




































Al-Lisan. Journal Bahasa  
ISSN 2442-8965 & E ISSN 2442-8973  
Volume 2 Nomor 2- Agustus 2017 
http://journal.iaingorontalo.ac.id/index.php/al 

 
 

38 
 

THE ANALYSIS ON STUDENTS’ TRANSLATION METHOD IN 

LABEL PRODUCT 

Widianingsi Ramlan 

ramlan202@gmail.com 

SMA Negeri 1 Dumoga, Bolaangmongondow Selatan, Sulawesi Utara 

 

Abtract 

 

The aimed of this research were to analyze the translations method in translating label 

product that used by the student at eight semester English Department and to find out the 

dominant method that used in translating label product by the students at the eight semester 

English Department in IAIN Sultan Amai Gorontalo those should be the reference material 

in evaluating and teaching English subject. This research used qualitative method by 

technique of collecting the data such as student‟s worksheet and documentations. In the 

technique the analyzing the data, the researcher does the steps that is reading, classifying, 

explaining, and drawing conclusion. The translation methods that classifying that is word-

for-word translation, literal translation, faithful translation, semantic translation, adaptation 

translation, free translation, idiomatic translation, communicative translation, pragmatic 

translation, dynamic translation, esthetic-poetic translation, and linguistic translation. The 

result of research showed of the methods that used in student‟ translation in label product are 

word-for-word translation is 13 sentences, literal translation is 24 sentences, free translation 

is 29 sentences, pragmatic translation is 6 sentences, and idiomatic translation is 5 sentences. 

Thus, the dominant method that used in student‟s translation is free translation by 29 

sentences. 

 

Keywords: Analysis, Label Product, Student’s Translation, Method of Translation. 

Abstrak 

Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk menganalisis metode-metode yang digunakan mahasiswa 

bahasa Inggris semester delapan dalam menerjemahkan label produk dan menemukan 

metode apa yang paling banyak digunakan mahasiswa bahasa Inggris semester delapan 

dalam menerjemahkan label produk, hal ini dapat menjdadi acuan atau rujukan untuk 

pembelajaran bahasa Inggris. Peneltian ini menggunakan penelitian kualitatif dengan tehknik 

pengumpulan data berupa lembar kerja mahasiswa dan dokumentasi. Dalam menganalisis 

data, peneliti melakukan langkah-langkah yaitu membaca, mengklasifikasikan, menjelaskan, 

dan menggambarkan kesimpulan. Metode-metode penerjemahan yang diklasifikasikan 

adalah penerjemahan kata demi kata, penerjemahan harfiah, penerjemahan setia, 

penerjemahan semantik, penerjemahan adaptasi, penerjemahan bebas, penerjemahan 

idiomatik, penerjemahan komunikatif, penerjemahan pragmatik, penerjemahan dinamik, 

penerjemahan estetik-puitik, dan penerjemahan linguistik. Hasil penelitian menunjukan 

bahwa metode-metode menerjemahkan label produk adalah metode penerjemahan kata-

demi-kata 13 kalimat, metode penerjemahan harfiah 24 kalimat, metode penerjemahan bebas 

29 kalimat, metode penerjemahan pragmatik 6 kalimat, dan metode penerjemahan idiomatik 

5 kalimat. Oleh karena itu, metode yang paling banyak digunakan adalah metode 

penerjemahan bebas sebanyak 29 kalimat. 

mailto:ramlan202@gmail.com


Al-Lisan. Journal Bahasa  
ISSN 2442-8965 & E ISSN 2442-8973  
Volume 2 Nomor 2- Agustus 2017 
http://journal.iaingorontalo.ac.id/index.php/al 

 
 

39 
 

A. INTRODUCTION 

 

Translation is useful in any aspects. Many people need translation to do their 

activities in those aspects. Since there are many appliances used in English then 

Indonesian need their translations in order to get understand the meaning of its 

appliances. Therefore, highly qualified translators who have good knowledge about 

the target language (TL) and the language they have to transform as source language 

(SL) are required. To produce a good translation, a qualified translator has been able 

to understand ideas and thought including the message expressed in the SL and 

representing it in the TL. According to Oxford (2008), the term of „translation‟ is 

derived from word “translate”, it is means that put written or spoken into a different 

language. Basil and Jeremi (2004), said that translation is a phenomenon that has a 

huge effect on everyday life. This can range from the translation of a key 

international treaty to the following multilingual poster that welcomes customer to a 

small restaurant near to the home of one of the authors. Furthermore, Catford (1965) 

quoted by Rudolf, defines that translation as the process of replacing a source 

language text with the target language text. He also interpreted translation as a 

substitution of the source language text material with the target language. And Juliane 

(2015), define translation as the process of replacing a source language text with the 

target language text. He also interpreted translation as a substitution of the source 

language text material with the target language. Based on the explanations, it can be 

conclude that translation is redirect source language to target language both in term of 

meaning or intent. Language transfer can be oral or written. 

