Lexical and Cultural Nuances in Arabic–Indonesian Translation: Strategies for Novice Translators
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37680/aphorisme.v6i1.7596Keywords:
Arabic–Indonesian Translation, Lexical Challenges, Novice Translators, Translation StrategiesAbstract
This study explores the lexical and cultural challenges faced by novice translators in Arabic–Indonesian translation, a field that remains relatively underexplored despite its significant pedagogical relevance. The primary aim of this research is to identify common types of translation difficulties and to analyze the strategies employed by novice translators to address them. Utilizing a qualitative case study approach, data were collected from 15 fifth-semester students of the Arabic Language Education Program at the State Islamic Institute (IAIN) of Kerinci, who were enrolled in a translation course. Data were gathered through translation tasks, reflective journals, and semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis was employed to identify recurring patterns of difficulties and strategies consistently observed during the translation process. The analysis revealed that major translation difficulties stemmed from the morphological complexity of Arabic, syntactic differences, semantic ambiguity, and cultural-linguistic gaps between Arabic and Indonesian. Three key patterns of difficulty were identified: misinterpretation of polysemous words, literal translation of idiomatic expressions, and loss of cultural meaning in context-bound terms. While most participants relied on literal translation and simplification strategies, they generally lacked adequate strategic awareness. Based on these findings, the study proposes a learner-centered contextual strategy model integrating explicit grammar instruction, contrastive Arabic–Indonesian analysis, and meaning-based scaffolding. This model is designed to support novice translators in producing more accurate, context-sensitive, and culturally appropriate translations. The study contributes to the pedagogical development of Arabic–Indonesian translation studies by highlighting learner needs and offering practical solutions relevant to the early stages of language acquisition.
References
Akmaliyah, A. (2016). Model dan Teknik Penerjemahan Kalimat Bahasa Arab ke dalam Bahasa Indonesia. Al-Tsaqafa: Jurnal Ilmiah Peradaban Islam, 16(1), 125–134. https://doi.org/10.15575/al-tsaqafa.v13i01.1836
Alfatih, A. (2019). Buku Pedoman Mudah Melaksanakan Penelitian Kualitatif. 48–61.
Alluhaybi, M. (2024). Lost in translation: Error Analysis of Texts Translated from Arabic into English by Saudi Translators. Frontiers in Education, 13, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2024.1428690
Amilya, A., & Yul, W. (2025). Analyzing Vocabulary Learning Through the Lens of Students ’ Learning Styles : A Framework for Arabic Language Teaching. Jurnal Shaut Al Arabiyah, 13(1), 88–102.
Andrian, R., & Yul, W. (2023). Arabic Teaching Efficacy Model (ATEM): A Language Teaching Model Design. International Journal of Arabic-English Studies, 23(2), 369–384. https://doi.org/10.33806/ijaes.v23i2.468
Arifatun, N. (2012). Kesalahan Penerjemahan Teks Bahasa Indonesia ke Bahasa Arab Melalui Google Translate (Studi Analisis Sintaksis). Journal of Arabic Learning and Teaching, 2(1), 1–6. http://journal.unnes.ac.id/sju/index.php/laa
Aziza, L. F., & Muliansyah, A. (2020). Keterampilan Berbahasa Arab dengan Pendekatan Komprehensif. El-Tsaqafah : Jurnal Jurusan PBA, 19(1), 56–71. https://doi.org/10.20414/tsaqafah.v19i1.2344
Creswell, J. W. (n.d.). Research Design Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches.
Doherty, S. (2016). The Impact of Translation Technologies on the Process and Product of Translation. International Journal of Communication, 10, 947–969.
