When given a "duty" to write down the process of becoming a translator by Mr. Sugeng, I suddenly remembered my experience when SD. No direct relationship was, but when I browse maybe it could be one embryo my interest in the world of translation and writing. When I was in third grade at a private school in a small town in the district of Malang. If you recall I also had to wonder how in a small school like that I can find and read the works of extraordinary literary. One is the "Little Prince" by French writer, St Antoine de Exuperry. There was also the time comes, how good could read the works of the world through the translation. But of course it never occurred to my childhood to become a translator!
Love of the language that has been germinating since the small, especially when high school. At the moment my friends are confused to major in Physics (IPA now), I am desperately trying to get into the majors Culture (Now Language). Apparently I'm not mistaken choice, I also still have not even crossed the shadows to plunge into the world of translation. I still remember very well, as the final time I tried to translate the readings in the textbook English into Indonesian.
Short stories, I entered the Department of Education English Language Teachers' Training College Malang (Now UM) in 1993. Options entered in Malang IKIP actually not to be a translator. That crossed my mind at that time was that I was able to learn in an informal theater from the figures that there. While the considerations to take English is the desire to read books of literature and the humanities in general from original (or at least not from the Indonesian translation).
In college that I became acquainted with the translation as a profession. Once upon a time I was helping a friend who opens translation bureau in boarding-kosannya. Sometimes I also asked for help fellow campus activists to translate their tasks. But all that I have done in passing. Often the rates I charge was only a "friendship fare". Besides,, Sometimes I also write for the campus newspaper. Actually, when it got a year pass, I had wanted to be a journalist. Even now sometimes I still invited to fill in journalism training workshop or. That opportunity could come true. A friend of the Jawa Pos Radar Banyuwangi agency offering vacancies to be a journalist, but should be ready in 24 jam. Apparently fate was not in favor of me. Due to various considerations (of which must accompany the ensemble I directed to Surabaya) I would not want to have to turn it down.
"One door closes another door opens,"So the words of a movie that I forgot the title and the star. True it seems that God often opens the way we never thought before. Really I admit just how arrogant and stupid I do not know how to be grateful. I feel lucky because there are people who remind me to live realistically without being pragmatic. Is a Setyono Wahyudi, I knew in the publisher IKIP, remind me to balance the spiritual life and my artistic ideals with material life. He advised me to "apply" to be a translator at the Translation Bureau Adiloka. Previously I only knew briefly with Adiloka pack which I also knew in the publisher IKIP. Apparently he received me gladly, I even properly guided in the process of being a translator. Not infrequently he and his family give input, not just a matter of translation but also my personal life. In September 1999 is the beginning of my plunge into the world of professional translation. In Translation Bureau Adiloka I wrestle with a variety of academic texts, and then also a bridge to translate books.
Being a translator appears to have a wide range of challenges for me so charming. I had to fight "mengakrabi" words and "against" poverty languages. Paradox "pengintiman" and "resistance" is sometimes must overcome to be a lie, especially when translating literature. Sometimes we have to choose so many choice words for the final, which we consider to be the best. Sometimes we have to create. Sometimes we have to lie to just grasp the meaning or nuance. But like art, which they say is a lie the holy, also sometimes translated works have defected to indicate purity. And is not it also the Holy Bisma? Sprott also not willing to burn the holy fire? This sort of thing I've ever experienced while translating the book Deepak Chopra (somehow hitherto published) which contains the spiritual poems of Rumi, Hafiz and the like. So did when translating a manuscript drama and short stories of Hemingway, The Fifth Column. For example, the, if not false name when translating the Spanish-speaking English haltingly, then I translate as people who stutter speak Dutch Indonesia . What is also not lie translates Ubermensch (dalam filsafat Nietzsche) which in English translates Superman, but both have different meanings nunasa. Even when I finally chose to translate it into superhuman, I remain unconvinced that word truly embodies the concept of the desired Nietzsche. While the experience of overcoming poverty I experienced language especially when translating texts of philosophy. There are times when we have to give up to avoid confusion of thought. When I translate the word know in social philosophy, I finally had to sort out when the word is meaningless,: know, know, understanding and so.
Translating the book often provides its own pleasure for me, beyond the things that are financially. I feel happy and proud to be able to translate the book Theatre of the Absurd Martin Esslin work (even now the script swayed destiny), because I'm sure it will be very useful for "my family" in the world of theater.
Finally, I also got acquainted with international translation via the Internet. I thought the world as a jungle silence before words turned out fun, too.. My introduction to the translation portals on the internet has made me realize that I am not alone in this jungle. In it I met many "creature" with a variety of temperament and the "miracle". Eventually I know I will not go into the jungle never regret it. As Robert Frost said:
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
(Dari The Road Not Taken).
Poor, 4-5 March 2005
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