The specific cultural terms and expressions in the translation of literary work (novel)

¹ Department of Indonesia Language and Literature, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Diponegoro University, Semarang - Indonesia
² English Education Program, Department of Language and Art, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Mataram University, Mataram Lombok - Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: mulyohp@yahoo.com

Abstract

Specific terms in relation to geographic names and expressions of different culture often make difficulties for translators of literary works especially novel. This article is an investigation-based work on the translation work of an English-published novel into Bahasa Indonesia. The research studied the terms and expressions available in the translation version used by the translators in translating the novel into Bahasa Indonesia version. Some theories were applied in the data analysis such as the related factors that, during the translation, help the translator finish his work which sometimes is identified as a very difficult work, especially during making decision which translation theory to refer to and to apply as well as to select which principle to convey. This is crucial due to whether the translators should urge the receptor expression or to keep the original thought of the source terms. In some terms, translation should be faithful in one hand and beautiful in other hand, should be literal to keep the original and be free to smoothly pass the message to the readership. The research then showed that the translation is sometimes smooth but broken in other places. The research finally emphasized the truth of never-lasting dichotomy of translation between the attempt to maintain the form or the struggle for the content. This had long been discussed not only in years but also decade by decade even in centuries.