An analysis of slang expressions translation in "mean girls" movie

Oleh :
Nur Ardyasari Ratna Ningrum - C0303041 - Fak. Sastra dan Seni Rupa

ABSTRACT This research was conducted to describe the translation strategy and the impacts of the strategy to the accuracy and acceptability of slang expression translation in “Mean Girls” movie. This research employed descriptive qualitative method. The data source of the research was “Mean Girls” movie, both the dialogue in source language and its translation. The data in this research were slang expressions found in the “Mean Girls” movie dialogue, its translation and comments from raters. The result of the research shows that there are eight strategies used by the translator in translating slang expression in “Mean Girls” movie, namely; translation by using slang expression (3 data or 1. 41%), translation by using common word or phrase of similar meaning, both referential and expressive meaning (75 data or 35.38%), translation by using common word or phrase of similar referential meaning but dissimilar expressive meaning (21 data or 9.91%), translation by using common word or phrase of similar expressive meaning but dissimilar referential meaning (33 data or 15.57%), translation by using common words or phrase of dissimilar both referential and expressive meaning (43 data or 20. 28%), the translation by using loan word or loan word with explanation (3 data or 1.41%), translation by omission (15 data or 7.08%) and translation by using swearing word (19 data or 8.96%) from all of the data. The most dominant strategy used by the translator is translation by using common word or phrase of similar meaning both referential and expressive meaning, while the strategies which rarely applied by the translator are translation by using slang expression and translation by using loan word or loan word with explanation. The analysis of translation quality shows that the level of accuracy is high. It shows that the slang expression translation in the “Mean Girls” movie is considered to be accurate. From 212 data, there are 146 data or 68.86% considered to be accurate, 58 data or 27.35% considered to be less accurate and 8 data or 3.77 % considered to be inaccurate translation. The strategy used by the translator that produces the translation result with high level of accuracy is translation by using slang expression. Unfortunately, there are only 3 data that are translated by using this strategy, and all of them (100%) considered to be accurate translations. Meanwhile, the strategy used by the translator that produce translation result with poor accuracy level is translation by using omission. There are 15 data translated by using this strategy or 7.08 % from all of the data, 4 data (26.67%) considered to be accurate, 5 data (33.33%) considered to be less accurate and 6 data (40%) considered to be inaccurate translation. The analysis of acceptability shows that the level of acceptability is not really high. The translation is considered to be less acceptable. From 212 data, there are 23 data or 10.85% considered to be acceptable, 186 data or 87.74% considered to be less acceptable and 3 data or 1.41 % considered to be unacceptable translation. The strategy used by the translator that produce translation result with high level of acceptability is also translation using slang expression. There are 3 data (1.41 %) translated by using this strategy, 2 data (66.67%) considered to be acceptable, 1 datum (33.33%) considered to be less acceptable translation, and none of them considered to be unacceptable. While, the most dominant strategy that produces poor level of acceptability is strategy by using loan word or loan word with explanation. This strategy covers 3 data or 1.41% from all of the data. There are, 1 datum (33.33%) considered to be acceptable, 1 datum (33.33%) considered to be less acceptable and 1 datum (33.33%) considered to be unacceptable translation.