Translation Techniques of Proper Names in the Novel Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh (2022)

Abstract

Translation plays a crucial role in cross-cultural communication. With increasing globalization, the demand for translation, including that of fiction genres like fantasy, is growing. One challenge in translating fantasy fiction is translating proper names so they sound natural in the target language. While proper name translation has been explored in other genres, research specific to fantasy literature especially Korean fantasy remains limited. This study addresses this gap by analyzing the translation techniques used for 70 proper names in Axie Oh's 2022 fantasy novel, The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, and its 2023 Indonesian translation by Airien Kusumawardani. Employing a qualitative methodology, the research draws upon Newmark's (1988) classification of proper name types and Molina and Albir's (2002) framework of translation techniques. The analysis reveals a predominance of people’s names, followed by geographical terms and names of objects. Borrowing, particularly for character names, emerged as the most frequently used strategy. Established equivalents the second most common technique, followed by amplification, variation, and couplets, where multiple techniques were strategically combined.