e-Journal of Linguistics

Available online at https://ojs.unud.ac.id/index.php/eol/index

Vol. 15, No. 2 July 2021, pages: 272-278

Print ISSN: 2541-5514 Online ISSN: 2442-7586

https://doi.org/10.24843/e-jl.2021.v15.i02.p13


Translation Techniques Used in Monster University Movie

Ni Putu Tania Yesintha Kristina1, Ni Made Ayu Widiastuti2 1[email protected], [email protected] *corresponding author

1,Denpasar-Bali-Indonesia 2, English Department, Faculty of Humanities, Udayana University

Article info

Received Date: 5 March 2021

Accepted Date: 16 May 2021

Published Date: 31 July 2021


Keywords:*

Translation, Translation

Techniques, Movie, Subtitle.


Abstract*

This article discussed the translation techniques that is used in the subtitle of the movie “Monster University”. This article used ten sentences that are found in the movie script of “Monster University” as the data source. Qualitative and descriptive methods were used to analyze the data. This article used the theory by Molina and Albir (2002) to find out the translation techniques used by the translator to translate the English movie script. The result of the analysis showed that there were eight translation techniques found in the data; adaptation (2 data), borrowing (1 data), established equivalent (2 data), generalization (1 data), linguistic amplification (1 data), linguistic compression (1 data), literal (1 data), and transposition (1 data).

theory of translation techniques by Molina and Albir (2002), there are 18 kinds of translation techniques, namely:

  • 1)     Adaptation

  • 2)     Amplification

  • 3)    Borrowing

  • 4)     Calque

  • 5)    Compensation

  • 6)     Description

  • 7)     Discursive Creation

  • 8)     Established Equivalence

  • 9)     Generalization

  • 10)    Linguistic Amplification

  • 11)   Linguistic Compression

  • 12)    Literal Translation

  • 13)   Modulation

  • 14)    Particularization

  • 15)   Reduction

  • 16)    Substitution

  • 17)    Transposition

  • 18)    Variation.

  • 2.    Research Method

This study uses the theory of translation techniques proposed by Molina and Albir (2002). The 18 translation techniques that proposed by Molina and Albir (2002) are literal, generalization, discursive creation, amplification, established equivalence, calque, particularization, linguistic compression, borrowing, description, adaptation, transposition, modulation, linguistic amplification, reduction, compensation, variation, and substitution.

The data for this article was taken from the movie script of Monster University movie, specifically the utterances of the main character, Mike Wazowski, and the Indonesian subtitle which were taken from the website subtitlist.com.

The data is collected with the following steps:

  • 1.    Choosing the movie.

  • 2.    Buying the movie DVD.

  • 3.    Downloading the movie script and the Indonesian subtitle from the internet.

  • 4.    Watching the movie for several times.

  • 5.    Note down the utterances found in the movie.

After collecting the data, it is analyzed with the following step:

  • 1.    Finding out the techniques used in translating the source text of the movie.

  • 2.    Classifying the technique of translation.

  • 3.    Writing a conclusion.

  • 3.    Discussion

The discussion explains about the classification of the utterances into its translation techniques with further explanation on why the utterance is classified as the following techniques.

  • a.    Adaptation

It is accomplished by simply replacing a cultural element from the target text's culture for the source text's cultural element.

Data 1

Source Language     : “I found a nickel!”

Target Language    : “Aku menemukan koin!”

The translator is using adaptation technique for the data above. As we can see in the sentence above, the word nickel is translated into koin in the target language because the word nickel in Indonesian means money-coin. As it cannot be translated in the same position with the source language, the translator has made the correct decision by translating it into the word koin. The information above comes from a scene in which Mike is getting off a bus and claiming to have found a nickel while holding it in his hand.

Data 2

Source Language    : “Cool”

Target Language    : “Keren”

The data above is another example of adaptation, the meaning of the word cool in the target language is dingin if translated literally. Meanwhile, on sentence above, the word refers to something that interesting. Therefore, it is classified as an adaptation technique.

  • b.    Borrowing

This technique takes word or expression directly from the SL to the TL. It could be pure or naturalized.

Data 3

Source Language    : “How do I become a Scarer?”

Target Language     : “Bagaimana aku bisa jadi Scarer?”

The data above is translated using the borrowing technique. The word Scarer is translated directly to Scarer which is a name of a job on this movie. It is where the monsters are collecting children’s scream by sneaking into their room and scaring them. As a result, the term Scarer is left untranslated because translating it into the phrase lebih menakutkan would alter the intended context. When Mike is asked a question after seeing a Scarer do their work, he says this.

  • c.    Established Equivalent

This translation technique uses a term or expression that is recognized as an equivalent in the target language (by dictionaries or the language in use) (TL).

Data 4

Source Language    : “Hey there, freshmen.”

Target Language    : “Hey mahasiswa baru.”

Using the established equivalent technique, the data above is translated into the target language. As can be seen from the preceding sentence, the phrase mahasiswa baru in Indonesian has the same meaning as freshmen, and is a slang term for a first-year student at a university or high school (The Oxford Paperback Dictionary, 1988). As a result, the words freshmen and the translation mahasiswa baru have the same meaning. Mike says the words above the first time he sets foot on Monster University.

Data 5

Source Language     : “Just wait, hotshot.”

