Translation Techniques Of Cultural Words Applied In “BUMI MANUSIA” Movie
Keywords:
Bumi Manusia, Cultural Words, Translation TechniqueAbstract
The translation of cultural words is uniquely challenging, requiring expertise and deep crosscultural understanding, as such terms often lack direct equivalents in other languages. This
study aims to identify the translation techniques applied by the translator in translating cultural
words in the Bumi Manusia movie. The source data used in this research consist of cultural
words in Indonesian and English subtitles in the Bumi Manusia movie. The researcher uses a
descriptive qualitative method. As a result, the researcher finds that there are 109 cultural words
in the Bumi Manusia movie, including terms related to ecology, material culture, social culture,
organization, and gestures. The results reveal that the cultural words that appear most
frequently in the Bumi Manusia movie are related to social culture, representing 36.4% of the
data. Moreover, the translator uses 8 techniques out of the 18 translation techniques proposed
by Molina and Albir to translate the cultural words found in the movie. These include 44
instances of calque, 36 literal translations, 9 descriptions, 7 amplifications, 5 borrowings, 3
generalizations, 3 reductions, and 2 transpositions. It can be concluded that calque is the most
frequently applied technique by the translator, followed by literal translation. The researcher
proposes that the reason why the translator uses the calque technique most frequently is to
maintain the originality and authenticity of cultural references. This approach aligns with the
foreignization ideology as articulated by Lawrence Venuti, emphasizing the preservation of the
source culture and encouraging the target audience to engage with its linguistic and cultural
nuances.
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