www.ijmsssr.org Global Journal of Education and Allied Research (GJEAR) Volume.14, Number 1; January-2023; ISSN: 2837-3707 | Impact Factor: 7.80 https://zapjournals.com/Journals/index.php/gjear Published By: Zendo Academic Publishing pg. 1 MODULATION AS A TOOL FOR TRANSCULTURAL COMMUNICATION: INDONESIAN NOVEL TRANSLATION INTO ENGLISH 1Dr. Amanda Nurul Farida Article Info Abstract Keywords: Translation, Modulation, Semantic Shifts, Cultural Background, Equivalence Translation between languages with distinct cultural backgrounds presents challenges due to differing perspectives and linguistic nuances. This study explores the application of modulation, a translation technique proposed by Newmark (1988), to manage semantic shifts in the translation process. Using the Indonesian novel "Lelaki Harimau" by Kurniawan (2014) and its English translation "Man Tiger" (Kurniawan, 2015) as a case study, this research examines the prevalence and types of semantic shifts introduced by modulation. The novel's distinctive usage of uncommon terms and altered expressions in both languages prompts an in-depth analysis of how the translator reconciles these linguistic disparities. This investigation reveals that not only syntactic but also semantic shifts are essential for conveying the original message effectively to the target language readers. The prevalence of semantic shifts in the text is noteworthy, contrasting the conventional balance between syntactic and semantic alterations. The primary objectives of this study are threefold: (1) to identify the semantic shifts that occur using modulation as a translation technique, (2) to categorize the various types of modulation employed in the translation process, and (3) to determine the modulation types that manifest more frequently than others. By delving into these aspects, the research contributes to the understanding of how modulation aids in achieving equivalence while maintaining the contextual integrity of the source text in the target language translation. 1 Department of Linguistics, Universitas Padjadjaran, Bandung, Indonesia https://zapjournals.com/Journals/index.php/gjear Global Research Journal of Management and Social Sciences (GRJMSS) Vol. 14 (1) pg. 2 Introduction Any activity of translating texts of any kindshas to deal with some challenging obstacles due to the different cultural background between the culture of the source language and the target language. One culture having its own rules, its own habits and its own customs as well as its own social agreement may see something from a certain perspective while others may see the same thing differently. The message is similar yet the ways the thing is expressed may not be the same. This involves the mindset that leads to a shift or change such as from positive into negative or vice versa, from active into passive or vice versa, from a certain part into another part, from one part into the whole part. In addition to that, the style of writing of a translator is also influenced by his/her cultural background as well as his/her social environment where the translator is raised. The thing that cannot be denied regarding this shift or change is the message that would be delivered in the source language text has to be the same.Modulation as one of translation procedures by Newmark (1988) is one of the solution to allow the differences into the sameness of message. Translation may produce different form of language yet still keeps the same message so what the readers of the target language text acquire through the translated text is the same with what is acquired by the readers of the source language text. One of the main functions of this activity is to reach the equivalent which has to be as close as possible and as natural as possible. This is in line with the definition of translation given by Nida and Taber (Nida, Eugene A & Taber, 1982). Newmark himself who adopts translation procedures from Vinay and Darbelnet (1995) offers various types of modulation unlike what is offered by modulation as a technique of translation. This is why Newmark’s modulation is used in this research to study the semantic shifts occurred in the data source. Going to the background of the data source, an Indonesian novel Lelaki Harimau(Kurniawan, 2014)and its English translation Man Tiger(Kurniawan, 2015) arethe phenomena that showsome terms or words or expressions seldom used in a daily usage are used here and in the contrary, some familiar words or expressions are used but not in a familiar usage, for example, when the verb tergolek which means “lying down” indicating the location is down like floor or the ground while in the source language text it is used to show a condition when something leans on which means vertically not horizontally as seen in this following sentence: “Mayor Sadrah segera memburu motornya yang tergolek di batang kelapa ‘Major Sadrah hurried toward his motorbike, which leant against a coconut tree’. The phenome can be found even in the introductory part or the beginning of the novel. This is the part where general information supposed to be given and usually the information or narration involves common or daily words or expression. What can be found in the data source is not like this. This is not common even a native reader may have a problem or confuse in comprehending the text.It is therefore the translator needs