THE TYPES OF TRANSLATION (English-Indonesian)

According to Larson (1984:15) translation is calssified into two main types, namely form-based and meaning-based translation. Form-based translation attemps to follow the form of the Source Language and is known as literal translation, while meaning-based translation makes every effort to communicate the meaning of the SL in the natural forms on the receptor language. Such translation is called idiomatic translation.

Larson (1984:16) says that idiomatic translation use the natural forms of the receptor language both in the grammatical constructions and in the choices of lexical items. A trully idiomatic translation does not sound like a translation. It sounds like it was written originally in the receptor language. Therefore, a good translator will try to translate idiomatically. This is his or her goal.

In practice, however, it is hard to consistently translate idiomatically or literally. These translation often mixture of literal and idiomatic forms of language. Translation the falls on a continuum from very literal to literal, to modified literal, to near idiomatic, to idiomatic, and may fall, even more o the unduly free as displayed bellow (Larson, 1984:17)

Very           Literal                  Modified                Inconsistent          Near                       Idiomatic          Unduly

literal                                      literal                      mixture                  idiomatic                                                free

                                                                                                                     

                                                                                                                                           Translator’s goal

Unduly free translations are considered unacceptable translations for most purpose. Translations are called unduly free according to the following characteristics: 1) if they add extraneous information not in the source text, 2) if they change the meaning of SL, and 3) if they distort the facts of the historical and cultural setting of the SL text.

Examples:

•        You’re on cheery mood

Literal Translation:

Kamu adalah di atas senang mud

Inconsistent Mixture:

Kamu dalam mud yang gembira

Idiomatic Translation:

Kamu kelihatan ceria

•        Even though you’ll be risk in prison?

Literal Translation:

Bahkan walau kau akan jadi risiko dalam penjara?

Inconsistent Mixture:

Walaupun kamu akan berisiko dalam penjara?

Idiomatic Translation:

Walaupun kamu berisiko harus masuk penjara?

•        Tell me, I am not in a cage now

Literal Translation:

Ceritakan aku, aku adalah tidak dalam kerangkeng sekarang.

Inconsistent Mixture:

 Beri tahu aku, bahwa aku tidak dalam kerangkeng sekarang.

Idiomatic Translation:

Ayo, berilah aku semangat bahwa aku orang bebas.

•        Veronica Twin meet Salina Cile.

Literal Translation:

Inconsistent Mixture:

Idiomatic Translation:

•        From birth to death, food is a dominant factor in our lives. In a single year, on a three-meals-a-day basis, most of us eat well over 1000 meals.

•        We know that the food we eat is necessary for our very being-weknow it provides the energy for the quiet breathing at night and the full activity of the day. We know too that it builds, maintains, regulates muscles and bones, nerves and brain, eyes, hair and all our physical being.