A STUDY ON PROBLEMS IN TRANSLATING IDIOMS IN NARRATIVE

TEXT BY STUDENTS SPECIALIZING IN TRANSLATION

THESIS

by:

RINA AGUSTINI

201110100311027

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

FACULTY OF TEACHER TRAINING AND EDUCATION

UNIVERSITY OF MUHAMMADIYAH MALANG

2015

A STUDY ON PROBLEMS IN TRANSLATING IDIOMS IN NARRATIVE

TEXT BY STUDENTS SPECIALIZING IN TRANSLATION

THESIS

This thesis is submitted to meet one of the requirements to achieve

Sarjana Degree in English Education

by:

RINA AGUSTINI

201110100311027

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

FACULTY OF TEACHER TRAINING AND EDUCATION

UNIVERSITY OF MUHAMMADIYAH MALANG

2015

i

This thesis written by Rina Agustini was approved on August 29, 2015

By:

Advisor II Advisor I

Riski Lestiono, M.A. Puji Sumarsono, M.Pd.

ii

This thesis was defended in front of the examiners of the Faculty of Teacher

Training and Education of University of Muhammadiyah Malang

and accepted as one of the requirements to achieve

Sarjana Degree in English Education

on September 2, 2015.

Approved by:

Faculty of Teacher Training and Education

University of Muhammadiyah Malang

Dean,

Dr. Poncojari Wahyono, M.Kes.

Examiners: Signatures:

1. Bayu H. Wicaksono, S.Pd., M.Ed., Ph.D. 1.…………………….

2. Erlyna Abidasari, M.A., M.Ed. 2……………………..

3. Puji Sumarsono, M.Pd. 3……………………..

4. Riski Lestiono, M.A. 4……………………..

iii

MOTTO AND DEDICATION

MOTTO

فبأي آالء ربكما تكذبان

Then which of the favors of your Lord will ye deny?

Sejatinya, bahagia itu adalah bersyukur.

(Drs. Syaiful Anwar)

DEDICATION

This thesis is especially dedicated to:

My special mother Hj. Wardiah

My super father H. Wardan

My lovely Sister Renny Papilaya;

My gorgeous Brother Nanang Pribadi

All my teachers, lecturers and friends

iv

ORIGINALITY DECLARATION

The undersigned:

Name : Rina Agustini

Student ID number : 201110100311027

Program of Study : English Department

Faculty : Faculty of Teacher Training and Education

I declare the work presented in this thesis was carried out by myself and does not

incorporate without acknowledgement any material previously submitted for a

degree or diploma in any university. To the best of my knowledge, this thesis does

not contain any materials previously published or written by another person where

due reference is made in the text.

Malang, August 29, 2015

Rina Agustini

Materai

60000

v

A STUDY ON PROBLEMS IN TRANSLATING IDIOMS IN NARRATIVE

TEXT BY STUDENTS SPECIALIZING IN TRANSLATION

Abstract

In this study, the writer was eager to analyze the problems students faced in translating idioms in University of Muhammadiyah Malang. This study focused on the problems of translating idioms in narrative text faced by students specializing in translation in University of Muhammadiyah Malang, and their ways to cope with the problems.

This study was conducted by means of qualitative design to draw data of the topic discussed. This study involved 14 English Department students of University of Muhammadiyah Malang. More specifically, the students were eighth semester students in academic years of 2014-2015 who took translation as an elective course. The instrument to collect the data was interview guideline; meanwhile, the method to collect the data was semi or partially structured interview.

The result of this study showed that students’ problems in translating idioms in narrative text were recognition, no equivalence, similar counterpart with different context of use (false friend), and the difference between the convention, context and frequency of use in the source and target languages. Further, they used several strategies to overcome each problem. Students overcame recognition problem by translating the text word for word, rearranging the structure to Bahasa, and paying attention to “odd” words; while to overcome no equivalence, students used four different strategies: (1) similar idiom dissimilar form; (2) paraphrase; (3) Omission. Moreover, they developed their background knowledge and adjusted the meaning of idiom to the context to overcome false friend. For the difference between the convention, context and frequency of use in the source and target languages problem, they considered the target readers’ understanding as the strategy to translate the idiom.

