ABSTRACT
This research aims to find out the techniques applied by translator in translating
metaphorical expressions in the novel Cuckoo’s Calling and to analysis the translation quality in
terms of accuracy, acceptability and readability in translating metaphorical expressions.
This research applied descriptive quality method. A purposive sampling technique was
employed in conducting this research. There are76 data of metaphorical expressions found in
Cuckoo’s Calling novel. Questionnaire used to assess accuracy, acceptability and readability of
the translation in this research.
The findings show that there are four technique applied by the translator in translating
metaphorical expressions. The techniques are: a) translating metaphor into metaphor with similar
meaning and form (30 data or 39, 47%), b) translating metaphor into simile (adding “like” or “as”)
(20 data or 26,31%), c) translating metaphor into metaphor with similar meaning, but different
form, (21 data 27, 63%), d) translating metaphor without keeping the metaphorical imagery (5 data
or 6,57%).
The analysis of translation accuracy of metaphorical expressions presents that 73 data (96,
05%) are accurate and 3 data (3, 94%) are less accurate. In terms of acceptability, there are 66 data
(86, 84%) are acceptable, 8data (13, 15%) are less acceptable and 2 data (2, 63%) are unacceptable.
The last is about readability, 47 data (61, 84%) are readable, 24 data (31, 57%) are less readable
and 5 data (6, 57%) are unreadable.
Based on the findings, it can be drawn that the techniques used by the translator influenced
the translation quality. The technique which produces the highest level of accuracy is translating
metaphor into metaphor with similar meaning and form with 73 data (96, 05%) accurate. Similar
to the level of accuracy, translating metaphor into metaphor with similar meaning and form
1
produces the highest level of acceptability with 66 acceptable data (86, 84%). The technique which
produces the highest level of readability is translating metaphor into simile (adding “like” or “as”)
with 47 data (61, 84%) readable.
In this research, translating metaphor into metaphor with similar meaning and form is the
most technique applied by the translator to translate metaphorical expressions. Thus, as translating
metaphorical expressions is not an easy job to do, besides paying attention to the meaning of
metaphor, the translator should paying attention to the context of situation in which the metaphors
appears.
Keywords: metaphorical expressions, translation techniques, translation quality