From the purpose of translation, the translation has an important role for 

transferring technology and literature in Indonesia. Because, variations of Indonesian 

structure or grammar that mastered, make it difficult for us to do the transferring into 

English. It is not an easy thing. A translator must give the translation accurately in 

therefore a translator should master source language and have knowledge about the 



Al-Lisan. Journal Bahasa  
ISSN 2442-8965 & E ISSN 2442-8973  
Volume 2 Nomor 2- Agustus 2017 
http://journal.iaingorontalo.ac.id/index.php/al 

 
 

40 
 

target language to do the translation process easily. We must learn the ways or 

methods in translating such as word by word translation, literal translation, faithful 

translation semantic translation, free translation and etc. According to Peter Newmark 

(1988), said that there are eight translation methods. The methods in this context are 

principles which provide the basis of the way people translating text which obviously 

headed to the kinds of translation. Translation can be done by choosing one of the 

eight methods. The methods can be classified into two: four of them are oriented in 

source language (SL Emphasis) and the other four are oriented in target language (TL 

Emphasis). It can be seen in the figure below: 

 

           SL Emphasis                                                  TL Emphasis 

  Word for Word Translation                              Adaptation Translation 

        Literal Translation                                  Free Translation 

                 Faithful Translation                  Idiomatic Translation 

                          Semantic Transl         Communicative Transl  

 

                           V Diagram Source: Newmark, Peter. 1988. 

 

Today there is a big number of information around the world related to 

entertainment, sport, education, games, politic and information such as information in 

label product. Translating label product is very important because label product is 

communication media for producer to consumer. Label is an identity about a product. 

The consumers get the information about the product by the label. By the label, the 

consumers can distinguish between one product and another. The consumers can 

choose the product that they need. The existence of product labels can also dispel 

doubts in buying a product. Thus, the correct, clear and complete about translation of 

label product is very important. Marianne and Sandra quoted by Syukrianti Mukhtar 

and Muchammad Nurif (2015), says labels are usually made of paper or plastic film 

with or without adhesives, the label explains some of the things about the product 

who made it, where it was made, when it was made, what it was, how it was used and 

how to use it safely. Furthermore, Ministry of Education and Culture (2015), explains 



Al-Lisan. Journal Bahasa  
ISSN 2442-8965 & E ISSN 2442-8973  
Volume 2 Nomor 2- Agustus 2017 
http://journal.iaingorontalo.ac.id/index.php/al 

 
 

41 
 

that the drug / food / drink label is the text shown on the pack / product packaging 

containing detailed descriptions of the product as well as how to use it. 

In English education department, there is a lecture about translation. The 

students get the lectures about translation that are theory of translation, translation 

practice, literal translation and translation and interpretation. By the lectures, the 

students get the knowledge about the theory and how to practice in translation. The 

lecturer gives various kinds of text for training students to increase the skill of 

translating. Translation is not easy for students if they don‟t have the ability to 

translate the Indonesian text to English text. Many methods in translation make many 

using methods in student‟s translation in one object translation. This case was found 

in students of eighth semester English Department in IAIN Sultan Amai Gorontalo in 

translating label product. The researcher found that many methods using in 

translating label product. 

 

B. METHOD 

 

Descriptive qualitative method was used in this research to analysis the 

problem. It is a research method to describe the subject or object of the research 

based on the fact. Then, this method describes population and evidence of the data 

systematically, and accurately. Qualitative research is an approach to study of social 

phenomena. This research is used on the natural setting, so called also as the 

naturalistic research method. Beside that the qualitative research is called as 

ethnography method then called the qualitative method (Sugiyono, 2008). The term 

of naturalistic shows that the research is natural, on the normal situation without 

manipulate the condition, emphasize on the natural description. The process of taken 

the data or phenomena called as “taking of the data naturally (Sugiyono, 2008). Based 

on the explanation above, this study is designed by formulating the problem, colleting 

the data, analyzing the data and drawing conclusion. 

  



Al-Lisan. Journal Bahasa  
ISSN 2442-8965 & E ISSN 2442-8973  
Volume 2 Nomor 2- Agustus 2017 
http://journal.iaingorontalo.ac.id/index.php/al 

 
 

42 
 

C. RESULT AND DISCUSSION 
 

The researcher stated that the data of research were about the the translation 

methods that used on label product of eighth semester English Education Departmen 

at IAIN Sultan Amai Gorontalo. 

