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.

Following the words, which were often translated not correct enough:

1. Jesus Christ (in German: Jesus Christus)

The Indonesian Christians call him Yesus Kristus, but the translation is Isa Almasih. It is a Moslem term. How about the Indonesian readers, who live in other region in Indonesia, which there are no Moslems or very rarely? Like Papua, Toraja, etc. Maybe they will ask, "who is Isa Almasih?". For us, the Christians who live in Jakarta, maybe the name Isa Almasih is not too strange.

2. Bible (in German: die Bibel)

The Indonesian Christians call it Alkitab, but the translation is Injil. It is not correct enough. Injil in Indonesian Christians' term (actually not only Indonesians, but it is universal) means the first four books of the New Testament (in English: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John or in German: Matthaeus, Markus, Lukas, Johannes). Therefore Injil means a part of the Bible. The Bible is divided into two parts, which are the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament consists of 39 books and the New Testament consists of 27 books including Injil (in English: the Gospel, in German: das Evangelium). However the Catholic includes Deuterokanonika as an additional part of the Old Testament.

3. Christian (in German: Christ (Singular), Christen (Plural))

The Indonesian Christians call themselves orang Kristen, but the translation is orang Nasrani. It is a Moslem term. Besides kristen, it can also be kristiani. However the Indonesian Christians, who Catholic are, call themselves orang Katolik and they call their sisters and brothers, who Protestant are, orang Kristen.

However, don't worry, if you translate "Christians" into "orang Kristen" or "orang Kristiani", this is correct. Although the Indonesian Christian, who Catholic are, call themselves orang Katolik, they should understand that they are also orang Kristen, since orang Kristen means Christ' follower. The Indonesian Christians, who Catholic are, are also Christ' followers like their sisters and brothers, who Protestant are.

4. Pentecost (in German: Pfingsten, das Pfingsfest)

The Indonesian Christians call it pentakosta, but the translation is often pantekosta. Maybe it is because there are churches in Indonesia, who name themselves Pantekosta. The translation in the Bible is pentakosta, not pantekosta. The word pentakosta is translated from the Greek word pentekoste, which means fiftieth day. Pentakosta is a church festival which is celebrated on the 50th day after Easter.

You have read text 13.
Please read text 14: He Calls Me "Inang"
Silakan baca teks ke 14: Dia Memanggilku "Inang"
Bitte lesen Sie den 14. Text: Er Redet Mich mit "Inang" An

Back to text 12: Frau Sihombing Doesn't Always Mean Nyonya Sihombing