ERRORS MADE IN GOOGLE TRANSLATE FROM INDONESIAN INTO ENGLISH

TRANSLATION OF DESCRIPTIVE TEXT

By: Dr. Mulyadi, M. A.1, Ana Theriana, M. Pd.2, Indra Yani
(UNIVERSITY OF PGRI PALEMBANG)
taqiratu@gmail.com, laganwijaya@gmail.com

Abstract
The main problem of this research was “what types of errors do Google translate make
in translating descriptive text from Indonesian into English?”. The objective of this research
as to find out what types of errors do Google translate make in translating descriptive from
Indonesian into English in handbook for seventh grade for junior high school. This research
was focus on the errors made in Google translate from Indonesian into English translation of
descriptive texts in handbook for seventh grade of junior high school, while the sub-focus
was the analysis types of errors in translating descriptive texts entitle “Kucing Persian” and
“Kelinci”.
The research used a descriptive qualitative method. The data were collected by using
document with examination of textbook. The object of this research was the descriptive texts
entitle “kucing Persia” and “kelinci”. The data consists of 27 sentences, it was found 15
sentences errors after the writer have been analyzed. Which were consist of 6 sentences were
blends errors, 2 sentences were addition errors, 2 sentences were misordering errors, 4
sentences were omission errors, and 1 seentence was misformation error.

Keywords: errors, translation, Google translate, descriptive text.

