CHARACTERISTICS OF LANGUAGE WHICH CHARACTERISTICS OF LANGUAGE WHICH AFFECT TRANSLATIONAFFECT TRANSLATION

1.1. Meaning components are “packaged” into Meaning components are “packaged” into lexical items, but they are “packaged” lexical items, but they are “packaged” differently in one language than in another.differently in one language than in another.

E.g.E.g.

Projector in the language of Chipaya of Projector in the language of Chipaya of Bolivia is called Bolivia is called the thing that shows the thing that shows pictures on the wall.pictures on the wall.

In Indonesian, the translation is In Indonesian, the translation is ‘proyektor’, a borrowed word from English.‘proyektor’, a borrowed word from English.

If not borrowed, ??If not borrowed, ??

1.1. It is characteristic of languages that the It is characteristic of languages that the same meaning component will occur in same meaning component will occur in several surface structure lexical items several surface structure lexical items (forms).(forms).

Domba betinaSheep its woman

Ewe (adult female sheep)

Domba jantanSheep bigRam (adult male sheep)

Anak dombaSheep its childLamb (young sheep)

DombaSheep

IndonesianHuambisa

(Peru)

English

SHEEP HORSE CHICKEN DOG DEER ADULT MALE Ram Stallion Rooster Dog Buck FEMALE Ewe Mare Hen Bitch Doe YOUNG Lamb Colt/foal Chick Puppy Fawn

In Indonesian, we have:In Indonesian, we have:

MembawaMembawa

MenjinjingMenjinjing

MenggendongMenggendong

Memanggul Memanggul

MemikulMemikul

carrycarry

carrycarry

carry (on the back)carry (on the back)

carry (on the shoulder)carry (on the shoulder)

carry (on the shoulder carry (on the shoulder using a pole)using a pole)

Membawa (carry) + additional component

Another example:Another example:

TidurTidur

TerlentangTerlentang

TengkurapTengkurap

Lie, sleepLie, sleep

Lie (facing up)/ lie on Lie (facing up)/ lie on one’s backone’s back

Lie (facing down) / lie on Lie (facing down) / lie on one’s bellyone’s belly

3. One form will be used to represent 3. One form will be used to represent severalseveral alternative meanings. alternative meanings.

There will be a primary meaning, the one There will be a primary meaning, the one which usually comes to mind when the which usually comes to mind when the word is said in isolation,word is said in isolation,

and secondary meaning, the additional and secondary meaning, the additional meaning which a word has in context with meaning which a word has in context with other words.other words.

If you look up the word ‘run’ in a If you look up the word ‘run’ in a dictionary, we will find many meanings. dictionary, we will find many meanings. For example, Oxford Dictionary gives 54 For example, Oxford Dictionary gives 54 meanings for the English word ‘run’.meanings for the English word ‘run’.

The boy runs. The boy runs.

The motor runs.The motor runs.

The clock runs.The clock runs.

His nose runs. His nose runs.

Anak itu berlari.Anak itu berlari.

Mesin itu berfungsi. Mesin itu berfungsi.

Jam itu berjalan. Jam itu berjalan.

Ia pilek. Ia pilek.

Su nariz chorrea.

(drips)Ia pilek. His nose runs.

El reloj anda.

(walks)

Jam itu berjalan.

The clock runs.

El motor funciona.

(function)Mesin itu berfungsi.

The motor runs.

El nino corre.

(runs)

Anak itu berlari.

The boy runs.

SpanishIndonesianEnglish

I dressed myself.I dressed myself. I dressed a chicken.I dressed a chicken.

I dressed timber.I dressed timber.

The soldiers dressed The soldiers dressed rank.rank.

I dressed the wound.I dressed the wound.

I put my clothes on.I put my clothes on. I defeathered a I defeathered a

chicken and took its chicken and took its innards out.innards out.

I made the logs I made the logs smooth.smooth.

The soldiers lined up The soldiers lined up in straight rows.in straight rows.

I put medicine on and I put medicine on and bandaged the wound.bandaged the wound.

Another example of secondary meaning: Another example of secondary meaning:

NurseNurse : It’s time for : It’s time for usus to take to take ourour medicine now. medicine now.