to make some shifts not only syntactically but also semantically for the sake of the readers of the target language text and it is therefore almost all sentences especially in this first part of the novel are shifted as well as modulated. The number of semantic shifts is almost of the same quantity as syntactic shifts. Usually the number of semantic shifts is limited compare to syntactic shifts but in this novel it is not like that. This is interesting and worth to be studied further. It is therefore the novel is used as the data source of this research. Based on the background, this research is to identify (1) what semantic shifts occur involving modulation as a translation procedure, and (2) what types of modulation used there. This research is also to identify (3) what type of modulation used more frequently than others. Literature Review The novelty of this research can be seen from the previous researches done regarding the modulation either as a translation technique or as a translation procedure. The term modulation in both as a translation procedure given by Newmark and as a translation technique by Molina and Albir has one single function: to refer to semantic shift due to a change of viewpoint or perspective. The first previous research (2021) and the second previous Global Research Journal of Management and Social Sciences (GRJMSS) Vol. 14 (1) pg. 3 research also in the same year regarding this term as well as the translation of Indonesian literary work into English found in journal articles. Both researches use modulation as a translation technique proposes by Molina and Albir. The first one talks about the translation of Indonesia fables and modulation is only one of the techniques used (Muttaqin et al., 2021) while in the second one, modulation as a technique of translation proposed by Vinay and Darbelnet (1995) is used as a single technique consistingof ten types and the data source is an Indonesian novel Bumi Manusia and its translation ‘The Earth of Mankind(Yahya et al., 2021). Similar to the second previous research, the third previous research uses Vinay and Darbelnet’s modulation yet the object of the research is not a literary work; it is patient information leaflets (Rahmawati et al., 2019). The fourth previous research is when modulation is used as a method of translation in order to get naturalness in the target language text (Putranti, 2018). The fifth previous research is a thesis; it discusses the translation from English novel into Indonesian using Newmark’s translation methods as well as translation procedures including modulation (Prasasti, Bunga, 2018). The sixth previous research is a journal article which discusses the translation of texts regarding social and religious affairs both from English into Indonesian and from Indonesian into English, this article uses Vinay and Darbelnet’s modulation adopted by Newmark and it focusses on modulation in translation process (Rahmatillah, 2017). The last previous research regarding the use of modulation as one techniques of translation found in a journal article dealing with the translation of an English novel into Indonesian with idiomatic expressions as the object of the research (Hendrawati & Budiarta, I, 2017).What can be underlined here from all previous researches regarding the use of modulation both as a translation procedure and as a technique of translation compared to my research article is that my research article focusses on modulation as one of Newmark’s translation procedures and it is to study the translation of an Indonesian novel into English and it focusses only on the first part of the novel. It is therefore the novelty of this research is clear. The novelty of this research article can also beseen from the previous researches regarding the same data source, the Indonesian novel Lelaki Harimau and its translation not only into English but also into German. There are two previous researches found. The first one is about the translation of figurative languages found in the novel and its translation into English where translation strategies of Molina and Albir are used(Gustema, 2020). The second one is about the translation of body parts of women into German and the study involves appraisal theory (Finalia et al., 2019). From the two previous researches regarding the novel Lelaki Harimau and its translation it can be seen that the novelty of my research article is clear as the object of this research is different from the objects of the two previous researches. As mentioned before that the term modulation can be used both as translation procedure and as translation technique. The term modulation as a translation procedure is first proposed by Vinay and Darbelnet(Jean-Paul Vinay & Darbelnet, 1995) and Newmark adopts it as a part of the other translation procedures with nine types of it (1988). In the meantime, Molina and Albir categorize it as a translation technique without anyelaborate types of it (Molina & Hurtado Albir, 2002). However, there is a similarity between Newmark’s and Molina & Albir’s modulation especially in the definition of the term that modulation refers to the change (shift) of viewpoint or perspective. In this research, the nine types of modulation are taken from Newmark’s book (Newmark, 1988) and the examples of each type are taken from Erlina’s (Erlina, 2016) regarding the translation from English