INTRODUCTION
Background
Language has the important role in
daily life. Human can send message and
express their feeling through the language.
We can use the language as communication
tool with other people. English is one of the
tools which can be used, because English is
an international language in this
globalization era. However, in Indonesia all
people do not know English, so they need the
translation of English.
Nowdays, translation is not difficult
activity because in globalization era we can
use the technology to translate the text. The
technology that almost used all people is the
internet. So through the internet, everyone
can get the information that they needed. The
internet provides Google as a search engine
to find the information that we need. Google
is not just a search engine that can help the
user found the link to website, but Google
also provide the machine translate. That calls
Google translate.
Google translate can help us to
translate the texts that we need, because
Google translate can translate the language
more than 50 languages. Students/ translators
know it and they ever try to use Google
translate. Because it can make their time be
effective and efficient in translating. Google
translate also very useful because it can
translate word, clause, phrase, sentences, and
text. So we just need connection the internet
to translate the text quickly.
However, Google translation does not
give accuracy its result. The statement is
supported by Maulidia (2017:p57) who states
that the result of translating by Google
translate is not perfect yet, that result is
needed revising. Google translate also has
limitation that it cannot translate a complex
sentence. In translating the texts, Google
translate cannot translate in good. Sometime
it is wrong in choosing a word and wrong in
arranging the sentence.
In addition, there are many students
use smartphone to translate their materials
using Google translate and its result is not
perfect. Moreover, the writer ever gets the
subject ‘translation’ and the lecturer asked to
use to Google translate to translate the text.
So from that assignment, the writer considers
that many errors Google translate made in
translation. Because of that experience, the
writer does the research about Google
translate.
Therefore, the writer is
interested in analyzing “THE
ERRORS MADE IN GOOGLE
TRANSLATE FROM
INDONESIAN INTO ENGLISH
TRANSLATIONS OF
DESCRIPTIVE TEXT.”
According to James (2013:77) “An
error arises only when there was no intention
to commit one. One cannot spot so-called
‘deliberate errors’ because they do not exist.
When a device is intentionally incorporated
into an instance of language. We do not say
it is erroneous, but deviant. Example: being
poctic language or an advertising jingle.”
According to James (2013:106-
107) there are five categories of
errors: omission, addition,
misordering, misformation, and
blends.
translation is needed to make someone
understand the meaning of the text.
According to Richards, et al (2010:610),
“translation is the process of rendering
written language that was produced in one
language (the source language) into another
(the target language), or the target language
version that result from this process.”
According to Karami cited in Ghasemi
and Hasemian (2016:p13-14), “Google
translate is a provide service translate
different written text from one language to
another and it provides translating 90
languages. It can translate not only a word,
but also a phrase, a section of the text, or a
web page. To translate a text, Google
translate search different documentaries to
find the best appropriate translation pattern
between translate text by human. This
pattern searching is called SMT. observing people as they go about their daily
Consequently, the quality of Google translate activities and recording what they do;
depend on the number of human translated conducting in-depth interviews with people
text searched by Google translate.” about their ideas, their opinions, and their
Descriptive text is a one of kinds the experience; and analyzing documents or
text. That statement is supported by Rahayu other forms of communication (content
and Rianto (2014:38), they state that analysis).
“descriptive text is a text that is describe a
thing base on experience using words.” First, the writer checked the
result of translation using by Google
RESEARCH PROCEDUR translate and wrote the correct
sentence. Second, the writer came to
The object in this research is errors the collage and asked the lecturers
made in Google translate from Indonesian about the result of translating. After
into English translations of descriptive text the lecturers gave a comment and
in a handbook for seventh grade of junior their opinion, the writer repairs it.
high school. In this research, the writer The last, the writer analyzed that
writes a descriptive qualitative research. texts and classified the type of errors.
According to Fraenkel (2011:426), “research
studies that investigate the quality of FINDING AND INTERPRETATON
relationship, activities, situations, or material
are frequently reffered to as qualitative This study consists of 27 sentences, after
research. analyzing errors in translation of descriptive
the data in this research get by the writer text entitle “Kucing Persia” and “Kelinci”,
from textbook passage. While the source the writer found 15 error sentences from 27
data get from a handbook for seventh grade sentences that have been analyzed. They are
of junior high school by Yanti Sri Rahayu omission, addition, misinformation,
and Tomi Rianto. misordering, and blends which are 6 blends
The writer uses document with the errors, 2 addition errors, 2 misordering
examination of textbook. It supported by errors, 4 omission errors and 1 misformation
Fraenkel (2011:445) who stated that error. To simply the understanding
qualitative research use three main
techniques to collect and analyze their data:
Source Language Target Language Type of error Comment
Kucing ras Persia Persian breeds, Blends Persian breed cats
termasuk kucing including long-haired (omission & addition) are included as long
berbulu panjang cats that are popular haired cats that are
digemari orang. with people. popular with people.
Wajahnya yang Its wide face, pug Addition Its wide face, pug
lebar, hidung yang nose, and long fur nose, and long fur
pesek, dan bulunya make this cat look make this cat look
ypanjang serta lebat cute and cute. cute and cuddly.
membuat kucing ini
terlihat lucu dan
imut-imut.
Kucing yang Cats that belong to Blends (omission & This cats, that are
termasuk ras atau purebred or pedigree misformation) included as purebred
pedigree ini berbeda cats are different from or pedigree cats are
dengan kucing angora cats. different from an
angora. angora cat.
Berdasarkan panjang Based on the length of Omission Based on the lenght
bulunya, kucing ras its fur, Persian cats of its fur, persian
Persia terdiri atas consist of two types, cats consist of two
dua tipe, yaitu namely Persian cats types, namely are
kucing berbulu with long haired and persian cat with long
