research questions as

follow:

5

1. What are the kinds of cultural terms related to social system found in

Kiran Desai’s novel The Inheritance of Loss and their translation in

Bahasa Indonesia?

2. What are kinds of translation strategies used by the translator to translate

the cultural untranslatability words in Kiran Desai’s novel The Inheritance

of Loss?

D. Objectives of the Research

Objectives of the research based on the problem statements are as follow:

1. To identify and classify the cultural terms related to social system found in

the novel based on Ke Ping’s classification.

2. To find the kinds of translation strategies used by the translator to translate

the cultural terms in Kiran Desai’s novel The Inheritance of Loss based on

Mona Baker’s classisication of translation strategies.

E. Significances of the Research

The result of this research expectantly will be advantageous to the writer

herself and the readers.

1. To know deeply about cultural terms found in the source language.

2. To give a contribution to another researcher in analyzing the literary work,

in this research is a novel.

6

F. Research Methodology

1. Research Method

The method used in this research is descriptive qualitative method.

The writer reads both English and Indonesian version of the novel The

Inheritance of Loss, which tries to find the cultural terms and translation

strategies applied by the translator (Rika Iffati Farihah).

2. Technique of Data Analysis

To analyze the data, the researcher uses descriptive analysis technique

that is supported by the relevant theory, and the researcher uses the following

steps:

1) Reading both version English-Indonesian novels, marking all

cultural terms in both of versions and making notes about them in

a piece of paper. In The Inheritance of Loss, one side of the paper

consists of the English cultural term and the other side has the

translation;

2) Classifying the data to be more specific based on Ke Ping’s

category of cultural terms related to social system and the

translation strategy adapted from Mona Baker.

7

3. Instrument of the Research

The instrument of the research is the researcher herself by reading both

version novels comprehend, observing, signing, and grouping the SL cultural

terms and the target language translation used by translator in translating

novel The Inheritance of Loss that will be analyzed for the report.

4. Unit of Analysis

Unit of analysis in this research is The Inheritance of Loss, a novel by Kiran

Desai published by Penguin Group (Canada) in 2006 and its translation Senja

di Himalaya by Rika Iffati Farihah in 2007 published by PT Mizan Pustaka.

5. Time and Place of the Research

The writer starts doing the research from December 2013 in English Letter

Department, Letter and Humanities Faculty, State Islamic University of

“Syarif Hidayatullah” Jakarta. The research is located at the English Letters

Department, Library of State Islamic University of “Syarif Hidayatullah”

Jakarta, some of University Libraries in Jakarta, and the writer’s house.

8

CHAPTER II

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

A. Translation

In this chapter, the researcher will express some theories about the notion of

translation. Nowadays translation is seen as an important role in human

activities and for the translator as a mediator between cultures. In this

globalization era, the needs to the translated matter have increased intensely.

As quoted by Newmark of Jumpelt7, 20

th century is said to be the

century of translation. As well since the 19th

century translation is the only

way to communicate between the philosophy and other scientists.

1. Definition of Translation

There are a lot of understandings about translation which can be found

in all the books about translation. Some linguistic experts have similar opinion

about translation but formulated in different ways. Catford stated, “Translation

may be defined as follows: the replacement of textual material in one language

(SL) by equivalent textual material in another language (TL).”8 Here, Catford

emphasized that the subtitles should be commensurate with the original text.

7 Peter Newmark, Approach to Translation (Oxford: Pergamon Press, 1981), p. 3.

8 J.C Catford, A Linguistic Theory of Translation (London: Oxford University Press,

1965), p. 20.

9

Here, Catford emphasized that the subtitles should be commensurate with

the original text.Furthermore, Nida and Taber stated, “Translating consist in

reproducing in a receptor language the closest natural equivalent of a source

language message firstly in terms of meaning and secondly in terms of style.”9 It

means, when process of translating a language into another language, it cannot

omit the meaning and style. While Newmarkdefined translation as “a craft

consisting in the attempt to replace a written message and/or statement in one

language by the same message and/or statement in another language.”10

It means

the intention of the author of the text must be considered by the translator.

Therefore, in translation the intention of the author in the source language used as

a benchmark whether it is appropriate or not the meaning of the source language.

After explaining some definition above, the researcher makes a conclusion

that translation is the process of rendering the source language to target language

without changing the meaning. It means that before translating, the translator must

be recognizing the target reader about the result of translating.