Key Words: (Translation Problems, Idiom, Translation, Narrative) Advisor I, The Writer, Puji Sumarsono, M.Pd. Rina Agustini

vi

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Alhamdulillahirrabbil‘alamin wassolatu wassalamu‘ala sayyidina

muhammadin wa’ala alihi wa sohbihi ajma’in. First, the writer’s salute is offered

to Allah SWT who gives her blessing and guidance so the writer can pass all

obstacles in life. Sholawat and Salam also offered to the only one best role model

ever who derives many life lessons for human.

Second, the writer would like to convey her sincere appreciation to her

first advisor Puji Sumarsono, M.Pd. who has given his time, and energy through

numerous inputs, correction, consistent care, and continuous support. Then, to her

second advisor Riski Lestiono, M.A. who has kind understanding, suggestions,

and feedback in writing her thesis. To Nydha Ajeng Pangestuti, who has been

very kind to share and discuss about this thesis, the writer is also thankful to

Qorina and Agatha, her teammates and sisters for good who always make her

happy. To Dayah, Abar, Yustin, Wiwin, Meyla, Laila, and Nova who support her

through valuable life lessons, boosting encouragement, and patience friendship

during bachelor journey.

Second, her special gratitude is delivered to all translation students in

University of Muhammadiyah Malang who has been very kind to the writer

during research process for this thesis. Third, thousand gratitude and great prayer

are addressed to her dearest mother Hj. Wardiah who has given undoubted trust

and million cares, her patience father H. Wardan, and to her siblings Renny

Papilaya and Nanang Pribadi who make her keep smiling with their children

Nanda, Dede, Azka.

vii

Finally, many thanks and unlimited blessing are presented to all friends

who have been her second family in Malang.

Malang, August 29, 2015

The Writer,

Rina Agustini

viii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

APPROVAL ....................................................................................................... i

LEGALIZATION ............................................................................................. ii

MOTTO AND DEDICATION ........................................................................ iii

ORIGINALITY DECLARATION .................................................................. iv

ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................... v

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .............................................................................. vi

TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................... viii

LIST OF APPENDICES .................................................................................... x

LIST OF FIGURE ........................................................................................... xi

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of Study .............................................................................. 1

1.2 Statement of Problems ............................................................................ 5

1.3 Purposes of Study ................................................................................... 5

1.4 Significance of Study ............................................................................ 5

1.5 Scope and Limitation ............................................................................. 6

1.6 Definition of Key Terms ........................................................................ 6

CHAPTER II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

2.1 Language and Culture ............................................................................ 7

2.2 Definition of Translation ........................................................................ 9

2.3 Untranslatability ................................................................................... 12

2.4 Translation Methods ............................................................................. 14

2.5 General Strategies for a Good Translation ............................................ 16

2.6 Idioms .................................................................................................. 18

2.6.1 Problems of Translating Idioms ................................................ 20

2.6.2 Translation Strategies for translating idioms.............................. 22

ix

2.7 Narrative .............................................................................................. 28

CHAPTER III RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1 Research Design ................................................................................... 30

3.2 Research Subject .................................................................................. 31

3.3 Data Collection .................................................................................... 31

3.3.1 Instrument ................................................................................... 31

3.3.2 Steps to Collect Data ................................................................... 33

3.4 Data Analysis ........................................................................................ 33

CHAPTER IV RESEARCH FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION

4.1 Research Findings ................................................................................ 35

4.1.1 Problems in Translating Idioms in Narrative Text by Students

Specializing in Translation .......................................................... 35

4.1.2 The Ways Students Specializing in Translation Cope with Their

Problems in Translating Idioms in Narrative Text ....................... 39

4.2 Discussion ............................................................................................ 46

CHAPTER V CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTIONS

5.1 Conclusion ........................................................................................... 52

5.2 Suggestions .......................................................................................... 53

REFERENCES ................................................................................................ 55

APPENDICES .................................................................................................. 58

x

LIST OF APPENDICES

Appendix 1 : Interview Guideline ..................................................... 59

Appendix 2 : Interview Transcripts ................................................... 60

xi

LIST OF FIGURE

Figure 1: Summary of students’ strategies to translate idioms in narrative .......... 46

55

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