Vol. 3 No. 1 (2026): Balangkas (In Progress)

Published: 2026-04-18

Original Research Articles

From "Sajak Orang Gila" to "Ballad of a Crazy Man": A Study of Translation Techniques and Pragmatic Shifts in Poetry Translation
Gilang Whardhana Putra Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta Indonesia , Siwi Karmadi Kurniasih Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta Indonesia , Rozanah Katrina Herda Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta Indonesia
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Literary translation, especially poetry, demands a sophisticated balance between linguistic accuracy and the preservation of aesthetic, cultural, and pragmatic nuances. This study examines the translation techniques and pragmatic shifts in the English version of Sapardi Djoko Damono’s poetry, “Sajak Orang Gila”, translated by John H. McGlynn as “Ballad of a Crazy Man.” Integrating a dual-layered approach, the study first analyzes the poems’ linguistic features using Molina and Albir’s framework, identifying ten techniques with literal, modulation, and transposition as the most dominant. Second, it evaluates the aesthetic and interpretative features through Lefevere’s strategies, revealing a preference for literal, interpretative, and free translation. Data validity was ensured through inter-rater validation by translation experts. The analysis of pragmatic shifts reveals significant transformation: socio-cultural elements were adapted for target-culture readability, implicatures were frequently made explicit, and politeness strategies underwent modifications that altered interpersonal dynamics. These findings suggest that the translator consistently prioritizes covert translation to balance fidelity with accessibility. This study underscores the necessity of pragmatic awareness in literary translation, providing deeper insights into effectively rendering Indonesian poetry for a global audience.

Pages: 58-70

DOI: https://doi.org/10.66317/703255

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Vol. 3 No. 1 (2026): Balangkas (In Progress)

Original Research Articles

From "Sajak Orang Gila" to "Ballad of a Crazy Man": A Study of Translation Techniques and Pragmatic Shifts in Poetry Translation

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