2. The Types of Translation

Practically, there are some types of translation that have their own

characteristics and forms. To distinguish the concept of translation, Jacobson

differentiate translation into:11

9 Eugene A. Nida and Charles R. Taber, The Theory and Practice of Translation (Leiden:

E.J. Brill, 1982), p. 12. 10

Peter Newmark, Approach to Translation (Oxford: Pergamon Press, Ltd, 1981), p. 7. 11

Roman Jacobson, On Linguistic Aspects of Translation, in L.Venuti (ed.) (2004), pp.

138 – 43.

10

a. Intralingual translation or rewording (an interpretation of verbal signs

by means of other signs in the same language).12

This intralingual

translation is the conversion of a text into another text based on the

interpretation of the translator. For example, when we write back a

poem into prose in Indonesian, then we do intralingual translation.

b. Interlingual translation or translation proper (an interpretation of

verbal signs by means of the signs of some other language).13

This

type of translation is a translation in the real sense. In this type, the

translator rewrote meaning of the source language text or message

text into the target language.

c. Intersemiotic translation or transmutation (an interpretation of verbal

signs by means of the signs of a nonverbal system).14

This type

includes the interpretation of a text into a form or another sign

system. For example, interpretation of a novel into a soap opera with

the same title.

Those concept are to seek the presence of translation equivalence, but

Jacobson argued that the intralingual translation only have an idea of the process

of transfer from the source language into the target language.

12

Ibid. 13

Ibid. 14

Ibid.

11

B. The Strategy of Translation

Strategy is a plan or method for achieving a specific goal (the whole text).

Mona Baker states that there are eight types of translation strategy for

professional translation.15

1. Translation by a more general word

This is one of the most common strategies to deal with many types of

nonequivalence. As Baker believes, it works appropriately in most, if not all,

languages, because in the semantic field, meaning is not language dependent.

For example:

SL : My mother frightened about flooding at home constantly.

TL :Ibuku selalu takut akan banjir dirumah.

*contantly translated selalu.

This is a common strategy used by the translator to find the equivalent of a

variety words that do not have a direct equivalent.

2. Translation by a more neutral/ less expressive word.

This is another strategy in the semantic field of structure. This strategy is

used to reduce the negative impression by the word in the source language,

which is due to the meaning of which is owned by the words in the source

language. For example:

SL : Sophie is still looking deadly bored and sleepy.

TL : Sophie masih kelihatan sangat bosan dan ngantuk.

*Deadly translated sangat

15

Mona Baker, In Other Words Coursebook on Translation (New York: Routledge,

1992), pp. 26-42.

12

3. Translation by cultural substitution

This strategy involves replacing a culture-specific item or expression with a

target language item considering its impact on the target reader. This strategy

makes the translated text more natural, more understandable and more familiar

to the target reader.

For example:

SL :Next week will be halloween party.

TL :Minggu depan akan diadakan pestatopeng.

4. Translation using a loan word or loan word plus explanation

This strategy is usually used in dealing with culture-specific items, modern

concepts, and buzz words. Using the loan word with an explanation is very

useful when a word is repeated several times in the text. At the first time the

word is mentioned by the explanation and in the next times the word can be

used by its own. For example:

SL :This is true of Bali where the unique ornamentation of the gringsing

cloths of Tenganan village Are said to be designs painted in the sky,

creations of BataraIndra.

TL :Begitupun di Bali ragam yang unik pada kain gringsing dari desa

Tenganan, adalah desain yang terlukis di langit yang di ciptakan oleh

Batara Indra.

This strategy is very commonly used, especially if associated with culture-

specific item, modern concepts and words that talk about rumors.

13

5. Translation by paraphrase using a related word

This strategy is used when the source item in lexicalized in the target

language but in a different form, and when the frequency with which a

certain form is used in the source text is obviously higher than it would be

natural in the target language. For example :

SL :Obama is an Afro-American man.

TL :Presiden Obama berdarah campuran Afrika-Amerika.

6. Translation by paraphrase using unrelated words

The paraphrase strategy can be used when the concept in the source item is

not lexicalized in the target language. When the meaning of the source item is

complex in the target language, the paraphrase strategy may be used instead

of using related words; it may be based on modifying a super-ordinate or

simply on making clear the meaning of the source item. For example:

SL :They have a totally integrated operation from the preparation of the yarn

through to the weaving it.

TL :Mereka mempunyai semua langkah – langkah produksi dalam pabrik ini

dimulai dari menyediakan benang hingga menggulungnya..

