Translation Strategies and Cross Cultural Communication: A Study of Indonesian English Text Adaptations

Abstract

This study explores the translation strategies employed in adapting Indonesian texts into English, focusing on how cultural nuances influence cross-cultural communication. The research aims to identify the dominant translation techniques and examine how they contribute to the accurate transmission of meaning between linguistically and culturally distinct audiences. Using a qualitative descriptive design, several Indonesian–English translated texts were analyzed to uncover patterns of linguistic transfer, cultural adaptation, and translator decision-making. Data were collected through document analysis and validated through expert review to ensure contextual accuracy. The findings reveal that the most frequently used strategies include modulation, adaptation, and equivalence, which effectively bridge cultural gaps and enhance message clarity. However, certain cultural expressions and idiomatic phrases remain challenging to render without partial meaning loss. The study highlights the crucial role of translators as cultural mediators and underscores the need for cultural competence in translation training. The results contribute to the broader understanding of how translation functions as both a linguistic and intercultural act, fostering mutual understanding across cultures. These insights are valuable for translators, educators, and scholars in applied linguistics and intercultural communication.