Analyzing Translation Techniques and the Quality of Similes and Metaphors: A Study of Canonical Gospels in Diglot Bible (NIV-TB)
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: This study reveals (1) the translation techniques employed in translating similes and metaphors from English to Indonesian in the canonical Gospel of Diglot Bible (NIV-TB), and (2) the impact of these techniques on the quality of translations. The data source is a Diglot Bible (NIV-TB), published by the Indonesian Bible Society (IBS) in 2009. The source text version is The Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV) 1978, while the target text is Alkitab Terjemahan Baru (TB) 1974. The languages involved were English as the source text and Indonesian as the target text. Five professional experts actively participated in a focus group discussion (FGD) to identify the translation techniques used and their impact on the quality of translation. A total of 54 instances of similes and metaphors were identified. The study results indicate that (1) the dominant translation technique used for translating similes and metaphors is established equivalent, whereas the seldom applied techniques were particularization, linguistic amplification, and linguistic compression. (2) The established equivalent, explicitation, paraphrase, addition, modulation, implicitation, transposition, generalization, adaptation, variation, particularization, linguistic amplification, linguistic compression, and compensation contributed to accuracy, acceptability, and readability of translations. Conversely, literal and discursive creation have resulted in lower accuracy, decreased acceptability, and moderate readability of translations. The implications of this study are particularly significant for Bible translators, advising against the use of literal and discursive creation techniques when translating similes and metaphors in the canonical Gospels. Literal and discursive creation was not applicable for translating similes and metaphors.
Source: Forum for Linguistic Studies
Institution: Sebelas Maret University
Language: English
Subfield: Language and Linguistics
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4410866478