7. Translation by omission

This may be a drastic kind of strategy, but in fact it may be even useful to

omit translating a word or expression in some contexts. If the meaning

conveyed by a particular item or expression is not necessary to mention in the

understanding of the translation, translators use this strategy to avoid lengthy

explanations. For example:

14

SL : Tommy made the excuse of feeling tired and went up to his room.

TL : Tommy beralasan bahwa dia capek, dan dia naik ke kamarnya.

The word “feeling” is omitted this step was taken while not reducing the

important messages conveyed.

8. Translation by illustration

This strategy can be useful when the target equivalent item does not cover

some aspects of the source item and the equivalent item refers to a physical

entity which can be illustrated, particularly in order to avoid over-explanation

and to be concise and to the point. For example :

SL: Beyond the veranda, speck insects suspended in a pod within which they

jigged tirelessly.

TL: Diseberang beranda, serangga – serangga sangat kecil yang tergantung

dalam sebuah kulit tempat mereka melompat – lompat tanpa lelah

didalamnya.

C. Cultural Words

1. Definition

As we know, translation arises as a result of communication problems

caused by different languages and language is a part of culture. It is important to

be remembered that culture cannot always be translated into the target language

well, because we have to know the culture of both source and target language.

Translation is not a simple message redirection activity. These transfers of

messages from the source language into the target language should pay attention

15

to several aspects, especially about culture. Translating the language that involves

elements of culture is very challenging for translators because many translators

who said that culture is difficult to be translated, or even impossible to translate.

According to Newmark, culture is “… a way of life and its manifestations

that are peculiar to a community that uses a particular language as its means of

expression”. 16

And Larson says that culture is a complex of beliefs, attitudes,

values, and rules which a group of people share.17

It can be concluded that cultural

words is a word, a group of words, or compound word which states specifically on

the cultural significance.

2. The Types of Cultural Words

Newmark sets the comprehensive cultural categories according to Nida’s

divisions, to make it easier to understand the researcher categorizing into a table

as following below:18

Table 1.1

Cultural Categories by Newmark’s classification

No. Categories Sub Catagories/ Elements

1. Ecology Concerns the geographical surrounding

of nature such as flora, fauna, winds,

plains, hills, etc.

2. Material culture This category includes what is related

to every day supplies for instance

foods, drinks, clothes etc.

3. Social culture It concerns work and leisure such as the

names of music, mass media, games

and dance.

16

Peter Newmark (1988), op.cit. p 94. 17

Mildred L. Larson, Meaning Based Translation (New York: University Press of

America, 1988), p. 94. 18

Peter Newmark (1988), op.cit. p. 95.

16

4. Organizations,

customs, activities,

procedures, concepts

Political, religious, artistic activists.

5. Gestures and habits

Body gestures and habits.

Another classification is done by Ke Ping.19

He defines that culture is

normally regarded as comprising, with some slight variations. The variations of

these cultural terms follow four sub-systems:

Table 1.2

Cultural categories by Ke Ping’s classification

No. Categories Sub Catagories

1. Techno-economic

System

a. Ecology (flora, fauna, climate, etc.);

b. Means of production, exchange, and

distribution of goods;

c. Crafts, technology, and science;

artifacts (material culture);

2. Social system a. Social classes and groups;

b. Kinship system (typology, sex and

marriage, procreation and paternity,

size of family, etc.);

c. Politics and law

d. Education;

e. Sports and entertainment;

f. Customs;

g. General history.

3. Ideational system a. Cosmology;

b. Religion;

c. Magic and witchcraft;

d. Folklore;

e. Artistic creations as images;

f. Values (moral, aesthetic, etc.);

g. Cognitive focus and thinking

patterns;

h. Ideology.

19

Ke Ping, Cultural Presuppositions and Misreadings. META, Vol 44, No 1 (1999): 133-

143. Retrieved September 28th

, 2014 from http://id.erudit.org/iderudit/003296ar.online.

17

4. Linguistic system a. Phonology and graphemics;

b. Grammar (morphology and syntax);

c. Semantics and pragmatics.

Ke Ping’s classification of cultural terms is used in this research as the

background story of the novel. This is the most important point in using Ke Ping’s

classification. In addition, Ke Ping also gives the details of four classifications

which are useful in classifying the terms and preventing ambiguity

.

D. Cultural Untranslatability Word

The translation that involves cultural items needs serious attention because

the translator will be faced with complex problems, namely the untranslatability.

Catford distinguishes two types of untranslatability, linguistic and cultural.20

Linguistic untranslatability occurs when there is no lexical or syntactic substitute

in language for the Source language item. This is the result of the differences

between the Source language and the Target language. Cultural untranslatability is

due to the absence in the target culture of a relevant situational feature for the

Source language text.

