a.
Definition of Translation
Some experts have defined their own
definition about translation. Douglas Robinson states that definition of
translation depends on people’s point of view. Different people will give
different definition. If they are not translator, they argue that translation
is primarily a text but if they are, translation is an activity.[1] While according to Nababan, he describes
translation as process of transfering massage from Source Text to Target Text.[2]
Moreover he argues that in translation needs to understand
the meaning and also the figurative language. It is important because the massage of the
text usually found after the translator take awareness in figurative language
that author delivered.
Catford (in Budiarto and Fardhani) states that translation is a
replacement process of one equivalent textual material into another equivalent
textual in term language.[3]
The main point of the statement is about textual material that has equivalency
in two languages. Each language has their own term and translator has to find
suitable equivalent in word, phrase, clause, sentence between SL and TL.
According to Samuelson, he emphasizes
that translation is not a brief process, but it is a creative process.[4] It
needs some skills to be used
together. The translator should unterstand what the writer means and
then it is transfered in the target language. In the process of
transfering massage, the interpreting
and editing skill must be known well by the translator.
In the same line, Machali explains that translation is a product and a
process.[5] It
is called a product because a readable written text, and called a process
because a translator always passes many steps in translating process. Even
though the readers never know the process itself but translator still aware in
choosing suitable method, find the suitable term and so on.
Based on the explanation above, it can be inferred that translation is a creative process
of transfering massage from SL into TL that produces a readable and understandable written
text.
[1] Douglas Robinson, Becoming A Translator: An Introduction to the Theory and Practice
of Translation, 2nd edition, (New York: Routledge, 2007), p. 6.
[3] Langgeng Budiarto and Aan E. Fardhani, A Practical
Guide for Translation Skill, (Malang: UIN Maliki Press, 2010), p. 1.
[4] Geoffrey
Samuelsson-Brown, A Practical Guide for Translator, (Great Britain: Short Run Press,
2010), 5th edition p. XV.
