Translation Equivalence

            Equivalence is very important in translating a language into other languages; it lies between the source and the target language. In understanding the equivalence, Catford stated a statement about equivalence in his book A Linguistic Theory of Translation (1965).

            According to Catford, it is possible to generalize the condition for translation equivalence as follows:

Translation equivalence occurs when a SL and a TL text or item are relatable to (at least some of) the same features of substance (Catford, 1965: 50).

            Based on the statement, it means when a source language text or item has some language relations at least the some features of substance with the target language, it is possible for the translation equivalence to occur. The translation cannot be based only upon some of meanings but however it must be related to some situations or contexts where the equivalence should be established.

            If the requirement of the equivalent in the source language and target language are relatable, a problem that usually faced in founding this relation is caused by the quit difference cultures of the people who speak the target language with the target language.

Examples:

1)      SL : Jam tangan anda sangat canggih.

TL : Your watch is very sophiscated (Margono, 1999: 7).

2)      SL : Lontong

TL : Cooked rice wrapped in banana leaf (Margono, 1999: 2).

The example (1) jam tangan in source language has an equivalence watch in the target language, so there is not translating problem found here. But in example (2), lontong is difficult to translate to English. There is not English word that can be used to match lontong. So, the translator decided to modify it by using an explanation that is cooked rice wrapped in banana leaf.