CULTURALISTICS: Journal of Cultural, Literary, and Linguistic Studies, [v] (i),

2023, [article page]

Available online at: http://ejournal.undip.ac.id/index.php/culturalistics

Academic Article
Culturalistics use only: Received: 060623; Accepted: 060623; Published: 220623

Final Test Basic Translation: Source Language and Targeted

Language as Important Elements of Translation Process
Alivia Najwa Fitriane
English Literature, Faculty of Humanities, Diponegoro
University, Jl. Prof. Soedarto No. 13, Semarang 50275,
Central Java, Indonesia

aliviaaftrn@gmail.com

Abstract
This article explores the significance of the source language (SL) and targeted language
(TL) in translation, emphasizing the need to understand their lexical and cultural contexts
for accurate and culturally appropriate translations. Challenges such as idiomatic
expressions, cultural variations, and textual coherence arise, requiring translators to
balance fidelity to the source text with adaptation to the target language's norms.
Linguistic proficiency, cultural understanding, contextual knowledge, subject-matter
expertise, and thorough revision are crucial for producing high-quality translations. The
article provides valuable insights and guidance for translators, highlighting the pivotal role
of SL and TL in the translation process.

Keywords: source language, targeted language, translation process, lexical context, cultural context.

1. Introduction
Translation is an important tool that helps us communicate effectively and exchange cultures in
our interconnected world. It allows us to share ideas, knowledge, and information between different
languages, bringing people from diverse language communities closer. The core of every translation is
the interaction between the original and translated languages. Understanding how these languages work
together is crucial for translators and researchers who want to understand the details of translation. This
article aims to thoroughly examine the concepts of the original language and the translated language,
explaining why they are important in the study of translation.

The source language (SL) is where a translation begins. It's the language from which the original
text or speech comes from. The translator's job is to understand the source language's content, style, and
details so they can accurately convey its meaning and purpose in the translated language. Being good at
the source language is really important for getting the translation right because it involves knowing its
grammar, words, cultural context, and special sayings. Meanwhile, the targeted language (TL) is the
language that the source language is translated into. It's the language used to share the original content
with a different group of people who speak that language. To ensure the translation is accurate, smooth,
and culturally appropriate, the translator must be good at the targeted language. They need to know the
targeted language's grammar, words, and cultural details well to communicate effectively.

The interplay between the source language and the targeted language involves a multitude of
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 CULTURALISTICS: Journal of Cultural, Literary, and Linguistic Studies, [v] (i),
2023, [article page]

Available online at: http://ejournal.undip.ac.id/index.php/culturalistics

challenges and considerations. Translators must navigate issues such as idiomatic expressions, cultural
variations, linguistic equivalences, and textual coherence. They must strike a delicate balance between
remaining faithful to the source language and adapting the translation to suit the cultural and linguistic
norms of the targeted language.

By examining the complexities of the source language and targeted language in translation, this
article aims to contribute to the broader understanding of the translation process. It highlights the
significance of linguistic proficiency, cultural awareness, and contextual knowledge in achieving
successful translations that accurately convey the intended meaning across languages.

2. Methods
The object used in this research is the source language and targeted language as these are the
pillars of the translation process. Therefore, the most appropriate method for this research and analysis is
using a qualitative descriptive method. This research is done by analyzing the lexical and cultural context
of both the source and targeted language, which commonly happens daily to properly convey the
message. This research takes time and place since June 2023, at the English Literature Department,
Faculty of Humanities, Diponegoro University Semarang.

3. Results
The research focused on understanding the role of source language (SL) and targeted language
(TL) in translation. By analyzing the words and cultural aspects of both languages, the study aimed to
ensure accurate communication. It took place at Diponegoro University in Semarang, starting in June
2023.
The findings emphasized the importance of lexical and cultural understanding in translation. Choosing
the right words and being culturally sensitive was crucial for maintaining the intended meaning and
adapting to the target language. The research showed that a deep understanding of both SL and TL, along
with language skills and cultural awareness, was vital for successful translations.

These findings have implications for translation practices and training. They highlight the need
for comprehensive language education and cultural immersion to help translators handle the complexities
of SL and TL effectively. The research can also guide the development of guidelines and strategies for
producing high-quality translations that respect the original message while adjusting to the target
language's linguistic and cultural norms.

4. Discussion
As explained in the previous parts, the source language and targeted language played a big role
in the translation process, as these two elements are the main pillars. But, how are the source language
and targeted language actually taking their part in detail? First and foremost, it is mandatory to know that
the source language is the “starting point” where it all begins. And to begin with, a translator must
apprehend the cultural context of both languages in question comprehensively. This action is purposed to
avoid mistakes and misunderstandings on a word’s contextual meaning, which is fatal and could lead to
cultural appropriation or an unfavorable meaning. In addition, there are some examples of this case:

SL: “Man is a thinking animal.”