into Indonesian and vice versa. The types of Newmark’s modulationare as follow: (1) positive for double negative or vice versa, for example the sentence “It is not impossible to find the criminal if we find the proof” is translated into ‘Kita mungkin bisa menemukan penjahatnya jika kita bisa menemukan bukti’, the double negative “not” followed by the negative “impossible” modulated into the positive term “mungkin” means possible; Global Research Journal of Management and Social Sciences (GRJMSS) Vol. 14 (1) pg. 4 (2) part for the whole, it is where one part of something is translated into the whole part of it, for example, “That is what I call a beautiful wheel” is translated into ‘Itu yang kusebut si mobil cantik’ where wheel ‘roda or setir’asa part of a car ‘mobil’ is translated into mobil ‘car’ the whole part; (3) abstract for concrete, it refers to a condition where an abstract term or expression is translated into a concrete term or expression, for example, “He is living in the wild” is translated into ‘Dia hidup di hutanbelantara’ where the abstract expression “wild” referring to the life in the jungle and its creatures, plants and animals is translated into the concrete of the wild, ‘hutan belantara’ the object referring to the vast jungle including all creatures living there; (4) cause for effect, when a condition in the source language is a cause while its equivalent in the target language is the effect, for example’ “Dia memakai kacamata hitam” is translated into “He is wearing dark glasses”, hitam refers to black color as the cause and dark as the effect of the black color of sunglasses; (5) one part for another, it refers to a condition where a term or expression is translated into its synonymy, for example, “Change the bandage every 24 hours is translated into “Ganti perban itu setiap hari”, where 24 hours is equal to one “hari” ‘day’; (6) reversal terms; for example, “Mindyour own business.” is translated into its reverse “Jangan campuri urusanku.” This involves imperative sentence from positive command “Mind …” into negative “Jangan…” ‘Don’t’ and from the possessive “your” for the second person into “my” ‘ku’ the first person. (7) active for passive, for example, “Someone stole my purse” in active is translated into “Dompet saya dicuri” ‘My wallet was stolen’; (8) intervals and limits, for example, “It covers 180 kilometers from Bandung to Jakarya” is translated into “Perjalanan dari Bandung ke Jakarta memakan waktu tiga jam” ‘The trip from Bandung to Jakarta takes three hours’; and (9) change of symbols, for example, “He stood just a few feet away” which is translated into “Dia berdiri hanya beberapa meter jauhnya”. There is a change of symbol from feet into meter. Methodology The method used is descriptive-comparative approach under the qualitative research (Kothari, 2004). It is qualitative as it does not have something to do with number though it deals with the frequency of usage. By using descriptive method, the discussion of the analysis regarding all phenomena are described just the ways they are and the comparative method is used to see the phenomena in the source language text compared to the phenomena in the target language text regarding the use of modulation with its types. The research about translation generally uses comparative method as there are at least two texts involved and they are compared to see what comes up between the two regarding the focus of the research. Regarding the analysis of data, this research covers some steps: (1) to read the Indonesian novel of the first chapter as the source language text; (2) to read the English novel of the same part, the first chapter, as the target language text; (3) to observe the equivalents of terms or expressions semantically shifted or modulated in the target language text; (4) to identify the types of modulation involved based on the characteristics of each type. After all the steps are completed, the next step is to put the data of each type of modulation into a table to be analyzed and described. The last step is to select the data which can be considered as strong data as the representative of each type of modulation to be used in this journal article. Global Research Journal of Management and Social Sciences (GRJMSS) Vol. 14 (1) pg. 5 Results and Discussion There are sixty data found which are taken from two hundred sentences in the first chapter of the novel. The data are spreading to each type of modulation but two: positive for double negative and intervals and limits. There are twenty-four data belong to the part for the whole type, three data for the type of abstract for concrete, seven data belong to the cause for effect type, thirteen data for the type of one part for another, and for the type of reversal of terms, there are four data, then for the type of active for passive, there are six data, and the last is the type of change of symbols, there are three data. As mentioned before, not all sixty data are discussed here but only some that represent each type of modulation. Table 1. Modulation: Part for the Whole No. Source Language Text Target Language Text 1 Pos ronda itu berada di tengah permukiman The night-watch hut stood in the middle of a village 2 …tak akan mempan mengiris leherayam paling pesakitan sekalipun. …it couldn’t decapitate the scrawniest chicken. 