J-CEKI
Vol. 4 No. 5: Agustus 2025

Translation Equivalence of Culture-Specific Items in Donna Widjajanto’s Rendition of The Field Guide

Setiawan, Kurnia Ari (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
09 Aug 2025

Abstract

This study investigates translation equivalence in the Indonesian version of The Spiderwick Chronicles (Book 1: The Field Guide) by Tony DiTerlizzi, focusing on 69 culture-specific items (CSIs). Applying Nida and Taber’s framework of formal and dynamic equivalence, the research aims to determine the predominant strategy used in rendering culturally bound expressions. Using a descriptive qualitative approach, the CSIs are categorized into five cultural domains: ecology, material culture, social culture, organizations and customs, and anthroponyms. The analysis reveals a strong preference for formal equivalence, with the highest occurrences in the categories of organizations (36.2%) and material culture (34.8%). Borrowing—both pure and naturalized—emerges as the dominant translation technique, particularly for items related to anthroponyms, religious concepts, and ecological terms. This reliance on source-language structures suggests a translator orientation that prioritizes fidelity over cultural adaptation. While this strategy preserves source-text integrity, the study recommends a more adaptive approach to improve clarity and cultural accessibility for target readers. Overall, the findings highlight the importance of balancing semantic accuracy and cultural resonance in the translation of culture-specific items.

Copyrights © 2025






Journal Info

Abbrev

J-CEKI

Publisher

Subject

Humanities Social Sciences

Description

J-CEKI : Jurnal Cendekia Ilmiah diterbitkan oleh CV. ULIL ALBAB CORP. J-CEKI terbit 6 kali dalam setahun atau tiap 2 bulan sekali. J-CEKI menerbitkan artikel bidang Humaniora dan Ilmu Sosial. Humaniora: Bahasa dan Linguistik, Sejarah, Sastra, Seni Pertunjukan, Filsafat, Agama, Seni Rupa. Ilmu ...