TL: “Manusia adalah hewan yang berpikir.

In this case, we use English and Bahasa Indonesia as an example. It is stated in the source
language (English) that “Man is a thinking animal.”, which means “Manusia adalah hewan yang

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 CULTURALISTICS: Journal of Cultural, Literary, and Linguistic Studies, [v] (i),
2023, [article page]

Available online at: http://ejournal.undip.ac.id/index.php/culturalistics

berpikir” in Bahasa Indonesia. The translation in Bahasa Indonesia was right, but it is not culturally
appropriate since the lexical meaning has a “negative” connotation. The word “hewan” in the translated
version could lead to confusion since it could ‘degrade’ someone. So, in order to properly convey the
message and avoid misunderstanding, someone must learn to understand the contextual meaning, for
example by classifying each word into their word classes in both languages and restructuring it, in
which; Man is a noun, is roled as an auxiliary, a is the article, thinking is a verb with -ing form, animal is
also a noun. Then, a restructuring process is needed. The “animal” in the SL statement could also mean
creature, and creature in Bahasa Indonesia means makhluk. In conclusion, the restructuring process
means searching for a word synonym that is suitable according to the targeted language’s cultural
context. And here is the result after the restructuring process.

SL: “Man is a thinking animal.”

TL: “Manusia adalah makhluk yang berpikir.”

The process of translating the SL into TL was not merely to understand both the lexical and
cultural meaning of both languages used in it. A translator and/or an interpreter, are mandatory to fulfill
the requirements needed in order to be mentioned as one. There are some aspects that count as a
prerequisite to becoming a good translator. And here are some general requirements of a translator.
 Language Proficiency. A translator must have a high level of proficiency in both SL and TL
languages. They must excel the grammar, vocabulary, idiomatic expressions, and/or even
become culturally sensitive in order to deepen their understanding of certain languages.
 Accuracy and Faithfulness. A translator should accurately convey the meaning, intent, and
tone of the source text while maintaining its overall style and coherence.
 Adaptation and Localization. A translator should adapt the source text to suit the linguistic
and cultural norms of the target language, ensuring that the translated text is natural and
meaningful to the target audience.
 Subject-Matter Expertise. Depending on the subject area, translators may need specialized
knowledge and terminology to accurately translate texts in specific fields such as legal,
medical, technical, or literary translations.
 Revision and Proofreading. Translators should undergo thorough revision and proofreading
to ensure quality, consistency, and error-free.

5. Conclusions
Based on the discussions earlier, the conclusion is the importance of understanding the role of
source language (SL) and targeted language (TL) in the translation process. The research findings
highlight the significance of linguistic proficiency, cultural understanding, and contextual knowledge for
achieving accurate and culturally appropriate translations. The interplay between the source language
and the targeted language presents various challenges, including idiomatic expressions, cultural
variations, linguistic equivalences, and textual coherence. It is crucial for translators to strike a balance
between faithfulness to the source text and adaptation to the cultural and linguistic norms of the target
language.

The research underscores the need for comprehensive language education and cultural
immersion to enable translators to effectively handle the complexities of SL and TL. Furthermore,
subject-matter expertise may be required for specialized fields such as legal, medical, technical, or
literary translations. The revision and proofreading process is vital to ensure high-quality and error-free
translations. Overall, this article contributes to the broader understanding of the translation process by
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 CULTURALISTICS: Journal of Cultural, Literary, and Linguistic Studies, [v] (i),
2023, [article page]

Available online at: http://ejournal.undip.ac.id/index.php/culturalistics

highlighting the importance of linguistic competence, cultural sensitivity, and contextual awareness. The
findings provide guidance for translation practices and training, including the development of guidelines
and strategies that preserve the original message while adapting it to the target language's linguistic and
cultural norms.

References
[1] Baker, M. (2018). In other words: A Coursebook on Translation (3rd ed.). Routledge.
[2] Hatim, B., & Mason, I. (2017). The Translator as Communicator (2nd ed.). Routledge.
[3] Venuti, L. (2012). The Translation Studies Reader (3rd ed.). Routledge.
[4] Munday, J. (2016). Introducing Translation Studies: Theories and Applications (4th ed.). Routledge.

Appendix
These are the presentation slides throughout the half semester after the middle exam.

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CULTURALISTICS: Journal of Cultural, Literary, and Linguistic Studies, [v] (i),
2023, [article page]

Available online at: http://ejournal.undip.ac.id/index.php/culturalistics