Unraveling Translation Techniques in Sam Smith's 'In the Lonely Hour' Album Lyrics

The world of music has long been a hub for linguistic and cultural exchange, with songs often serving as a bridge between languages. One such example is British singer-songwriter Sam Smith's album 'In the Long Hour', which features lyrics written in both English and Indonesian. This study aims to explore the translation techniques used by the translator to render these song lyrics from English into Indonesian.

Using Molina and Albir's (2002) classification of translation techniques, this qualitative analysis examined 11 songs from the album, totaling 202 data points. The results revealed that the translator employed a diverse range of techniques, including 18 different methods.

The most dominant technique used was literal translation, accounting for approximately 35% of the total techniques employed. This method involved translating words and phrases in a straightforward manner, without altering their original meaning or syntax. Other notable techniques included paraphrasing, which accounted for around 20%, and addition, which made up around 15%.

The study also found that the translator used a combination of techniques to achieve the desired effect. For instance, literal translation was often paired with addition, where additional information was added to provide further context or clarity. This approach allowed the translator to maintain the original meaning while still conveying the intended message in Indonesian.

Furthermore, the analysis revealed that certain songs exhibited a greater variety of translation techniques than others. Song lyrics that dealt with more abstract concepts, such as emotions and relationships, tended to employ a wider range of techniques, including metaphors and idioms. In contrast, song lyrics that focused on concrete objects or actions used fewer techniques, relying more heavily on literal translation.

The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the complexities of translation in music lyrics. By examining the techniques employed by the translator, we can gain a deeper understanding of how language and culture intersect in the creative process. The results also highlight the importance of considering the cultural context in which the translation is taking place, as well as the target audience and purpose of the translated text.

In conclusion, this study demonstrates that the translator of Sam Smith's 'In the Lonely Hour' album lyrics employed a diverse range of techniques to convey the intended message from English into Indonesian. The results provide valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities of translating song lyrics, and highlight the importance of considering cultural context and audience in the translation process.

Download the full PDF report: 'PDF link'

In the lonely hour albulm download