Adaptation of Cultural Nuances and Its Influence on Cultural Representation and Translation Quality in the Translation

DOI

10.2991/978-2-38476-587-4_9How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Cultural Texts; Cultural Translation Representation; Translation; Translation Quality

Abstract

Translating literary works is a complex process that goes beyond linguistic conversion, requiring careful attention to the cultural elements embedded in the source text. Ahmad Fuadi’s novels, rich in Indonesian cultural and religious values, present unique challenges in translation. Despite the importance of cultural adaptation in literary translation, there has been limited research on how cultural nuances are adapted and how they impact cultural representation and translation quality. This study aims to fill the gap by analyzing the cultural adaptation strategies used in translating Fuadi’s novels and evaluating their impact on cultural representation and translation quality. A descriptive-qualitative method was applied, using textual and comparative analysis. Data were collected by comparing the Indonesian source texts with their English translations, supplemented by interviews with the translator and analysis of reader responses to strengthen contextual understanding. The findings showed that the translator employed several cultural adaptation strategies, including transference (29%), generalization (29%), literal translation (16%), descriptive equivalence (12%), and as well as other strategies occurring at less than 7% each. The applied strategies were generally effective in maintaining the essential messages of the source text while improving comprehension for the intended audience. Nevertheless, certain shifts in cultural representation were observed as a result of modifications made to accommodate the cultural background of target readers. The overall translation quality, assessed through the dimensions of accuracy, acceptability, and readability, was largely considered satisfactory, though specific sections fell short in accurately reflecting the cultural nuances of the source text. This research adds to the discourse on literary translation by underscoring the significance of deliberate cultural adaptation in achieving a balance between preserving cultural integrity and ensuring accessibility for readers across different cultural backgrounds.

Copyright

© 2026 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Luluk Ulfa Hasanah
AU  - Bramantya Pradipta
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/06/12
TI  - Adaptation of Cultural Nuances and Its Influence on Cultural Representation and Translation Quality in the Translation
BT  - Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on English Studies in Indonesia (ICONESIA 2025)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 85
EP  - 98
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-587-4_9
DO  - 10.2991/978-2-38476-587-4_9
ID  - Hasanah2026
ER  -