RESEARCH METHODOLOGY PREPARED FOR: PROF. MADYA DR. MOHD. SALLEHHUDIN ABD. AZIZ PREPARED BY: NUR ATIKA LAILA ZAINAL A141131

TITLE HARRY POTTER & THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS: THE ORIGINAL VS THE TRANSLATION

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY A good translation must achieve the same intent in the target text as the source did. The American poet and critic Robert Frost had once said; “Poetry is what gets lost in translation” (Shi Aiwei, 2005, Translatum Journal). This research mainly focuses on the second Harry Potter novel in English language, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and its translation in Malay, Harry Potter dan Bilik Rahsia.

PROBLEM STATEMENT The translated versions of English literary works always have some major differences with the original. The problem lies in the competency of translators in the translation field as well as several factors regarding the text itself. This research aims to see how the cultural elements in the book were translated & how the translation is considered as acceptable or if it’s not, in what ways can it be improved.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES Purpose: To compare the original text with the translated text. Objectives: Investigate if the translation of the selected English work is acceptable the way it is or can be further improved. Identify if the cultural elements in the original work are thoroughly preserved in the translation or adapted into the target language.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS In what ways the translation text of the selected English novel can be considered as acceptable or if not, is it possible to be improved? How does the translator translate the cultural elements in the book into the target language?

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY To create awareness on the inadequacy of truly skillful translators in this country as well as attracting the interest of people towards the original works. As for the translated versions, it is done so that some people would be able to understand it better. The study can be utilised by students majoring in translation or literature studies, and other Harry Potter scholars. This research may also be useful for students who want to do a related research on the books or translation.

SCOPE Inspired by an article in the The Star Online about several literary works being translated without the proper context and understanding of the books (Edward Is No Pontianak, 2010). The scope of this study is to analyse and compare the book Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and the translated version, Harry Potter dan Bilik Rahsia. This research will be using references from books, journals and online articles.

LIMITATIONS This research is limited only to Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and its translated version, Harry Potter dan Bilik Rahsia. There are few specific and prominent researches conducted on the subject matter, especially in the English-Malay translation. Most of the references are not easy to attain, because most of them focus on the literature point of view and other languages than Malay.

LITERATURE REVIEW Lee (2010) stated that there are not many decent translation of English books to Malay, and that is regrettable because if there are more good work of translation, we would have more options on what to read. Translation is a way for Malaysian readers to broaden their range of knowledge, as well as improving the reading habits of Malaysian society today. There are several translation methods present in the translated version of the book. e.g., Transference; a word in the source language is transferred in its original form into the target language.

Categories of Culture. There are five categories of culture from the perspective of translation (Tengku Sepora, 2006): i.universal culture ii.religious culture iii.social culture iv.academic culture v.legal culture. For Harry Potter books, there are three representations of cultures which are religious, social and academic.

Problem in Translation In terms of the text itself, some of the huge challenges would definitely be in translating the cultural elements, written accents, dialogues, idioms and jokes. A translation is considered successful when readers are able to understand and get the feel of it as would the readers in the original language. Rubel and Rosman (2003) said that one should identify with the person in the source language, understand his or her customs, manner of thought, and means of expression.

Theoretical Framework Newmark (1995) stated that a translator should have sensitivity to both mother tongue and foreign language as well as being competent to write the target language clearly, economically and resourcefully. This study will compare the original book with the translated version, and whether the cultural elements in the source text is successfully transferred to the translated text.

METHODOLOGY This research is a secondary type of research, by gaining the data through library research. It involves analyzing the selected books to achieve the objectives of the study that will be revealed in later chapter. The examining of texts takes the form of close textual reading. Through close textual reading, the relevant textual qualities will be exposed.

QUALITATIVE RESEARCH. The research instrument used is the novel Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and the translated version, Harry Potter dan Bilik Rahsia, by J.K. Rowling. Read the Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and its translated version Harry Potter dan Bilik Rahsia. The comparison is shown in the form of tables, taking several sentences or paragraphs to see the methods employed by the translator in order to translate it.

REFERENCES Rubel, Paula G. and Rosman, Abraham. (2003). Translation and Anthropology. Translating Cultures. Rowling, J.K. (1998). Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Rowling, J.K. (2002). Harry Potter dan Bilik Rahsia. Roy-Seifert, Utta. (1993). The Translator’s Responsibility Towards the Author of an Original Text and Towards the Readers of the Translation. Newmark, Peter. (1995). A Textbook of Translation. Tengku Sepora Tengku Mahadi and Mohamed Abdou Moindjie. (2006). Text- Wise in Translation. Lee, Daphne. (2010). Edward is no Pontianak, from &sec=lifebookshelf Grossman, Edith. (2010). Why Translation Matters.