1. The Translation Methods that Used on Label Product of English Education 

Department 

a) Word-for-word translation method  

The researcher found 13 sentences used word-for-word translation method. The 

word-for-word method in translation sentences on label product had a types that 

was: tied to a word equivalent and did not change the word order. 

b). Literal translation method 

The researcher found 24 sentences used literal translation method. The literal 

translation method in translation sentences on label product had a types that was: 

tied to a word equivalent, and the grammar adapt to target language. 

c). Free translation method  

The researcher found 29 sentences used free translation method. The free 

translation method in translation sentences on label product had a types that was: 

did not tied to a word equivalent, give priority to the 

content than text form of source language. 

d). Pragmatic translation method 

The researcher found 6 sentences used pragmatic translation method. The 

pragmatic translation method in translation sentences on label product had a types 

that was: the form of language is noticed, emphasize the accuracy of information, 

the form of the language is noticed the and add information to make translations 

more clear. 

e). Idiomatic translation method  



Al-Lisan. Journal Bahasa  
ISSN 2442-8965 & E ISSN 2442-8973  
Volume 2 Nomor 2- Agustus 2017 
http://journal.iaingorontalo.ac.id/index.php/al 

 
 

43 
 

The researcher found 5 sentences used Idiomatic translation method. The 

Idiomatic translation method in translation sentences on label product had a type 

that was producing target language messages with a more natural and familiar than 

the source language. 

2. The Amount of Students‟ translation method that Used in Label Product English 

Education Department 

Based on the data, that has been discovered by the researcher that analyzed 

of theory of translation method to describe then explain the method that used in label 

product of English Education Department. The amount of the sentence errors can be 

seen in the following table: 

 

Number Translation Methods Quantity 

1 Word for word 

Translation 
13 

2 Literal Translation 24 

3 Free Translation 29 

4 Pragmatic Translation 6 

5 Idiomatic Translation 5 

Total 77 

 

Students translation method that used in label product eighth semester 

English Education Department consist of word-for-word method, literal method, 

free method, pragmatic method, and idiomatic method . The word-for-word 

method were 13 sentences, the literal method were 24 sentences, free method 

were 29 sentences, the pragmatic method were 6 sentences, and the idiomatic 47 

method were 5 sentences. Thus, the most frequent method in students‟ 

translation method that used in label product at eighth semester in English 

Education Department was free translation method and the least frequent 

translation method that used in label product at eighth semester in English 

Education Department was idiomatic translation. In classification the method, 



Al-Lisan. Journal Bahasa  
ISSN 2442-8965 & E ISSN 2442-8973  
Volume 2 Nomor 2- Agustus 2017 
http://journal.iaingorontalo.ac.id/index.php/al 

 
 

44 
 

The researcher used types of translation method. The word-for-word method had 

types that was: tied to a word equivalent and did not change the word order. The 

literal method had types that was: tied to a word equivalent, and the grammar 

adapt to target language. The free translation method had types that was: did not 

tied to a word equivalent, give priority to the content than text form of source 

language. The pragmatic had types that was: the form of language is noticed, 

emphasize the accuracy of information, the form of the language is noticed the 

and add information to make translations more clear. The Idiomatic method had 

type that was producing target language messages with a more natural and 

familiar than the source language. 

 

D. CONCLUSIONS 

The researcher can conclude some of the conclusion are; There are 

translation method that used in label product at eighth semester English 

Education Department include 13 sentences of word-for-word method, 24 

sentences of literal method, 29 sentences of free method, 6 sentences of 

pragmatic method, and 5 sentences of idiomatic method. Then, the most frequent 

method that used in students‟ translation in label product of English Education 

Department is free translation method and the least frequent method that used in 

students‟ translation in label product of English Education Department is 

idiomatic translation method. 

The result of this research indicates to existence inconsistent in the 

translation method to translate the text. The translation not only uses one method 

but also some methods to translate one text. We will difficult to find one text of 

translation that only uses one translation method. Therefore, inconsistent 

translation methods for translating the text were showed in this research. 

 

 



Al-Lisan. Journal Bahasa  
ISSN 2442-8965 & E ISSN 2442-8973  
Volume 2 Nomor 2- Agustus 2017 
http://journal.iaingorontalo.ac.id/index.php/al 

 
 

45 
 

 REFERENCES 

  

Basil Hatim and Jeremi Munday. (2004). Translation An Advanced Resource Book. 

New York: Routledge. 

 

Buku Bahasa Inggris. (2015). Think Globally Act Locally : Buku Guru. Jakarta: 

Kementrian Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan. 

 

Juliane House. (2015). Translation Quality Assessment. New York: Routledge. 

  

Oxford. (2008). Oxford Learner’s Pocket Dictionary. New York: Oxford University 

Press. 

Peter Newmark. (1988). A Textbook of Translation. New York: Prentice Hall 

International. 

 

Rudofl, Nababan. (2008). Teori Menerjemahkan Bahasa Inggris. Yogyakarta: 

Pustaka Pelajar. 

 

Sugiyono. (2008). Metode Penelitian Kualitatif. Bandung: Alfabeta. 

 

----------. (2008). Metode Penelitian Kuantitatif, Kualitatif, R&D. Bandung: alfabeta. 

 

 

Syukrianti Mukhtar and Muchammad Nurif. (2015).  Peranan Packaging Dalam 

Meningkatkan Hasil Produksi Terhadap Konsumen.  Jurnal Sosial 

Humaniora, 8, 2, 185. 

        

 