Translation is a part of a continuous process of intercultural transfer. The

translator has to present the aspects of social culture that is unfamiliar to the

receiving audience. They consist of elements of the material culture like food,

dress and tools, factors of social structures like customs and law, features of the

natural world like weather, flora and fauna, and social functions like festivals,

rituals and ceremonies.

20

J.C. Catford (1965), op. cit., p. 94

18

E. Types of cultural untranslatability

According to translation, cultural obstructions or cultural differences, reflects

five aspects: historical culture, geographical and psychological culture, material

culture, customs and traditions as well as religious culture.21

1. The historical culture

The historical culture refers to the culture settled and formed during the

development of society. Different nations have different historical

development, so their historical cultures are different. This kind of difference

impedes the communication between languages. For example, the word

“prabu” must be translated in a direct way with the some explanations, for

there are lacks of such historical background in western country.

2. The geographical and psychological culture

Different nations’ geographical and psychological culture is also a main

barrier in translation. Because of the different geographical environment and

different nation’s mentalities, the same word will have totally different

meanings in two different cultures. For example, “East wind” in Chinese and

English is a vivid example. Chinese people and favors the east wind, for it is

always a symbol of “spring” and “warmness” while people in Britain dislike

the east wind, because the east wind is from the northern part of the European

continent, so it is always symbolize “coldness” and “sadness”.

21

Cultural Differences and Untranslatability, http://www.21jfs.com/Item/596.aspx,

accessed on September 26th

2014.

19

3. The material culture

Many words reflecting the distinctive material culture in the source

language should be paid much attention to when translated them. For example,

the word “cricket” is a peculiar word in the English language, for it is a

popular outdoor game in Britain, and plays an important role in people’s daily

life. There is a saying “It is as significant as a game of cricket.” If we want to

translate this sentence, we should add some background information for the

Indonesian readers, because playing cricket is rare in Indonesia.

4. Customs and traditions

The different customs and traditions in the daily activities and

communications in Indonesia and Western countries reflect the different

cultural mentality. The naming system is a good example, which reflects the

different standards of the degrees of people’s close relations, the relations

between people in the higher and lower levels. For example, in Indonesia

people used to call others by their degree of family relation to show the

respect while in western countries people call each other’s name directly to

show the close relations.

5. The religious culture

Religious culture means the culture formed by a nation’s religious beliefs

and common sense .Its difference lies in the difference in the beliefs and

the prohibitions of different countries. For example shalat, dzikir, lebaran,

etc.

20

F. Translation Novel

Novel is a literary work that reveals the stories are fictional using elements

of character, plot, setting and style to express a particular theme. Novel much in

demand among readers because the story is interesting, straightforward language,

and its contents were impressed realistic due to reveal things that are very close to

reality. As a work of imaginative, novel can be used for the researcher to express

their thoughts and feelings. While novel translation is a novel that is structured by

way of divert translated foreign novels into Indonesian.

In translation novel there are some differences with the original Indonesian

novel. The difference is reflected in the language elements, customs, cultures, and

values.Sayogie says that the good novel translation occurs when the impression of

source language readers.22

It means that the translation of novel should be

interesting in the way of presenting the wholly story and must gives the same

message and impression between both source and target language readers. In

translating novel, thereare some techniques of novel translationthere are:1) the

translator should be masteringthe source language, 2) mastering the target

language, 3) mastering the translated material, 4) familiar with all types of

dictionaries, 5) easy and accustomed to seeing “overall description” of the novel

and 6) read as many other similar novel.

22

FransSayogie (2009), op.cit.p. 204.

21

CHAPTER III

RESEARCH FINDINGS

This chapter presents and discusses the results of the research. The cultural

terms related to social system and strategies in translation are presented in one

section. The section discusses the types of cultural terms based on Ke Ping’s

classification and the strategies in translating the terms according to Mona

Baker’s classification.

A. Data Analysis

This section discussed the cultural terms found in the novel. There are 10

cultural terms related to social system found from the source text, the original

version, and it can be classified under types of cultural terms related to social

system based on Ke Ping’s theory. There are 2 strategies of translation of this

novel which is related to social system, and it classified based on Mona Baker’s

theory of translation strategies.

Datum 1:

SL : The wedding party lasted a week and was so opulent that nobody

in Piphit could doubt but the family lived a life awash in ghee

and gold, so when Bomanbhai bent over with a Namaste and

begged his guests to eat and drink, they knew his modesty was

false—and of the best kind, therefore.