NurseNurse : Shall : Shall wewe take take ourour bath now? bath now? MotherMother : Let’s be quiet, shall : Let’s be quiet, shall wewe?? Teacher: Teacher: WeWe’re not going to shout, ’re not going to shout, wewe’ll ’ll

walk quietly to walk quietly to our our places.places.

If If wewe had been used in its primary sense, had been used in its primary sense, then the nurse would be taking the then the nurse would be taking the medicine, the mother would be quite, and medicine, the mother would be quite, and the teacher would not shout. We know that the teacher would not shout. We know that this is not the case. In each of these this is not the case. In each of these examples, examples, we we is being used in a secondary is being used in a secondary or extended usage.or extended usage.

Whole sentences may also have Whole sentences may also have severalseveral functions. A question functions. A question formform may be used may be used for a nonquestion. for a nonquestion. E.g .E.g .

““Mary, why don’t you wash the dishes?”Mary, why don’t you wash the dishes?”

The above sentence has the form of a The above sentence has the form of a question, but it is often used with the question, but it is often used with the meaningmeaning of command or suggestion, of command or suggestion, rather than a real question.rather than a real question.

The preposition The preposition on on is used in English to is used in English to signal signal a varietya variety of meanings. of meanings.

John found a book John found a book on on the floor. the floor.

John found a book John found a book onon mathematics. mathematics.

John found a book John found a book on on Tuesday.Tuesday.

John found a book John found a book onon sale. sale.

John menemukan John menemukan buku buku didi lantai lantai

John menemukan John menemukan buku matematika.buku matematika.

John menemukan John menemukan buku buku padapada hari hari selasa.selasa.

John mendapat buku John mendapat buku didi tempat obraltempat obral..

Compared also the following uses of Compared also the following uses of byby::

John was stopped John was stopped byby the policeman.the policeman.

John stopped John stopped byby the the bookstand.bookstand.

John dihadang John dihadang oleh oleh polisi.polisi.

John berhenti John berhenti di di sampingsamping kios buku. kios buku.

ConclusionConclusionIt is meaning which is to be carried over It is meaning which is to be carried over from the source language to the receptor from the source language to the receptor language, not the linguistic form.language, not the linguistic form.

The goal of a translator should be to The goal of a translator should be to produce a receptor language text ( a produce a receptor language text ( a translation) which is idiomatic, that is, one translation) which is idiomatic, that is, one which has the same meaning as the which has the same meaning as the source language but is expressed in a source language but is expressed in a natural form of the receptor language. The natural form of the receptor language. The meaning, not the form, is retained.meaning, not the form, is retained.

Example:Example:

Story originally told in the Quiche Story originally told in the Quiche language of Guatemala.language of Guatemala.

Dear Sir,Dear Sir,

You will not be paid Job Search Allowance You will not be paid Job Search Allowance because your wife’s income is higher than because your wife’s income is higher than the amount allowed under the Income the amount allowed under the Income Test.Test.

Yours Faithfully,Yours Faithfully,

John SmithJohn Smith

District ManagerDistrict Manager

Tuan yang terhormat,Tuan yang terhormat,

Tuan tidak akan dibayar Tunjangan Tuan tidak akan dibayar Tunjangan Pencarian Kerja karenaPencarian Kerja karenapendapatan isteri Tuan lebih tinggi pendapatan isteri Tuan lebih tinggi dibandingkan jumlah yang dibolehkan dibandingkan jumlah yang dibolehkan menurut Uji Pendapatan.menurut Uji Pendapatan.

Dengan sesungguhnya,Dengan sesungguhnya, John SmithJohn Smith Manajer DaerahManajer Daerah

Dengan hormat,Dengan hormat,

Bapak tidak dapat memperoleh Tunjangan Bapak tidak dapat memperoleh Tunjangan Mencari Kerja karena pendapatan isteri Mencari Kerja karena pendapatan isteri Bapak lebih tinggi dari jumlah yangBapak lebih tinggi dari jumlah yangdiperbolehkan menurut Peraturan diperbolehkan menurut Peraturan mengenai Pendapatan.mengenai Pendapatan.

Hormat saya,Hormat saya, John SmithJohn SmithManajer DistrikManajer Distrik