Translation Into Indonesian

I was student at the Faculty of Letters (since 2002 its name changed: Faculty of Humanities), University of Indonesia, as Prof. Christiane Nord from the University of Heidelberg held the translation workshop from 15th - 18th February 1993 in our campus. I understand from her that a translator should be diligent. A translator should make an effort to research the meaning of a word or a term in the source language and then try to find the best translation from the target language, which is her or his mother tongue. If need be, a translator should also make a further research in regard to find the best translation. A translator should not translate a word or a term according to her or his own perspective or ideology.

Source Language and Target Language

I learned from that workshop that the ideal translation should be done by the native speaker of the target language, not the native speaker of the source language.

For example, I am Indonesian, therefore I should translate a book which is written in a foreign language (e.g. in German) into Indonesian. It is not suggested that I translate a book which is written in Indonesian into a foreign language. (e.g. into German. The Germans should do that.)

In that workshop we were given an Indonesian translation which was done by a German as one example and what happened? We understood the German text better than the Indonesian translation. Maybe you still remember my experience with my German colleague. Please see Frau Sihombing Doesn't Always Mean Nyonya Sihombing.

So, I am Indonesian and should translate a book which is written in German, for example, into Indonesian, not the other way. The book is called source text (in German: der Ausgangstext) and German is called source language (in German: die Ausgangssprache). My Indonesian translation is called target text (in German: der Zieltext) and Indonesian is called target language (in German: die Zielsprache).

Several Findings

As written above that Indonesians should do the translation into Indonesian, however I often found Indonesian translation which were translated by Indonesian translators according to the own perspective of the translator. This is what I learned from Prof. Nord that a translator should make an effort in regard to find the best translation, not just translating according to her or his own knowledge. An additional research should be done.

I found some words and term, which were translated from Christian terms, but these words and term were translated in Moslem perspective or just translated without researching the most correct term. An Indonesian translator who is not a Christian, should know that between the Indonesien Christians themselves there are also some differences.

Frau Sihombing Doesn't Always Mean Nyonya Sihombing

A German colleague who took care of working agreement as I worked in a German organisation didn't want to hear me as I complained her translation in Indonesian. In the German version of the working agreement I was mentioned as Frau Sihombing, which is correct. But in the Indonesian version I was mentioned as Nyonya Sihombing (in English: Mrs Sihombing), which is completely wrong.

I complained because I am still single. Sihombing is my family name. I am also not a widow, who maybe still uses the family name of her husband or ex husband.

The German colleague only told me that it is already the fixed term. I was disappointed, because I am the Indonesian, the person who knows her language. I would have been happier if I would have been mentioned as Nona Sihombing (in English: Miss Sihombing) rather than Nyonya Sihombing (in English: Mrs Sihombing) on that agreement.

Like "Fraeulein" in German "nona" in Indonesian is also used only for little or young girls. For adult women we can say "ibu", which doesn't show the marital status. You can call an adult woman "ibu" without asking her marital status.

The term "Saudari" (Sdri.) which refers to young women can also replace the term "nyonya" (in English: Mrs). This supposed to be neutral. It doesn't show the marital status either. However this term is rarely used in oral language or daily conversation. It is used more often in written language. So, it is better to use the term "Saudari (Sdri.)" on that agreement.

You have read text 12.

Please read text 13: Translation Into Indonesian

Back to text 11: Ms Sihombing Is Not Fraeulein Sihombing

Ms Sihombing Is Not Fraeulein Sihombing

As I worked in German companies I always put (Ms.) behind my name in my email signature, so that the readers know that I am female and therefore they would reply my email with "Dear Ms Sihombing", not Mr Sihombing.

Someday one of our big boss from Germany came to our office in Jakarta. As we had a chance to chat, he asked me why I put Ms, because Ms means Fraeulein. In German "Fraeulein" is used for little or young girls. For adult woman should be "Frau". However "Frau" doesn't only mean "Mrs" in English. It can also mean "Ms". I told our big boss that Ms doesn't mean Miss (which means Fraeulein in German) in English.

According to my information in the USA there is a new additional title in gender differentiation besides Mrs and Mr. It is Ms. This "Ms" refers to adult women and doesn't show the marital status, which is not important. Just like Mr, it also doesn't show the marital status. This should be an idea from the feminists in the USA.

You have read text 11.
Please read text 12: Frau Sihombing Doesn't Always Mean Nyonya Sihombing

Back to text 10: Germans Can Not Understand Our Pronunciation

Germans Can Not Understand Our Pronunciation

Ah, Calvin!

I and Dr. Haug were in a streetcar in Stuttgart (see Interesting Experience in Germany Part 2). We discussed about the church reformation. I was confused why Dr. Haug didn't know whom I was talking about. I spoke about Johannes Calvin, the church reformer from Switzerland. Dr. Haug is theologian, he must know who Johannes Calvin is. I tried to describe more clearly. Then Dr. Haug understood. He said: "ah, Calvin!" The pronunciation is [kalvin] like the English words "very", "verb", "value". Do you know how I pronounced the reformer's name before? I pronounced it in Indonesian way [kalfin], like the English words "full", "father". That was why Dr. Haug didn't understand at the beginning, whom I was talking about. :-(

Garuda's German Speaking Announcer

I was on a Garuda Indonesia plane, on my way back from Germany to Indonesia. As the plane stopped in Bangkok there were new passengers, who want to go to Jakarta. Two German women sat beside me.

During the flight we heard several announcements which were spoken in three languages: Indonesian, English and German. Every time the announcement was spoken I asked the German women how the German announcement was. I hope they would be proud of it. I was surprised as they said that they didn't understand the German. According to them the announcer's pronunciation was not so clear. The announcer was an Indonesian woman. Those two German women told me that they understood the English announcement better.

Tip: Please practice the right German pronunciation well.

You have read text 10.
Please read text 11: Ms Sihombing Is Not Fraeulein Sihombing
Back to text 9: Germans Misunderstand German