TRANSLATION OF POLITICAL METAPHORS IN TEMPO.CO EDITORIALS: ITS TRANSLATION TECHNIQUES AND MEANING SHIFTS

This study examines political metaphors in Tempo.co editorial texts related to corruption and electoral fraud from October 2024 to February 2025, focusing on metaphor types, translation techniques, and meaning shifts. It applied a qualitative descriptive method using content analysis. Based on Lakoff and Johnson’s (2003) theory, 107 metaphorical expressions were identified, consisting of 54 structural metaphors, 47 ontological metaphors, and 6 orientational metaphors. Based on Molina and Albir’s (2002) theory of translation techniques, the study identified 11 translation techniques, which are consist of single and double techniques, resulting 135 instances. Modulation was the most frequently used, appearing in 43 instances, followed by established equivalent with 34 instances, and amplification with 26 instances. The least frequently used techniques appear in adaptation and various combined forms, such as discursive creation & amplification, borrowing & amplification, and transposition & modulation, each occurring only once. According to Nida and Taber’s (1975) theory of meaning shifts, no shift in meaning was the most frequent, with 43 instances, followed by skewing of information with 36 instances, loss of information with 17 instances, gain of information with 11 instances. The findings indicated that established equivalent and literal translation were effective in maintaining semantic accuracy, while reformulative techniques such as modulation often reduced or altered the original meaning. This study highlighted the importance of selecting appropriate translation techniques to achieve a balance between fidelity to the source text and communicative effectiveness in political editorial discourse.