Target Language     : “Tunggu saja, jagoan.”

The data presented above is another example of the established equivalent technique. The word hotshot is translated as jagoan in the target language. According to the An English-Indonesian Dictionary (1975), the proper translation for the word hotshot is jagoan. The word hotshot means tembakan panas if it is translated literally. It will not convey the same meaning that the source language (SL) intended.

  • d.    Generalization

Generalization is done by using a more general or neutral word in the target language (TL).

Data 6

Source Language    : “Well, everyone, I don't mean to get emotional…”

Target Language    : “Semuanya, aku tak bermaksud membuat kalian sedih…”

Using the generalization method, the data above is translated into the target language. As the generalization form of emotional, the word emotional is translated into sedih in the target language (TL). This sentence is spoken by Mike as he exits the bus and give his friends a farewell.

  • e.    Linguistic Amplification

When translating the source language (SL), this strategy involves adding new linguistic elements to the target language (TL).

Data 7

Source Language    : “Okay. Good catching up.”

Target Language    : “Ya. Pasangan yang bagus.”

The word catching up is translated as pasangan bagus in the target language (TL), regardless of the fact that it means mengejar in Indonesian. Mike says this when he asks his cousin, Russel, to be his partner, but Russel has already chosen another monster as his partner.

  • f.    Linguistic Compression

This technique of translation is done by synthesize the linguistics elements in the target language (TL).

Data 8

Source Language


: “Listen, it was quite delightful meeting you and whatever that is,”

Target Language    : “Senang bertemu denganmu,”

The expression above is translated into senang bertemu denganmu which literally means nice to meet you. Although the expression in the target language has been synthesized, it still conveys the similar meaning as the source language. The above sentence is spoken by Sullivan as he enters Mike's room for the first time, mistaking it for his own.

  • g.    Literal

This technique of translation is done by literally translating SL words by words to TL.

Data 9

Source Language    : “Thanks Joe.”

Target Language     : “Terimakasih Joe.”

The literal translation method was used to translate the phrase above. The translator is translating the sentence word by word in the results. The word thanks are translated into the Indonesian phrase terima kasih, which is the proper translation for the word thanks. Mike says this sentence after he gets off the bus and thanks the bus driver.

  • h.    Transposition

This translation technique involves changing a grammatical category (word class) from the source language (SL) to the target language (TL).

Data 10

Source Language     : “Okay! First thing on my list, get registered”

Target Language     : “Baik! Pertama, mendaftar dulu”

The transposition technique is used to translate the data above. The word registered, which is directly translatable as terdaftar, is translated as mendaftar dulu. On the text above, there is a grammatical change. Mike, one of the two major protagonists, said this phrase when he first arrived to Monster University.

  • 4.    Novelties

The translation strategies found in the movie script of “Monster University” movie can be used as a source of a better understanding of the translation process of a movie script into Indonesian. There are ten different data sets that have been analyzed in the previous chapter.

  • 5.    Conclusion

Based on the data analysis in the previous chapter, it can be concluded that ten different data sets were collected from the Indonesian subtitle of the movie Monster University contain eight different translation techniques. The conclusion can be described as follows using Molina and Albir's (2002) theory to analyze the translation techniques: The Monster University movie’s subtitle translator used eight different translation techniques. There are 2 data that were translated using adaptation technique; 1 data were translated using borrowing technique; 2 data were translated using established equivalent technique; 1 data were translated using generalization

technique; 1 data were translated using linguistic amplification technique; 1 data were translated using linguistic compression technique; 1 data were translated using literal technique and; 1 data were translated using transposition technique. The researcher hopes that those who read this journal will gain a better understanding of translation techniques. In response to the last sentence, researchers encourage people who will translate books or films to read more and understand more about the language they will be dealing with, including its structure, grammar, slang, and so on.

References

Echols, J. M & Shadily, H. (1975). An English-Indonesian Dictionary. Jakarta: PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama.

Hawkins, J. M. (1988). The Oxford Paperback Dictionary. Great Britain: Oxford University Press.

Isaac, S., & Michael, W. B. 1981. Handbook in Research and Evaluation. San Diego: EdITS Publishers.

Molina, L. & Albir, A. H. (2002). Translation Techniques Revisited: A Dynamic and Functionalist Approach. Barcelona, Spain: University Autonoma de Barcelona.

Merriam-Webster.com. 2020. Definition of Movie. Meriam-Webster. Accessed on 3 August 2020. Available from: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/movie.

Newmark, P. 1981. Approaches to Translation. Oxford: Pergamon Press.

Newmark, P. 1988. A Textbook of Translation. Hertfordshire: Prentice Hall.

Pinchuck, I. 1977. Scientific and Technical Translation. London: Andre Deutsch

Scanlon, D. 2013. Monster  University.  Pixar Animation Studios. Available from:

https://subtitlist.com/subtitle/monsters-university

Biography of Author


Ni Putu Tania Yesintha Kristina was born in Br. Payogan on December, 20th 1999. She is an undergraduate student in English Department of Faculty of Letters in Udayana University.

Email: [email protected]

Ni Made Ayu Widiastuti, S.S., M.Hum. is an active lecturer in English Department of Faculty of Letters in Udayana University.

Email: [email protected]