INVESTIGATING THE STRATEGIES USED BY EFL STUDENTS AND THE ACCURACY IN TRANSLATING NARRATIVE PICTURE BOOKS FOR CHILDREN

Abstract

This research aims to investigate the strategies employed by EFL students when translating a narrative from the English children's picture book "Last Stop on Market Street" by Matt de la Pena (2015). The accuracy of the translation will be evaluated using a scoring scale developed by Nababan, Nuraeni, and Sumardiono (2012). This research offers valuable insights to students by identifying effective translation strategies to help them recognize and correct their errors. Data was collected from 10 students in a translation class at Sunan Gunung Djati State Islamic University in Bandung through a translation test. The findings reveal that the participants mostly use five out of the seven translation strategies proposed by Vinay and Darbelnet (2000): calque, literal translation, transposition, modulation, and adaptation. Literal translation and modulation with calque are the most frequently used strategies. Although some participants can produce accurate translations, they also demonstrate the need to address inaccurate translations. This research also identifies the most common mistake made by students as mistranslating words from the source language to the target language, which could potentially confuse readers. The findings underline the importance of providing targeted instruction on translation strategies for EFL students, emphasizing the role of educators in helping students develop the skills and knowledge required to produce high-quality translations that effectively convey the meaning and nuances of the source text.