22

TL :Pesta pernikahan itu berlangsung selama seminggu dan

sedemikian mewah sampai tak ada orang di Piphit yang

meragukan bahwa keluarga tersebut hidup berkelimpahan ghee

dan emas, jadi ketika Bomanbhai membungkukkan badan sambil

mengucapkan Namaste dan memohon agar tamu-tamunya makan

dan minum, mereka tahu sikap rendah hati ini cuma pura-pura—

dan dengan demikian merupakan sikap rendah hati yang paling

baik.

The term Namaste in sentence (8) above belong to the social system

related to custom. Namaste is a common valediction or salutation originating from

the Hinduism the Indian Subcontinent. It is a customary greeting when individuals

meet, and a valediction upon their parting.20

Namaste in this novel is also

explained in the same way. When spoken to another person, it is commonly

accompanied by a slight bow made with hands pressed together, palms touching

and fingers pointed upwards, in front the chest.

Namaste is translated into Namaste, it can be said that the translator used

the strategy of translation using loan word. The researcher identified that the

translator borrowed Hindi cultural word by using italic for the word, so this

strategy can be mentioned as pure borrowing with ―wholly italic‖. In the

researcher’s opinion, the translator used italic form in the translation because SL

word is used in italic form. This translation cannot be accepted as it is not clearly

described the term, because the translator did not give more explanation and

information about the term. Thus, the translation should be better added more

explanation by putting it in the bracket, making a note or giving appendix of the

term.

20

http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/namaste, accessed on January 5th

2015

23

Datum 2 :

SL : "Babaji, just look outside—how are we to keep them dry? It is

humanly impossible, they are getting wet as we transfer them

from van to office."

TL : ―Babaji, lihat saja di luar—bagaimana kita bisa menjaga agar

surat-surat itu tetap kering? Secara manusiawi, itu mustahil,

surat-surat tersebut menjadi basah saat kami memindahkannya

dari van kekantor.‖

The example of kinship system is shown in datum (2). From this sentence,

it can get an example of phrase related to paternity. The word "baabaa" [originally

from Persian] means "daddy" still used with this meaning in Urdu. However, this

word has come to signify an "old man". So, when one is addressing an old man

(or anyone older for that matter) one adds "jii" (or jaan in Urdu) to convey

respect.21

The term Babaji in the sentences above is not translated. The translator

used the term as it is in the SL text. It’s function to introduce the Hindi culture

about the social classes of calling for father. Though, it is still possible to translate

the term to Indonesian as Bapak or Ayah. Thus, the way that the translator used in

this case is translation using a loan word. This translation is cannot be accepted,

because the translatoronly borrowing the term from source language without

providing a clear explanation or information, so it will make the readers confused

about the term. Thus, the translator would be better to addexplanation by putting it

in the bracket of the term, or making a note and giving appendix.

21

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=babaji+ki+booti, accessed on

January 5th

2015

24

Datum 3:

SL : ―Better get it straight before you get on the plane, bhai.‖

TL : ―Lebih baik kau paham itu sebelum naik pesawat, bhai.‖

Bhai in datum (3) belongs to social system which is part of kinship

system. Bhai translated from hindi/gujarati as brother. Bhai used to call your

younger brother if he has a stupid name you can't be arsed to say or to embarrass

him in front of friends.22

In this novel, bhai was not described clearly. The term

bhai in the novel used for talking in a friendly way to a man.

From the example above, the translation of the word bhai is transferred

directly into the TL. Whereas, it still possible to translate the terminto Indonesian

language as Mas or Abang. Therefore, the translation strategy used to translate

this term is translation using a loan word. The researcher identified that the

translator borrowed Hindi cultural word by using italic for the word, so this

strategy can be mentioned as pure borrowing with ―wholly italic‖. In the

researcher’s opinion, the translator used italic form in the translation, because SL

word is used in italic form.

Datum 4:

SL : They looked at Sai. ―Didi . . ., ―the woman said.

TL :Mereka menatap Sai, ―Didi . . ., si perempuan berkata.

In the Oxford dictionary, didi is an older sister or older female cousin

(often as a proper name or form of address) a respectful form of address to any

22

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=bhai, accessed on March 23rd

2015

25

olderwoman familiar to the speaker.23

In the sentences above didi can be

classified as social system, such as kinship system. Didi in this novel is used for

talking in a friendly way to a woman.

