EL2J (English Language and Literature Journal)

Translation Analysis of Metaphors in Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women

2025-12-25T05:59:27SE Asia Standard Time

This study examines how metaphors are translated in Little Women by Louisa May Alcott and its two Indonesian translations, Gadis-gadis March and Istri-Istri yang Baik, applying Peter Newmark's metaphor translation procedures. The study also aims to discover the procedures used to convey metaphors from English into Indonesian and to analyze how these procedures affect the preservation of literary meaning and emotional depth. This study takes a qualitative descriptive approach, concentrating on chosen metaphorical terms from both the source and target texts. The study discovers that translators use a variety of procedures to maintain the clarity, accuracy, and literary quality of the text. Some metaphors are explicitly retained, while others are modified to fit Indonesian language and cultural contexts. The most procedure that is used is reproducing the same image in the target text with 12 data (45%). The findings also highlight the inherent challenge in metaphor translation, especially in literary texts where metaphorical language has great emotional and cultural value. This study helps to a better understanding of how metaphor translation shapes readers' perspectives while also retaining literary values.

Keywords: Metaphor; translation; Little Women; translation procedures.

Metaphorical Expressions of Mahmoud Darwish’s Poems

2025-12-25T05:59:29SE Asia Standard Time

This study examines the use of metaphor in five selected poems by Mahmoud Darwish through the lens of conceptual metaphor theory. The research aims to identify the types of metaphors and analyze their expressions in the poems. Using a qualitative descriptive approach, data were taken from English translations and analyzed based on Lakoff and Johnson’s (1980) categories of structural, orientational, and ontological metaphors. The analysis identified 37 metaphorical expressions, with ontological metaphors being the most dominant, reflecting Darwish’s way of presenting abstract concepts such as land, memory, and identity in tangible forms. Structural metaphors also appeared significantly, often linking natural imagery with cultural and existential meaning, while orientational metaphors, though less frequent, conveyed symbolic value in spiritual contexts. These findings confirm that metaphor in Darwish’s poetry functions not only as a stylistic feature but as a cognitive tool that transforms personal and collective experiences into vivid imagery. The study concludes that metaphors play a central role in Darwish’s poetic craft and demonstrates the usefulness of conceptual metaphor theory for literary analysis. Although limited to a small sample and translated texts, this research contributes to understanding figurative language in modern Arabic poetry and opens opportunities for broader and comparative studies.

DEFENSE MECHANISM IN A MAN CALLED OTTO: PSYCHOLOGICAL APPROACH

2025-12-25T05:59:32SE Asia Standard Time

This study analyzes the use of defense mechanisms by Otto Anderson, the main character in the film A Man Called Otto (2022), following the loss of his wife and his struggle to cope with grief and isolation. The focus is on how Otto’s behaviors reflect unconscious strategies used to manage emotional pain. The research applies Anna Freud’s theory of ego defense mechanisms, which identifies unconscious processes that protect individuals from psychological distress. These include denial, repression and the gradual emergence of emotional awareness known as realization. The study uses a Psychological Approach, with data collected through scene observation, dialogue analysis, and film script review. Key scenes were identified and categorized according to Anna Freud’s defense mechanism classifications. The findings reveal that Otto frequently uses denial and repression to avoid discussing or confronting his grief. He rejects help, isolates himself, and avoids emotional topics related to his late wife. Over time, through his connection with a new neighbor, he gradually begins to express care and rebuilds his relationship with life. This shift illustrates that while defense mechanisms initially shield Otto from emotional breakdown, they also prevent him from healing. It is through persistent human connection that Otto slowly moves toward acceptance. The film demonstrates that ego defenses can delay grief processing, but empathy and social support are essential for emotional recovery.

Voices of Manggarai: A Sociolinguistic Exploration of Dialectal Variations

2025-12-25T05:59:35SE Asia Standard Time

Abstract

This article examines the dialect variations of the Manggarai language spoken in West Manggarai, Central Manggarai, and East Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia. Using a sociolinguistic approach and a qualitative descriptive method, the study aims to identify the forms of dialect variations and to describe their functions in everyday communication. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with three informants representing each region. The findings reveal four main types of dialect variation: regional (geographic) dialects, social (sociolect) dialects, temporal dialects, and mixed (geosocial) dialects. Regional variations are reflected in differences in vocabulary and pronunciation of greetings, verbs, nouns, adjectives, and adverbs. Social dialects arise from differences in age, education, and social status, while temporal dialects illustrate generational vocabulary shifts. Mixed dialects appear due to interactions between speakers of different regional and social backgrounds. Furthermore, the study identifies four communicative functions of these dialects: interactional, personal, representational, and heuristic. These functions demonstrate that language variation serves not only as a tool for communication but also as a means of reinforcing identity, expressing emotions, conveying information, and acquiring new knowledge. The results contribute to sociolinguistic studies of Indonesian regional languages and highlight the importance of dialect documentation for cultural preservation and language education.

Keywords: Dialect, language variation, sociolinguistics

Representing Honesty through Signs: A Semiotic Analysis of Ipar Adalah Maut

2025-12-25T05:59:37SE Asia Standard Time

This study examines the representation of honesty in the Indonesian film Ipar Adalah Maut using Roland Barthes’ semiotic theory. It aims to identify verbal and non-verbal signs that signify honesty and interpret their denotative and connotative meanings, highlighting which meaning dominates audience perception. The study applied a qualitative descriptive method. Data were collected through repeated viewing, dialogue transcription, scene selection, screenshot documentation, and systematic coding of signs. The results show that honesty is expressed not only through dialogue but also through gestures, facial expressions, camera angles, and settings. Denotatively, honesty appears in scenes of confession and truth-telling; connotatively, it represents sincerity, emotional conflict, betrayal, and moral responsibility. The connotative meanings dominate the representation, showing how honesty operates as a moral and cultural value within Indonesian society.