Intralingual Translation in the Gen Z Bible: A Case Study of Genesis Chapter 1-2

Oleh :
Carlos Teguh Hermawan Pradhana - B0322030 - Fak. Ilmu Budaya

This research examines the intralingual adaptation of the King James Version (KJV) into the Gen Z Bible, which reformulates biblical language into informal, & ;contemporary expressions. It aims to identify the types of intralingual translation employed and to evaluate the accuracy and readability of the translated units. This descriptive qualitative study analyzes 187 linguistic units from Genesis Chapters 1–2 using Gottlieb’s (2008) typology of intralingual translation. Translation quality was assessed through accuracy and readability using a rubric adapted from Nababan et al. (2012), with evaluations conducted through a focus group discussion. The findings reveal two translation types: diaphasic (130 data; 69.5%) and diachronic (57 data; 30.5%). In terms of accuracy, 89 data (47.6%) are accurate and 98 data (52.4%) are less accurate, with none inaccurate. Readability assessment shows 183 data (97.9%) are readable. Overall, the Gen Z Bible preserves the source text’s meaning while making it more accessible to contemporary readers. These findings imply that intralingual translation can effectively bridge generational gaps in religious text adaptation, offering practical insight for translators and educators, and contributing to the theoretical discussion on accessibility versus fidelity in sacred text translation.