Cross-Cultural Echoes: Exploring Cultural Nuance through Student Translation Practices

Veni Roza; Melyann Melani; Muhammad Riko Yohansyah  Zulfahmi

doi:10.31849/elsya.v6i3.22410

Authors

Veni Roza Universitas Islam Negeri Sjech M. Djamil Djambek, Bukittinggi, Indonesia
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/elsya.v6i3.22410

Keywords:

Cultural translation, Translation strategies, Cross-cultural communication, Cultural competence, Translation pedagogy

Abstract

While numerous studies have explored the methodologies of professional translators, less attention has been paid to how translation students, particularly those new to the field, navigate the complexities of translating cultural texts. This study addresses a significant gap in translation pedagogy, focusing on how advanced translation students navigate the complexities of cultural text translation, an area often overlooked compared to studies on professional translators. Employing a qualitative research design, the study analyzed the translation strategies of five advanced students tasked with translating culturally rich texts from Indonesian to English. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyses of their translations. The findings reveal that 45% of the students’ strategies involved foreignization, which preserved cultural elements of the source text, while 30% used adaptation to recontextualize culturally embedded ideas for English-speaking audiences. Domestication was employed in 15% of cases to make the text more accessible, and explicit cultural explanations were used in 10% of the translations to elaborate on concepts with no direct equivalents. These results underscore the students’ conscious balancing of cultural preservation with the need for clarity. The study highlights the need to incorporate cultural competence into translation education, focusing on teaching methods that help students handle cultural nuances effectively. These findings offer valuable quantitative and qualitative insights that can inform the creation of culturally sensitive translation programs and enhance intercultural communication.

Author Biographies

Veni Roza, Universitas Islam Negeri Sjech M. Djamil Djambek, Bukittinggi, Indonesia

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 associate professor of English lecturer at UIN Bukitinggi. She holds a Bachelor's degree in English Language and Literature from Universitas Andalas-Padang. She also holds a Master's degree and a Doctorate from the same University namely Universitas Negeri Padang. Her expertise is English language teaching. She teaches some subjects like Functional Grammar, Translation, Issues on ESP and TEFL in undergraduate and graduate programs of FTIK UIN Bukittinggi. She has been teaching English at UIN Bukittinggi since 2010 until now.
Muhammad Riko Yohansyah Zulfahmi, Universitas Islam Negeri Sjech M. Djamil Djambek, Bukittinggi, Indonesia

Rico is a graduate student of English Tadris of Faculty of Tarbiyah and Teacher Training, State Islamic University of Sjech M.Djamil Djambek Bukittnggi. He is an English teacher and also a motivator

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