Equivalence

Translation has been stated by Bell (1997:5) as the expression in another language (or target language) of what has been expressed in another, source language, preserving semantic and stylistic equivalence.

The definition leads to several basic understandings in translation that:

1.       Translation doesn’t change the information of the text to be translated.

2.       Translation doesn’t change the meaning or the content.

3.       Translation doesn’t change the style of the text being written or spoken.

These basics are supported by the definition that translation is the replacement of a representation of a text in one language by a representation of an equivalent text in second language.

Text in different languages can be equivalent in different degrees (fully or partially equivalent); equivalence of:

·         context or

·         semantics or

·          grammar or

·         word for word or

·         phrase for phrase or

·         sentence to sentence

For example:

When we translate “keep” in different sentences it will get different meaning because of different context.

1.        I will keep the gold in a very save place. Keep → menyimpan

2.       Keep the best for last. Keep → menyimpan, menjaga.

3.       Keep a distance. Keep → jaga, menjaga.

Those sentences give us examples the equivalence of context, semantics, and word for word at the same time. The reasons can be interrelated because the meaning of the word is determined by the context.

Exercises:

Translate these sentences into Indonesian

1.       Gold is precious for its value and beauty.

2.       The golden medals had been kept in a secret place.

3.       People can save gold coins in bank.

4.       The fire fighters can save more if there is an alert to inform them.