The example above shows that the translator translates the term didi into

didi. Though, the word didi is still possible to be translated in Indonesia as mbak

or kakak. The translator translated the term directly in the target language. It can

be said that the translator used the strategy of translation using loan word. In

Indonesian culture the word didi is widely used by Indonesia society as a name of

someone, so the translation of the term will exactly make the reader confused to

understand and bring a different understanding as the translator translated didi as

didi without italicizing the term or giving more explanation about the term.

Datum 5:

SL : ―A great shikari he was, Saibaby.

TL : ―Sungguh shikari yang hebat dia, Saibaby.

The term shikari in datum (5) above belongs to the social system related

to kinship system. A shikari is a big game hunter or hunting guide in India.24

Shikari in this novel is also explained in the same way. Shikari is someone who

is experienced in hunting, especially a wild animal.

The translation of the term in the target language clearly uses borrowing. It

means that the translation uses the strategy of translation using a loan word.

Though, it is still possible to translate the term to Indonesia as pemburu. In

23

http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/didi, accessed on March 23rd

2015 24

http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/shikari, accessed on March 23rd

2015

26

addition, based on the context, there is an explanation of the word by putting it in

the appendix in the novel, so it is not enough to just borrow that word. The word

shikari is translated to shikari. It can be assumed that the translator wants readers

to know that the word shikari is a foreign word. This translation is cannot be

accepted, because the translator only borrowing the word without giving more

explanation about the term, in order to makes readers understand what the

sentences are about.

Datum 6:

SL : Indian who lived abroad, Indians who traveled abroad, richest

and poorest, the back-and-forth ones maintaining green cards.

TL : Orang – orang India yang tinggal diluar negeri, yang paling kaya

dan yang paling miskin, orang – orang yang mondar mandir

mempertahankan green card mereka.

Green card is alien registration card issued by the US immigration

authorities to non-US citizens permitted to live and work in the US for an

indefinite period. So called like this, because it was originally printed on green

paper.25

The translator explained green card as surat izin yang memungkinkan

warga negara asing untuk tinggal dan bekerja di Amerika Serikat. According to

the explanation of the text above, Green card is the example of social system

related to politics and law. The translator does not put the explanation directly.

The information puts in the foot note while the translator retains the original term

of green card in order to inform to the Indonesian reader about the term.

25

http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/green-card.html, accessed on March 23rd

2015

27

In translating the two sentences above, the translator uses the strategy of

using a loan word with explanation. The use of this strategy is needed with some

of the considerations firstly, when the cultural term translated was not described

clearly in the novel. Secondly, there are equivalent that if approached in the target

language, although not entirely accurate. Third, the translator tries to retain the

authenticity of the narrative.

Datum 7:

SL : A bit of ―sir sahib huzoor‖ for politeness’ sake, but that was just

residual veneer now; he knew what they really thought of him.

TL: Sekelumit ―tuan sahib huzoor‖ demi basa-basi, tetapi itu hanya

polesan sisa sekarang; dia sudah tau apa sebenarnya anggapan

mereka tentang dirinya.

Huzoor is an Indian of high rank, or a title of respect for such a person.26

The term huzoor in the sentence can be classified as social system which is part

of kinship system. In the bilingual Hindi-Indonesian dictionary, the term of

huzoor has the same meaning as tuan. The translator not only put tuan as the

similar meaning in Indonesian language, but also huzoor in the target language,

so it has two terms in the sentences of target language.

The term huzoor in the sentences above is not translated. The translator

uses the term as it is in the source language text. The aim is to introduce the Hindi

culture about the kinship system of calling for master. It can be identified that the

strategy which is used by the translator is translation using a loan word. This

26

http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/huzoor, accessed on March 23rd

2015

28

translation is cannot be accepted as the translator only borrow the word without

give more explanation or information of term, as it can make the reader confuse to

understand the sentences. Thus the translator should give some explanation by

putting it in the bracket of term or make a note and appendix in the novel.

Datum 8:

SL :―Please, sahib. . . .‖ It was the same wife and father of the tortured

man.

TL : ―Tolonglah, sahib. . . .‖ Mereka adalah istri dan ayah dari pria

yang di siksa waktu dulu itu.

The term sahib in the sentence (8) above belongs to the social system

related to kinship system. Sahib is (in India) sir; master: a term of respect used,

especially during the colonial period, when addressing or referring to a

European.27

In bilingual English-Indonesian dictionary, the term sahib has an

equivalent as tuan. The term sahib is transferred directly into the target language

without any change.

