Translation Quality of Swear Words: A Case Study of The Wolf of Wall Street Movie Subtitle

This thesis investigates the translation quality of swear words in the Indonesian subtitles of the film "The Wolf of Wall Street." Effective translation of swear words goes beyond literal accuracy and requires consideration of cultural context and audience impact. Employing a qualitative research method, the study analyzes how translators navigated the challenges of translating swear words. Data is gathered through a close examination of the swear words in the subtitle of the movie. Drawing on Chesterman's (2000) framework of semantic strategies, the research explores how translators achieved meaning equivalence. This includes analyzing strategies like compensation (finding culturally equivalent expressions), explicitation (adding details for clarity), and reduction (omitting elements). Furthermore, the research examines the linguistic units (Meyer, 2009) employed in translating the swear words. Analyzing swear words within sentences, phrases, or as single words provides a deeper understanding of their intended meaning and function. Finally, the thesis evaluates the translation quality using a framework proposed by Nababan et al. (2012). This framework analyzes the accuracy and readability. Through this comprehensive approach, the study aims to contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the challenges and achievements in translating swear words in film subtitles. The research findings can be valuable for translators working on similar films, as well as for anyone interested in the intersection of language, culture, and the impact of swear words in film dialogue.
Keywords: translation quality, swear words, the wolf of wall street, movie subtitles, semantic strategies, linguistic units