Translation Orientations in Japanese-Indonesian Anime Subtitling: A Comparative Study of Muse Indonesia and Bstation in New Game!!

Muh. Namli Maulana; Kasmawati Kasmawati

doi:10.69908/habhs504

Authors

Muh. Namli Maulana Universitas Hasanuddin
Kasmawati Kasmawati Universitas Hasanuddin https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9161-6799 (unauthenticated)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.69908/habhs504

Keywords:

audiovisual translation, anime subtitling, subtitle orientations, semantic fidelity, contextual adaptation

Abstract

This study analyzed subtitle orientations in the Indonesian subtitles of New Game!! episodes 1–3 produced by Muse Indonesia and Bstation. The study aimed to examine how different subtitle orientations reflected contextual adaptation, semantic transfer, and subtitle readability in Japanese-Indonesian audiovisual translation. This study employed a descriptive qualitative approach. The data consisted of 49 subtitle segments showing differences in lexical choice, subtitle rendering, contextual interpretation, or translation strategy between the two subtitle versions. The data were collected through repeated viewing, transcription, comparison, and classification of Japanese dialogue and corresponding Indonesian subtitle renderings. The findings demonstrated that Muse Indonesia generally prioritized communicative readability, emotional accessibility, and contextual naturalness through more audience-oriented subtitle renderings. In contrast, Bstation tended to preserve semantic meaning, source-language elements, and Japanese cultural nuances more directly. The findings also showed that subtitle translation involved pragmatic adaptation, semantic negotiation, cultural and contextual adaptation, and audience-oriented communication within audiovisual translation constraints. Overall, the study demonstrated that different subtitle orientations resulted in variations in the rendering of semantic, contextual, interpersonal, and cultural meanings in Japanese-Indonesian anime subtitling. The findings suggest that future comparative studies of anime subtitling should consider how semantic, pragmatic, and cultural factors interact with the communicative constraints of audiovisual translation.

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