EXPLORING UNIT AND STRUCTURE SHIFTS IN TRANSLATING CULTURAL NARRATIVES: A CASE STUDY OF BAWANG MERAH BAWANG PUTIH
Abstract
This article investigates the application of translation shifts in the English translation. It is taken from the Indonesian folktale Bawang Merah Bawang Putih. Translation shifts are critical in adapting linguistic elements between the source and target languages while preserving meaning and cultural nuances. It is particularly unit and structure shifts as conceptualised by Catford (1965). The primary aim of this research is to analyse how these shifts contribute to the accurate and culturally appropriate translation of literary texts. This study seeks to provide insights into the strategies used by translators to bridge linguistic and cultural gaps. At the same time, it is ensuring that the narrative and emotional depth of the source text are maintained in the target language. The research employs a qualitative descriptive method which is utilizing document analysis to examine the Indonesian folktale and its English translation. Data collection involved identifying and categorising instances of unit and structure shifts based on Catford's theoretical framework. The analysis focused on shifts that impact the preservation of meaning, narrative coherence, and cultural context within the translation. The findings show that unit shifts are effective in adapting words and phrases to align with the grammatical and stylistic norms of the target language. It enhances readability and maintains cultural specificity. On the other hand, structure shifts facilitate the reorganisation of complex sentence structures, improving narrative flow and grammatical accuracy. These findings underline the importance of strategic translation shifts in producing translations that are both linguistically accurate and culturally resonant. The study contributes to the broader field of translation studies, especially the significance of adaptive translation strategies, and offers a practical model for handling culturally rich texts.
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