In this case, the translator uses the strategy of translation using loan word

to translate the term. In researcher’s opinion this translation is cannot be accepted,

because the translator only borrows the term from source language without

provides a clear explanation or information, so it will makes the readers confused

about the term. Thus, the translator would be better to adding more explanation by

putting it in the bracket of the term, or making a note and giving appendix.

27

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/sahib?s=t, accessed on March 23rd

2015

29

Datum 9:

SL : She had left India a meek bride, scrolled and spattered with

henna, so much gold in her sari she set off every metal detector

in the airport—and now here she was—white pantsuit, bobbed

hair, vanity case, and capable of doing the macarena.

TL: Wanita itu meninggalkan India sebagai seorang mempelai yang

penurut, terlukis dan terpecik henna, sarinya dihiasi emas begitu

banyak sehingga dia menyalakan semua detector logam di

bandara—dan sekarang inilah dia—mengenakan jaket dan celana

panjang yang serasi, rambut dipotong pendek, tas make-up dan

mampu bergoyang macarena.

Datum (9) shows, macarena as the cultural words that belongs to social

system related to entertainment. Macarena is (often initial capital letter) a dance

performed in a group line or solo and followed by arrhythmic pattern of arm,

hand, and hip movements in time to a Spanish song.28

According to Oxford

dictionaries Macarena is a dance performed with exaggerated hipmotion to a

fast Latin rhythm.29

Yet, Indonesian culture does not have this kind of dance.

Therefore, there is not an equivalent word in Indonesian language. It is identified

that the translator uses translation using a loan word as the strategy to translate the

term in which she preserves the term Macarena in its original word. It can be

assumed that the translator wants readers to know that the word Macarena is a

foreign word.This translation is cannot be accepted, because the translator only

borrowing the term from source language without providing a clear explanation or

information, because there is no term of such dance in Indonesian culture. Thus,

the translator would be better to add explanation by putting it in the bracket of the

term, or making a note and giving appendix.

28

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/macarena?s=t, accessed on March 23rd

2015 29

http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Macarena?q=macarena, accessed

on March 23rd

2015

30

Datum 10:

ST : He met his friend the MetalBoxwatchman, and they walked

together to the Mela Ground, through the entrance gate that was

mounted with a statue of Gandhi to commemorate Indian

Independence.

TT : Dia bertemu dengan temannya si satpam MetalBox, dan mereka

berjalan bersama menuju Lapangan Mela, melalui gerbang masuk

yang diatasnya dipasang patung Gandhi untuk memperingati

kemerdekaan India.

The term watchman in the sentences above can be classified as social

system which is part of law. In bilingual English-Indonesia dictionary, the word

watchman has an equivalent as Penjaga. In the example above the translator

translated watchman into satpam. In the oxford dictionary watchman is

a man employed to look after an empty building, especially at night. The

Indonesian translator replaced it with satpam which does not have the same

meaning since the term satpam refers to the men who usually wear the more

official looking white uniforms. The term satpam is an abbreviation of Satuan

Petugas Keamanan, roughly translated as Association of Security Officers. In

theory, a satpam is best equipped to guard your family in a dangerous situation. In

reality, people would probably never need those services. His role is primarily to

ensure people safety, open the gate, and screen visitors.30

However satpam is

familiar to Indonesian reader and therefore provides a good cultural substitution.

The word watchman has several translation words such as penjaga,

satpam and many other words. The translation believed watchman has the same

30

http://www.expat.or.id/info/jaga.html, accessed on January 5th

2015

31

meaning with satpam. Therefore, the translator used satpam as the translation.

From the explanation, the researcher assumed the strategy used by the translator is

translation by cultural substitution.

32

CHAPTER IV

CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION

A. Conclusion

From the discussion in the previous chapter, it is found that most of the

cultural terms related to social system are examples of kinship system. It is 7 from

the total of 10 cultural terms. Custom is found 1 time and followed by

entertainment 1 and law 1 term.

In translating these cultural terms, three different strategies are used by the

translator. Those are translation using a loan word, loan word plus explanation,

and translation by cultural substitution. From these strategies, translation using a

loan word is the most used in translating cultural terms related to social system. It

is because the terms are untranslatable, have no equivalence words in target

language, or in order to create the exotics sense in the text. It is followed by

translation using loan word plus explanation and cultural substitution which only

occurred once.

It is also found that in translating cultural terms related to social system in

the form of phrase, more than one strategy is used. Since the phrase contains

translatable words and untranslatable words, the strategies in translating are

different from one to another. These untranslatable words force the translator to

borrow the terms into the target language.