Hanifah, U. (2018). Urgensi Pembelajaran Menerjemah Arab-Indonesia pada Perguruan Tinggi Agama Islam di Indonesia. Alfazuna: Jurnal Pembelajaran Bahasa Arab dan Kebahasaaraban, 2(2), 204–219. https://doi.org/10.15642/alfazuna.v2i2.259
Harahap, K. A. (2014). Analisis Kesalahan Linguistik Hasil Terjemahan Mesin Terjemah Google Translate dari Teks Bahasa Arab ke dalam Bahasa Indonesia. Jurnal Penelitian Agama, 15(1), 26–43. https://doi.org/10.24090/jpa.v15i1.2014.pp26-43
Hensa Utama, M. A. (2021). Analisis Teknik Penerjemahan Bahasa Arab ke Bahasa Indonesia dalam Ceramah Habib Umar bin Hafidz. Al-Tsaqafa : Jurnal Ilmiah Peradaban Islam, 18(2), 191–200. https://doi.org/10.15575/al-tsaqafa.v18i2.13184
Herba, N. T., Pasaribu, A. K., & Fadilah, H. (2025). Analisis Tantangan Penerjemah dalam Menerjemahkan Teks Bahasa Arab di Era Modern. 9, 2912–2921.
Istiqomah, F., & Basthomi, Y. (2024). Exploring Nominalization and Lexical Density Deployed with in Research Article Abstracts: A Grammatical Metaphor Analysis. Englisia: Journal of Language, Education, and Humanities, 11(2), 14. https://doi.org/10.22373/ej.v11i2.20390
Istiqomah, S. N., Salsabila, S., Shaqil, S. A., Al Farisi, M. Z., & Supriadi, R. (2024). Strategi Penerjemahan Bahasa Indonesia – Arab terhadap Kualitas Penerjemahan. Aphorisme: Journal of Arabic Language, Literature, and Education, 5(1), 407–415. https://doi.org/10.37680/aphorisme.v5i1.6700
Khoiriyah, H. (2020). Kualitas Hasil Terjemahan Google Translate dari Bahasa Arab ke Bahasa Indonesia. Al Mi’yar: Jurnal Ilmiah Pembelajaran Bahasa Arab dan Kebahasaaraban, 3(1), 127. https://doi.org/10.35931/am.v3i1.205
Ma’mur, I. (2007). Proses Penerjemahan : Deskripsi Teoretik. Al Qalam, 24(3), 421–437. https://jurnal.uinbanten.ac.id/index.php/alqalam/article/view/1666
Munip, A. (2019). Tantangan dan Prospek Studi Bahasa Arab di Indonesia. Al Mahāra: Jurnal Pendidikan Bahasa Arab, 5(2), 301–316. https://doi.org/10.14421/almahara.2019.052.08
Nadhifah, D. (2023). Penerjemahan Kalimat Idiomatis dalam Al-Qur’an: Studi atas Al-Qur’an dan Terjemahannya Kementerian Agama Republik Indonesia Edisi Penyempurnaan 2019. Suhuf, 16(2), 291–319. https://jurnalsuhuf.kemenag.go.id/suhuf/article/view/881
Nofiyani, L. D., Kosasih, A., & Nugraha, T. C. (2024). Metode dan Strategi Penerjemahan Bahasa Arab ke Bahasa Indonesia pada Subtitle Film “ Ar Risalah .” Jurnal Yudistira: Publikasi Riset Ilmu Pendidikan dan Bahasa, 2(4), 519–532.
Nuraini, N., Setyawan, C. E., Hanun, A., Rauhillah, S., & Alribdi, N. I. (2024). Arabic Language Immersion Models in Indonesian Islamic Universities: A Phenomenological Multi-Campus Study. Ta’lim Al-’Arabiyyah: Jurnal Pendidikan Bahasa Arab & Kebahasaaraban, 9(1), 110–125.
Perdana, D. H. (2017). Strategi Penerjemahan Bahasa Arab. Jurnal Bahasa Lingua Scientia, 9(1), 14–18.
Putri Nadira Sandra, Farhatul Fadhilah, Sahkholid N. (2024). Strategi Efektif dalam PembalajaranTerjemahan Bahasa Arab untuk Pemula. 03(02), 130–140.
Rafsanjani, T., & Handican, R. (2023). Systematic Literature Review : Pengaruh Bahasa Arab terhadap Perkembangan Bahasa Indonesia. Al-Waraqah Jurnal Pendidikan Bahasa Arab, 4(1), 42–53. https://doi.org/10.30863/awrq.v4i1.3854
Rokib, M., Sodiq, S., & Mudzakkir, M. (2023). New Arabic Loanwords in Indonesian Dictionary. Ijaz Arabi :Journal of Arabic Learning, 6(2), 526–535. https://doi.org/10.18860/ijazarabi.v6i2.21090
Ruhmadi, A., & Al Farisi, M. Z. (2023). Analisis Kesalahan Morfologi Penerjemahan Arab–Indonesia pada ChatGPT. Aphorisme: Journal of Arabic Language, Literature, and Education, 4(1), 55–75. https://doi.org/10.37680/aphorisme.v4i1.3148
Setiadi, S. (2017). Penerjemahan Arab-Indonesia.