3 …serongsok apapun benda itu tetaplah sebuah samurai …no matter how damaged, it was still a sword 4 …mencari betina …and chase women 5 …dan menepuk ajak-ajak di pekarangan rumah penuh sayang. He patted the hounds in the backyard with affection. Table 1 consists of data (1 – 5) involving modulation type, part for thewhole. From data number (2) and data number (3)the order is exactly the same; part in the source language text and the whole in the target language text. However, in data number (1) and data number (4) as well as (5) the order is vice versa: part is in the target language text while the whole is in the source language text. The expression “permukiman” in data (1) refers to ‘settlement’ which covers villages, cities, towns, countries and it is translated into a village as its hyponym. It is therefore it is a case of modulation, part for the whole. Then the expression “leher ayam” which refers to the neck of chicken as a body part of chicken is translated into chicken, the whole body part of the animal. It is therefore this data number (2) involves modulation of part for the whole type. The same thing happens to data number (3) when the expression samurai referring to a type of sword originally from Japan is translated into just a sword. The term sword covers all types of sword including samurai so this involves modulation of part for the whole type. In data (4) the expression “betina” referring to female of any creature including human and animal, is translated into women referring to female human being specifically. It is therefore data number (4) is also modulation of part for the whole type. Then in the last data from this table 1, data (5) we can find that the term or expression “pekarangan” referring to both front yard and backyard is translated into “backyard”. It is then a type of modulation namely part for the whole as the word or expression pekarangan as the whole is given an equivalent backyard as a part of the pekarangan “yard”. Table2. Modulation: Abstract for Concrete No. Source Language Text Target Language Text 1 “Itulah maksudku.” “That’s my plan.” 2 …dengan cara itulah Margio dipuja. It was a feat that earned Margio the admiration of his companions. Global Research Journal of Management and Social Sciences (GRJMSS) Vol. 14 (1) pg. 6 The next type of modulation found in the data is categorized as abstract for concrete as can be seen in table 2. This type of modulation is represented by two data. Data number (1) shows that the abstract expression maksudkuwhich means “my intention” is translated into my plan which is shifted or modulated into concrete expression. There is a change in the viewpoint or perspective and it is from abstract to concrete. It is therefore the modulation can be categorized as abstract for concrete type. The same thing happens also to data number (2) of this table 2 when the passive verb “dipuja” ‘adored’ in the source language text is translated into “earned the admiration”. The change of viewpoint or perspective occurs when the passive verb dipuja having an abstract meaning is translated into earned admiration having a concrete meaning. It is therefore the modulation can be categorized as abstract for concrete type also as data (1) of this table. Table 3. Modulation: Cause for Effect No. Source Language Text Target Language Text 1 …danmenenggelamkan kolam-kolam dengan sempurna. …until the ponds around it disappeared. 2 …barangkali karena ia telah sepuh dan tak lagi waspada. Perhaps age had made him complacent. 3 …untuk segera duduk …to climb on behind him There are three data belong to table 3 which can be categorized as modulation with the type cause for effect. Data number (1) and (2) have the exact order that is from the cause in the source language text into the effect in the target language text. While in data number (3) the order is vice versa, the cause is in the target language text and the effect is in the source language text. In data (1) the verb “menenggelamkan” ‘to sink’ referring to an action of causing something disappear in the water is then translated into the verb disappeared referring to the effect of sinking. It is therefore the modulation occurs here is cause for effect type. The expression in data (2) “telah sepuh dan tak lagi waspada” referring to a condition when getting older makes him not aware any longer of the situation around. This is a cause and it is translated into an effect when the expression age made him complacent is used for the equivalent. It is therefore it is a modulation of cause for effect type. In data number (3) of this table the expression “duduk” as a verb referring to a condition be seated in the source language text can be categorized as an effect. In the target language duduk ‘be seated’ is translated into climb onso this is not the same condition as climb on is the process that makes a condition of be seated, so this is the cause. Table 4. Modulation: One Part for Another No. Source Language Text Target Language Text 1 …untuk memberi pakan setiap senja …to feed his fish beforesundown, 2 …dan berusaha mengengkolnya, susah payah selalu begitu, …and tried to kick-start the engine, always a problem. 