Grammatical Gaps in Student Translations: Analyzing English-Indonesian Translation in Academic Projects

Veni Roza; Melyann   Melani; Muhammad Riko Yohansyah Zulfahmi

doi:10.31849/reila.v6i1.15851

Veni Roza UIN Sjech M. DJamil Djambek Bukittinggi
Melyann Melani Universitas Islam Negeri Sjech M. Djamil Djambek, Bukittinggi, Indonesia
Muhammad Riko Yohansyah Zulfahmi Universitas Islam Negeri Sjech M. Djamil Djambek, Bukittinggi, Indonesia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.31849/reila.v6i1.15851

Keywords: Translation, Grammatical Equivalence, Error Analysis, Language Education, Language Acquisition, Language Proficiency

Abstract

Translating messages across languages while maintaining grammatical equivalence presents significant challenges, often resulting in deviations. These deviations stem from differences in grammatical structures between the source and target languages. This qualitative research study aimed to analyze the translation outputs of students enrolled in an English-Indonesian translation course, with a primary focus on grammatical equivalence indicators. The study encompassed 70 students across two parallel classes, resulting in a total of 70 documents available for analysis. The data were collected from the students' responses to a project involving news texts, specifically a news article from The Jakarta Post. The analysis employed Corder and James' Error Analysis (1998) methodology, encompassing error identification, classification, and specification based on grammatical equivalence indicators. The findings revealed that students frequently made errors in various grammatical aspects, including tense, aspect, number, voice, and person, with the exception of gender. Additionally, the study identified specific challenges related to the misplacement of English modifiers within noun phrases, leading to inaccuracies in their translations. These results underscore the importance of balancing theory and practical application in English language teaching, specifically in the context of translation. Emphasizing grammatical equivalence in both English and Indonesian is essential to enable students to produce accurate and idiomatic translations. This study not only sheds light on the challenges faced by students when translating from English to Indonesian but also offers valuable insights for enhancing translation education.

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Author Biographies

Veni Roza, UIN Sjech M. DJamil Djambek Bukittinggi

Veni Roza serves as an associate professor and lecturer in English at UIN Bukittinggi. She earned her Bachelor's degree in English Language and Literature from Universitas Andalas-Padang, followed by both a Master's degree and a Doctorate from Universitas Negeri Padang. Specializing in English language teaching, she imparts knowledge in various subjects including Functional Grammar, Translation, Issues on ESP, and TEFL within both undergraduate and graduate programs of FTIK UIN Bukittinggi. Veni has dedicatedly taught English at UIN Bukittinggi from 2010 to the present.

Melyann Melani, Universitas Islam Negeri Sjech M. Djamil Djambek, Bukittinggi, Indonesia

Melyann Melani is an esteemed associate professor and distinguished senior lecturer, boasting an impressive academic background. Holding a Bachelor's degree in English Language and Literature from Universitas Andalas-Padang, Melani furthered her education with both a Master's degree and a Doctorate from Universitas Negeri Padang. Specializing in English language teaching, she imparts knowledge in various subjects, including Assessment in ELT, Micro Teaching, Listening for Academic Purposes, and Teaching Reading

Muhammad Riko Yohansyah Zulfahmi, Universitas Islam Negeri Sjech M. Djamil Djambek, Bukittinggi, Indonesia

Muhammad Riko Yohansyah Zulfahmi is a graduate student specializing in English Teaching at the Faculty of Tarbiyah and Teacher Training, State Islamic University of Sjech M.Djamil Djambek Bukittinggi. His academic interests include studying Assessment in ELT, Micro Teaching, Listening for Academic Purposes, and Teaching Reading.