Translating Booster Expressions: How the Competence of the Translator is Influential?

Abstract

This research aims to see how booster expression as rhetorical devices in several presentation transcripts provided TED.com are translated from English into Indonesian. Given that there are cultural differences in the use of booster expressions from the two countries. Therefore, the objectives of this study are threefold. 1. To find out what presenters use booster expressions as rhetoric tools in several presentations at TED.com, 2. Then look at what translators use translation techniques in translating booster expressions from English into Indonesian. This research is descriptive qualitative research. Data were taken from six presentation transcripts at TED.com and transcripts translated into Indonesian. All data will be categorized according to the rhetorical function of the booster expression. Then the researcher will see what translation techniques are used in translating the booster expression. Data validation was carried out through FGD before the analysis was carried out. The study results revealed that not all the booster expressions could be well translated. This can be seen from the considerable number of deletion techniques applied by the translators. Several assumptions became the reason for selecting this technique, specifically; the cultural differences between the source language and the target language in using booster expressions and the lack of translator competence in translating booster expressions.