Preserving Meaning or Form: The Dilemma of Translating Blank Verse in Hamlet Into Indonesian

Abstract

The research aims to analyze the structure of the lines of verse in "Hamlet", examines the translation techniques employed, and understands their impact. This study adopts a descriptive qualitative approach with case studies on translation products. It used purposive sampling to select documents, specifically the original verses from "Hamlet" and their Indonesian translations. It gathered insights from informants, including a literary expert, a translation expert, and raters. The research involved two types of data: linguistic data, which consists of the lines of verse in "Hamlet," and translation data, which included the translation techniques and the shifts observed in the translated text. Data collection methods included document analysis and focus group discussions, analyzed through an ethnographic model using domain, taxonomy, and component analysis to identify cultural themes. The findings show that "Hamlet's" verse contains both regular lines with five metrical foot and irregular lines that deviate from this pattern. Seventeen translation techniques are identified: paraphrase, established equivalent, transposition, modulation, reduction, variation, explicitation, compensation, implication, pure borrowing, particularization, addition, generalization, discursive creation, adaptation, literal translation, and linguistic amplification. These techniques result in translation shifts at both micro and macro levels. The study underscores the complexities of translating literary works, especially in preserving the original poetic form and meaning. Future research could compare the translation of the same literary work into various target languages, offering insights into how different translators handle similar challenges across diverse linguistic and cultural contexts and the techniques they use to achieve equivalence.