E-LITRANS TOOL FOR THE BETTER QUALITY OF

LITERARY TRANSLATION

Rudi Hartono
English Department, Universitas Negeri Semarang,
Semarang, Indonesia
rudi.hartono@mail.unnes.ac.id

Arif Suryo Priyatmojo

English Department, Universitas Negeri Semarang,
Semarang, Indonesia
arifsuryo@mail.unnes.ac.id

Abstract

Translating literary works is difficult and complicated. It is not only translating forms of language but
also styles. The styles of language in literary works can be a primary problem for translators to render
because the literary texts contain connotative meanings that need the translators’ deep understanding.
Those meanings exist implicitly in metaphors, similes, personifications, and other figurative languages.
Therefore to produce better quality of literary translation, E-Litrans tool comes as a solution. It is literary
translation tools that can help translators translate metaphors, similes, personifications, and proverbs.
Recently we revealed that E-Litrans tool has potential properties as an online translation tool in
translating figurative language and proverbs. In this study, to see the translation quality improvement, we
applied E-Litrans tool in translation classes and used it in translating metaphors, similes, personifications,
and proverbs from English into Indonesian and vice versa. We assessed the students’ translation quality
before and after E-Litrans tool application. It showed that there was a very high difference score
enhancement of translation before and after E-Litrans tool application. Furthermore, E-Litrans tool
significantly improved the students’ translation quality of metaphors, similes, personifications, and
proverbs better. These results suggest that E-Litrans tool has the potential to increase the translation score
and improve the students’ translation quality.

Keywords: E-Litrans tool, translation quality, figurative language, proverbs