Sexual Language Translation: The Perspective of Teaching Polite English

Sulistini Dwi Putranti,Sri Samijati Tarjana,M R Nababan

doi:10.21093/di.v18i1.1040

Abstract

Students of English language can benefit their learning from translating English novels which can be found easily everywhere. Since many of those novels contain sexual languages, students need to be exposed on how to deal with taboo, vulgar and harsh languages. This research investigated how to produce a good and qualified translation of taboo, vulgar and harsh languages from English into Indonesian without creating pornography. The quality examined was its accuracy, acceptability and readability of the translation. The method applied in this research was descriptive qualitative with the strategy of an embedded case study. The source of data was a novel by Sandra Brown and its translation. The research reveals that the students and/or translators should handle taboo, vulgar and harsh languages found in sexual languages by applying generalization, modulation, euphemism, reduction and deletion as the techniques to translate such languages, so they are able to produce a translation which does not violate norms and values. Those techniques have proved to be able to produce a good quality translation.

Highlights

Many researchers have supported the idea that translation is a fun, motivating and enjoyable activity in language learning through several studies that they have conducted. Kern (1994)
When students need to learn to use polite language and deal with harsh or taboo language, they can be introduced to texts which contain sexual languages so they are able to understand how to cope with such problem
The definition of pornography according to the law is “pictures, sketches, photos, writing, voice, sound, moving picture, animation, cartoons, conversation, gestures, or other communications shown in public with salacious content or sexual exploitation that violate the moral values of society.”

Summary

Literature Review

A research about sexual languages used by homo sexual people in Oscar Wilde’s novel shows that for Oscar Wilde the main effect of using sexual languages is to evoke expressions from the body, how those words can influence the body to cry, to be aroused (sexually), to be happy and/or sad, and so on (Sisko, 2004). The findings show that Wilde used objects as a type of homosexual argot (some words or expressions used by a certain community to interact with each other, used as a private communication and identification), because at that time (1890) the homosexual people did not dare to express their sexuality by using verbal language Those objects function as a means to bridge their sexual desire and to voice their desire silently through the objects. Her dissertation titled ‘Makna Asosiatif Pornografi pada Iklan Produk Media Cetak: Kajian Pragmatik’ (Associative Meaning of Pornography in Printed Media advertising Products: A Pragmatic Study). Her sources of data included magazines, newspapers, tabloids, and other printed materials. Translation in foreign language classes enhances better understanding of structures of the two languages and strengthens students’ translation skills” (Dagiliene, 2012)

Research Methodology

Instruments

Data Analysis

Findings

Discussion