The back translation from connotative into denotative words and phrases: English-Indonesian translation
Article Sidebar
-
Connotative Meaning, Denotative Meaning, Translation
Abstract
This study investigates the use of connotative words and phrases in the novel Raumanen and aims to translate them into their denotative equivalents. It further examines whether the translated (target) text retains the original meaning of the source text. Data were collected from the novel Raumanen, and the research employed a descriptive qualitative method. The steps included: (a) identifying connotative words and phrases in the source language, (b) re-translating them using denotative expressions, and (c) comparing the meanings between the original translator’s version and the researchers’ re-translation. The findings indicate that translating connotative expressions into denotative language often results in unnatural phrasing and ambiguous meaning in the target text.
Full text article
References
Achilov, O. R., & Sodiqova, M. S. (2024). The role of translation in the digital age: Opportunities and challenges. TADQIQOTLAR.UZ, 48(2), 155–159. Retrieved from https://scientific-jl.org/tad/article/view/694
Adil, M. (2020). Exploring the role of translation in communicative language teaching or the communicative approach. SAGE Open, 10(3), 1-10. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244020924403
Catford, J. C. (1965). A linguistic theory of translation (Vol. 31). London: Oxford University Press.
Coline, S., Marrone, N., Ingram, M., & Sanchez, D. (2016). Translation quality assessment in health research: A functionalist alternative to back translation. Evaluation & the Health Professions, 40(3), 267–293. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1177/0163278716648191
Creswell, J. W. (1994). Research design: Qualitative and quantitative approaches. Thousand Oaks, California, USA: Sage Publications.
Dam, H., & Zethsen, K. (2024). Professionals’ views on the concepts of translation: The challenge of categorisation. The Translator, 30(3), 388–406. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/13556509.2024.2320953
Fois, E. (2020). ELT and the role of translation in developing intercultural competence. Language and Intercultural Communication, 20(6), 561–571. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/14708477.2020.1800025
Galingging, Y., & Tambunsaribu, G. (2021). Penerjemahan idiomatis Peter Newmark dan Mildred Larson. Dialektika: Jurnal Bahasa, Sastra Dan Budaya, 8(1), 56-70. doi:doi: https://doi.org/10.33541/dia.v8i1.3112
Hartina, N. (2017). Connotative and denotative meaning in Doang Doangang of Makassar. Undergraduate thesis, Universitas Islam Negeri Alauddin Makassar. Retrieved from https://repositori.uin-alauddin.ac.id/4682/1/Nursinta%20Hartina.pdf
Hartono, R. (2017). Translating a novel: Problems and solutions (A holistically critique on novel translation). Language Circle: Journal of Language and Literature, 3(2), 91-98. doi:https://doi.org/10.15294/lc.v3i2.917
Iordan, C. (2021). Definition of translation, translation strategy, translation procedure, translation method, translation technique, translation transformation. InterConf – Scientific Collection, 42(42), 473–485. doi:DOI: 10.51582/interconf.19-20.02.2021.049.
Katoppo, M. (2015). Raumanen. (I. Winarto, Trans.) Lontar Foundation.
Koby, G. S., Fields, P. J., Hague, D., Lommel, A., & Melby, A. (2014). Defining translation quality. Revista Tradumàtica: Tecnologies de la Traducció, 12, 413–420. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/318749292_Defining_Translation_Quality#fullTextFileContent
Larson, M. (1984). Meaning-based translation: A guide to cross-language equivalence. New York: University Press of America.
Leech, G. (1981). Semantics: The study of meaning. (2nd edition ed.). London: Penguin Books.
Li, D. (2024). Translation. In A. Lange, D. Monticelli, & C. Rundle, The routledge handbook of the history of translation studies. (pp. 373–386). Routledge, United Kingdom: Taylor & Francis Ltd. doi:https://doi.org/10.4324/9781032690056-26
Masduki. (2020). Analysing novel translation: The equivalence of meaning and style. Kajian Linguistik dan Sastra, 21(2), 143–156. doi:https://doi.org/10.20961/kls.v21i2.4312
Munday, J., Pinto, S., & Blakesley, J. (2022). Introducing translation studies: Theories and applications. (5th Edition ed.). Routledge.
Newmark, P. (1981). Approaches to translation. Oxford: Pergamon Press.
Newmark, P. (1988). A Textbook of translation. Oxford: Pergamon Press.
Nida, E. A., & Taber, C. R. (1974). The theory and practice of translation. Leiden, Netherlands: E.J. Brill.
Novitasari, A. (2018). Denotative and connotative found in English translation of Surah Maryam by Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall. Undergraduate thesis, Sunan Ampel State Islamic University Surabaya. Retrieved from http://digilib.uinsa.ac.id/28338/1/Ajeng%20Novitasari_A73214069.pdf
Ondok, M. G., & Tambunsaribu, G. (2020). Analysis of translation shift in a novel (English-Indonesian translation). DIALEKTIKA: Jurnal Bahasa, Sastra, dan Budaya, 7(2), 72-93. doi:DOI: https://doi.org/10.33541/dia.v7i2.3052
Oxford Bibliographies. (2021). Translation Studies. Retrieved from https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com
Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries. (2025). Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries. Retrieved from https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com
Poyungi, Y. S., Nababan, M. R., & Santosa, R. (2021). The Impact of translation technique on translation quality of metaphor of modality in novel “Anne of Green Gables”. International Journal of Linguistics, Literature and Translation, 4(3), 104-109.
Salourou, E. (2024, December 4). The importance of back translation in clinical trials. Retrieved from Translate.One.: https://www.translate.one/the-importance-of-back-translation-in-clinical-trials/
Seresová, K., & Breveníková, D. (2019). The role of text analysis in translation. CBU International Conference Proceedings, 7, pp. 1428–1435. doi:https://doi.org/10.12955/cbup.v7.1428
Shahmerdanova, R. (2025). The role of translation in global diplomacy and international relations. Journal of Azerbaijan Language and Education Studies., 2(1), 34-48. doi:https://doi.org/10.69760/jales.2025001003
Sitanggang, G., & Tambunsaribu, G. (2023). The comparison of metaphors translation strategies in subtitling of the King’s Speech Film. Dialektika: Jurnal Bahasa, Sastra dan Budaya., 10(2), 66-82. doi:DOI: https://doi.org/10.33541/dia.v10i2.5394
Stoltz, B. (2025, November 19). Benefits of a back translation. https://burgtranslations.com/benefits-of-a-back-translation/
Tambunsaribu, G. (2020). Analisis terjemahan “Tobe” dalam kalimat pasif bahasa Inggris ke bahasa Indonesia: Grammar in translation. In Bunga Rampai Karya Ilmiah Dosen “Digitalisasi dan Internasionalisasi Menuju APT Unggul dan UKI Hebat” Dies Natalis ke 67 Universitas Kristen Indonesia. (pp. 292-306). UKI Press. Retrieved from http://repository.uki.ac.id/id/eprint/3832
Tambunsaribu, G. (2023). Proses penerjemahan buku psikologi dari Bahasa Inggris ke Bahasa Indonesia. Seminar Nasional Linguistik dan Sastra (SEMNALISA III) 2023: Dinamika dan Tantangan Kajian Linguistik dan Sastra., 1, pp. 45-53. Denpasar.
Wang, W. (2020). Analysis on the significance of foreign literature translation to cross-cultural communication. Review of Educational Theory, 3(4), 98–104. doi:https://doi.org/10.30564/ret.v3i4.2430