33

B. Suggestion

From the conclusion of research findings, the researcher gives some

suggestion for students of English Department, cultural translators, and other

researchers as follows:

1. Students of English Department who are interested in the subject of

material cultural terms translation, they should be aware that

translation concerning culture is problematic, because each culture

develops its own language. It is suggested that the student have wide

understanding about material culture in subject observation. It is also

suggested that a student has a deep understanding about the strategies

in order to solve the problems of translation of cultural terms.

2. For the cultural translator, it is better to choose the words which have

at least the closest meaning to the lexicon in source language and put

the additional information or explanation about the source language

material cultural terms which are unfamiliar among the target readers.

3. Since this research focuses only in the translation of cultural terms

either in form of single word or phrase, other errors outside the terms

are not discussed. The researcher hopes that other researcher would

like to analyze further. To find the accuracy, naturalness and

correctness of whole translation product.

34

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Books:

Baker, Mona. 1992. In Other Words, A Coursebook on Translation. Newyork:

Routledge.

Catford, J.C. 1965. A Linguitic Theory of Translation. London: Oxford University

Press.

Choliludin. 2009. The Technique of Making Idiomatic Translation. Jakarta:

Visipro.

Desai, Kiran. The Inheritance of Loss. 2006. New York Grove Atlantic, Inc. Print.

_____. Senja di Himalaya. Trans. Farihah, R.I. 2007. Jakarta: Penerbit Hikmah.

Print.

Hoed, Benny H. 1992. Penerjemahan dan Kebudayaan. Jakarta: PT Dunia

Pustaka Jaya.

Larson, M. 1984. Meaning-based Translation. Lanham: University Press of

America.

Machali, R. 2009. Pedoman Bagi Penerjemah. Jakarta: Grasindo.

Newmark, Peter. 1981. Approach to Translation. Oxford: Pergamon Press.

____________. 1988. A Textbook of Translation. Hertfordshire: Prentice Hall

International Ltd.

Nida, E.A. and Charles Taber. 1982. The Theory and Practice of Translation.

Leiden: E.J. Brill.

Sayogie, F. 2009. Teori dan Praktek Penerjemahan Bahasa Inggris ke dalam

Bahasa Indonesia. Tangerang: Pustaka Anak Negeri.

Venuti. L. 1995. The Translator’s Invizibility. A History of Translation.

London/New York: Routledge.

35

Websites:

Anonym. Oxford Online Dictionary in www.oxforddictionaries.com. Accessed:

November 24, 2014. Online.

Kitamura, Kanji. Cultural Untranslatability. Translation Journal, Vol 13, No 3

(2009) in http://translationjournal.net/journal/49translatability.htm.

Accessed on September 26, 2014. Online.

Liyan, Huang. Cultural Differences and Untranslatability. Translation Journal,

Vol 12, No 9 (2006) in http://www.21jfs.com/Item/596.aspx. Accessed on

September 26, 2014. Online.

Ping, Ke. Cultural Presuppositions and Misreadings. META, Vol 44, No 1

(1999): 133-143. Retrieved August 27, 2014

fromhttp://id.erudit.org/iderudit/003296ar. Online.

36

APPENDICES

A. SYNOPSIS

The story is centered on two main

characters: Biju and Sai. Biju is an illegal

Indian immigrant living in the United States,

son of a cook who works for Sai’s grandfather.

Sai ia a girl living in mountainous Kalimpong

with her maternal grandfather Jemubhai, the

cook and a dog named Mutt. Desai switches

the narration between both points of view. The

action of the novel takes place in 1986.

This novel has the potential to be useful

for its address of colonialism and post

colonialism. It deals with the immigration

experience as well as the experience within a

home country controlled by a foreign force. It

deals with the loss of cultural identity and its

effects on future generations.

37

In a crumbling, isolated house at the

foot of Mount Kanchenjunga in the

Himalayas lives an embittered judge

who wants only to retire in peace,

when his orphaned granddaughter,

Sai, arrives on his doorstep. The

judge’s cook watches over her

distractedly, for his thoughts are

often on his son, Biju, who is

hopscotching from one gritty New

York restaurant to another. Kiran

Desai’s brilliant novel, published to

huge acclaim, is a story of joy and

despair. Her characters face

numerous choices that majestically

illuminate the consequences of

colonialism as it collides with the

modern world.

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

46

47

48

49

50

51

52

53

54

55

56

57

58