3 …sebanyak yang diketahui semua orang di sekeliling rumah mereka. …as far as their neighbors knew. 4 …hingga esok …into the next day There are four data in table 4 that can represent modulation of the type of one part for another. It is like a case of synonymy. In data number (1) the adverb of time “senja” which can be translated directly into “late afternoon” is translated into before sundowninstead. This case can be categorized as modulation of the type one part for another, as it is translated into before sundown not late afternoon, it refers to the same thing but is seen from different viewpoint. This same condition also happens to the rest data from data number (2) until data number Global Research Journal of Management and Social Sciences (GRJMSS) Vol. 14 (1) pg. 7 (4) where in data number (2) the verb “mengengkol” that can be translated directly into “to crank” is instead translated into to kick-start the engine, then data number (3) when the expression “semua orang di sekeliling rumah mereka” that can be directly translated into “all people around their house” is then translated into neighbors instead; then in data number (4) when the expression “esok” that can be translated into “tomorrow” directly is then translated into “the next day”. The four equivalents though seen from different points of view are of the same message. Table 5. Modulation: Reversal of Terms No. Source Language Text Target Language Text 1 Dengan senjata usang di tangan Margio, barangkali Anwar Sadat tak akan mati Had the shabby weapon remained with Margio, Anwar Sadat might still be alive. 2 Ia ada di sini She had been there The next type of modulation is called reversal of terms which can be seen from table 5. The quantity of the data of this type is not as other types, it is limited. It can be said that it refers to converse as it describes the opposite of a condition yet having the same message. In data number (1) what is reversed is the expression “tak akan mati” ‘not going to die’ into still be alive; it is from die or dead into alive, not dead. In data number (2) what is reversed is the adverb “di sini” having the meaning a spot near to the speaker ‘here’ into “there” showing a distance from the speaker. By shifting the context of the sentences, reversed terms can be acceptable as they still refer to the same conditions or messages. It is therefore the two data indicate modulation with reversal of terms type. Table 6. Modulation: Active for Passive No. Source Language Text Target Language Text 1 …sebagaimana diingat Mayor Sadrah …as Sadrah recalled. 2 Motor tersebut diperolehnya bertahun-tahun lampau dari kepala polisi He had gotten the motorbike years ago from a local police chief Table 6 consists of 2 representative data of modulation with the type active for passive. It is not difficult to identify passive in the source language text. In Indonesian language passive is characterized by the use of prefix{di-} which is attached to a verb as can be seen in data number (1) “diingat”which means ‘is recalled’ and “diperoleh” which means ‘is gotten’. In the target language the passive verbs are translated into active verbs following the change of subjects: Major Sadrah or Sadrah in data number (1) of table 6 who is functioned as object now becomes subject in the target language text, then “motor tersebut” ‘the motorbike’ in data number (2) which is functioned as subject in the source language text now becomes object in the target language text, and the subject is replaced by the male third person singular “he”. It is therefore the two cases in both data in table 6 can be categorized as modulation with the type of active for passive. The change of perspective or viewpoint through the modulation from active to passive or vice versa does not change the message. Table 7. Modulation: Change of Symbol No. Source Language Text Target Language Text 1 Sungai kecil yang dijejali lebih banyak lumpur daripada arus itu meluap setinggi satu depa The creek normally more mud than water, rose six feet 2 …dan puluhan ajak terikat satu sama lain oleh tali kulit. …and dozens of hounds bound to each other by leather leashes, Global Research Journal of Management and Social Sciences (GRJMSS) Vol. 14 (1) pg. 8 There are two data regarding this type of modulation, change of symbols in table 7. Indonesian people use the term “satu depa” or “sedepa” ‘one depa’ to refer to a unit of length equal to six feet (approximately 1.8 m). Feet as a measurement unit is more common than meter in the target language so the equivalent for the term satu depa is modulated into six feet in data number (1) of table 7. While data in number (2) of this table involves the term “puluhan” ‘tens’ to indicate number, sets of ten and it is translated into “dozens” which is equal to the measurement unit used in English indicating sets of twelve. The change of this perspective or viewpoint is categorized as modulation with the type of change of symbol. Conclusion From all discussions in the data analysis, it can be concluded that out of nine types of modulation in Newmark’s translation procedures, seven types can be found in the first chapter of the novel. There are two hundred sentences observed and from the two hundred sentences, there are sixty cases of modulation in sixty sentences. From the data collected, out of sixty cases of modulation, two types of modulation: positive for double negative and intervals and limits are not found. And the last thing to be concluded is the frequency of usage of each type of modulation. The highest frequency of usage is in the type of part for the whole. 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