Setyawan, C. E., Zulaeha, Z., Rauhillah, S., & Mu’at, M. (2025). Analisis Penerjemahan Indonesia-Arab Google Translate dan CHAT-GPT di Tinjau dari Linguistik Struktural dan Semantik. Bilingua, 2(2), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.33752/bilingua
Shalihah, S. (2017). Terjemah Bahasa Arab Antara Teori dan Praktik. At-Ta’dib, 12(2), 183. https://doi.org/10.21111/at-tadib.v12i2.1144
Subarkah, G. M., & Lesmana, M. (n.d.). Various Problems and Solutions in Translating Between Arabic and Indonesian. Journal of Social Research, 1, 1–10.
Suyuti, H. muh. (2023). Buku Teknik Menerjemah Bahasa Arab (Contoh dan Praktik).
Syam, M. N., Isnaini, R. L., Rohmah, L., & Sa’adah, S. N. (2023). The Analysis of Google Translate Translation Error from Indonesian to Arabic and Tips for Using It /Analisis Kesalahan Terjemahan Google Bahasa Indonesia-Arab dan Tips Penggunaannya. Ijaz Arabi Journal of Arabic Learning, 6(1), 247–257. https://doi.org/10.18860/ijazarabi.v6i1.16299
Tao, D. (2024). Study of Translation Strategies for University Students’ English Language Learning in China. Journal of Education and Educational Research, 9(3), 245–257. https://doi.org/10.54097/t0t7be08
Vula, E., & Tyfekçi, N. (2024). Navigating Non-Literal Language: The Complexities of Translating Idioms Across Cultural Boundaries. Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, 13(2), 284–307. https://doi.org/10.36941/ajis-2024-0049
Widiya yul, R. A. (2024). Indonesia Muslims and Arabic Language: Leaves and Linght in the Realm of Relinguistics. 10(1), 20–43.
Yul, W., & Aflisia, N. (n.d.). Tanwin Al-Biah fi Ma’had Nurul Haq Semurup Kerinci. Ihya Al-Arabiyah : Jurnal Pendidikan Bahasa dan Sastra Arab, 28–44.
Yul, W., Aflisia, N., & Andrian, R. (2022). Istikhdam Al-Ta’allum Al-Iliktruniy li Ta’lim Al- Lughah Al-Arabiyah fi Madrasah Al-Tsanawiyah Al-Hukumiyah 1 Kerinci. Lisanul Arab: Journal of Arabic Learning, 11(2), 80–95.
Yul, W., Andrian, R., Musthofa, A., & Fitri Rozianie, J. (2022). Assessing Arabic Speaking Skills: A Critical Study for Implementation of Final Examination in Indonesia. Izdihar : Journal of Arabic Language Teaching, Linguistics, and Literature, 5(2), 151–166. https://doi.org/10.22219/jiz.v5i2.22294
Yul, W., Rofingah, U., Muhlasin, M., Andrian, R., & Rozanie, J. F. (2023). Unlocking the Secret to Arabic Fluency: Exploring the Critical Role of Language Environment in Maximizing Arabic-Speaking Outcomes. Arabi : Journal of Arabic Studies, 8(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.24865/ajas.v8i1.584
Zhao, M. (2023). Teaching Translation: Challenges and Strategies. Studies in Linguistics and Literature, 7(3), 59–64. https://doi.org/10.22158/sll.v7n3p59
Zuhron, Z. (2023). Strategi Penerjemahan Teks Bahasa Indonesia Bernuansa Budaya ke dalam Bahasa Inggris: Studi pada Penerjemahan Bahasa Inggris Novel Terjemahan Bumi Manusia dan Ronggeng Dukuh Paruk. 1–58.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Dera Asmilia, Widiya Yul, Riko Andrian
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.
.jpg)