panjang dan kucing short haired cats. haired and short
berbulu pendek. haired cats.
Berdasarkan variasi Based on the variation Omission Based on the
warna bulunya, of fur color, Persian variation of its fur
kucing ras Persia cats are divided into color, Persian cats
terbagi menjadi tujuh seven groups, namely are divided into
kelompok, yaitu solid color, silver and seven groups,
Solid color, silver golden division, haded namely are solid
and golden division, and smoke division, color, silver and
haded and smoke abby division, golden division,
division, abby particolor division, haded and smoke
division, particolor bicolor division, and division, abby
division, bicolor Himalayan division division, particolor
division, dan division, bicolor
Himalayan division. division, and
Himalayan division.
Di Indonesia, kucing In Indonesia, the Misordering In Indonesia, the
ras Persia cukup Persian cat breed is Persian breed cats
banyak pretty much bred are more widely bred
dikembangbiakan compared to other than other breed cats.
dibandingkan kucing breed cats
ras yang lain.
Hal ini mungkin This may be due to - -
disebabkan oleh the long and thick fur
bulunya yang and the calm, graceful
panjang dan tebal and spoiled character
serta sifatnya yang that characterizes the
tenang, anggun, dan Persian breed.
manjan yang
menjadi ciri khas
kucing ras Persia.
Kucing ras Persia Persian cats breed are Blends (omission, The Persian cats are
lebih mudah easier to breed, are addition, misordering) easier to be caged,
dikandangkan, relatively quiet, and quiet and more
relative tidak berisik, are more suitable to suitable to live
dan lebih cocok live indoors. indoors.
hidup didalam
rumah.
Kelinci adalah Rabbits are mammals Misordering A rabbit is a
hewan mamlia yang that come from the mammal that comes
berasal dari family family leporidae. from leporidae
leporidae. family.
Pada awalnya, At first, rabbits, Blends (omission & At first, rabbit are
kelinci termasuk including wild addition) included as wild
hewan liar yang animals that live in animal that live in
hidup di afrika dan Africa and mainland Africa and mainland
daratan eropa. Europe. Europe.
Secara umum, In general, rabbits are Omission In general, rabbits
kelinci terbagi divided into two are divided into two
menjadi dua jenis, types, namely wild types, namely are
yaitu kelinci liar dan rabbits and pet rabbits. wild rabbits and pet
kelinci peliharaan. rabbits.
Kelinci yang categorized as wild - -
termasuk jenis rabbits are the hare
kelinci liar adalah species (lepus
jenis terwelu (lepus curpaeums) and other
Curpaeums) dan wild rabbits
jenis kelinci liar lain (oryctolagus
(Oryctolagus cuniculus).
Cuniculus).
Di Indonesia, In Indonesia, most Addition In Indonesia, most
kebanyakan kelinci rabbits come from rabbits come from
berasal dari jenis local species local species (java
local (kelinci jawa (Javanese rabbits and and Sumatran
dan kelinci Sumatran rabbits). rabbits)
sumatera).
Kelinci jawa Java rabbits are - -
diperkirakan masih estimated to still live
banyak hidup di in the forests of West
hutan-hutan wilayah Java.
jawa barat.
Sementara itu, Meanwhile, the Omission Meanwhile, the
kelinci sumatera Sumatran rabbit is the south sumatran
selatan adalah satu- only native rabbit rabbits is the only
satunya ras kelinci breed in Indonesia. native rabbit breed in
asli Indonesia. Indonesia.
Habitatnya ada di The habitat is in the Blends Its habitat is in the
hutan dan forests and mountains (Missformation & forest and mountain
pegunungan pulau of the island of addition) of the Sumatra
sumatera. Sumatra. island.
Salah satu kelinci One of the rabbits Blends One kind of the pet
yang termasuk jenis included as kind is a (missformation & rabbits is an angora
kelinci peliharaan angora rabbit. addition) rabbit.
adalah kelinci
angora.
Kelinci angora Angora rabbit is a - -
merupakan jenis type of ornamental
kelinci hias dan rabbit and one of the
salah satu jenis oldest types of pet
kelinci peliharan rabbits.
tertua.
Kelinci ini memiliki This rabbit has long - -
bulu panjang dan and thick fur, similar
lebat, mirip dengan to Angora cat fur.
bulu kucing ras
angora.
Beberapa jenis Several types of Missformation Several types of
kelinci angora yang angora rabbits that are angora rabbits that
banyak dipelihara kept as pets are among are kept as pets are
diantaranya adalah the types of English, types of British,
jenis kelinci angora French, and Angora French and Giant
inggris, perancis, dan Giant Angora rabbits. angora rabbits.
angora giant.
Harga kelinci angora the price of adult - -
dewasa dapat angora rabbits can
mencapai tiga juta reach three million
rupiah tergantung rupiah depending on
jenis, ukuran, dan the type, size and
panjang bulunya. length of the fur.
Umur kelinci rata- The average age of a - -
rata berkisar 5 rabbit ranges from 5
sampai 10 tahun to 10 years depending
tergantung jenisnya. on the type.
Kelinci bereproduksi Rabbits reproduce - -
mulai sekitar umur 7 from around the age
bulan dengan masa of 7 months with a
 reproduksi 1 sampai reproduction period of
3 tahun. 1 to 3 years.
Masa kehamilannya The pregnancy period - -
sekitar 1 bulan. is about 1 month.
Rata-rata induk On average, a mother - -
kelinci dapat rabbit can give birth to
melahirkan 5 ekor 5 offspring in one
anak dalam sekali birth.
melahirkan.
Kelinci yang baru Newborn rabbits look - -
lahir terlihat sangat very weak because
lemah karena tidak they have no fur at all
memiliki bulu sama
sekali.
Bayi kelinci akan Baby rabbits will - -
tetap berada didalam remain in the nest
sarang sampai until about 1 month
berumur kira-kira 1 old.
bulan.

Based on the analyzing, the writer got the
interpretation of the study by finding errors
in descriptive texts entitle “Kucing Persia”
and “Kelinci”. The writer assumed that texts
have many errors in translating the texts by
Google translate. The errors happened such
as; addition, omission, misformation,
misordering, and blends. it divided two
addition, four omission, two misordering,
one misformation, and six blends.
The errors happened in translating
descriptive text by Google translate is still
understanbable about the meaning, because it
is not fatal mistake. The writer belive that
translating texts by Google translate is
acceptable. So the people can translate the
text easier and more efficient.
CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION
Conclusion
Based on result of data analysis and
discussion, the writer concluded that some
errors happened in translating descriptive
texts by Google translate. The writer found
some errors such as addition, omission,
misformation, misordering, and blends.
There were fourteen sentences
happened errors that writer found in result of
translating descriptive texts. Addition consist
of two sentences, omission consist of four
sentences, misordering consist of two
sentences, misformation consist of one
sentence, and blend consist of five sentences.
The writer realizes that translating the
text by using Google translate is not wrong
but reread its result to avoid the errors.
Besides that, the users of Google translate
could know type of errors that often
happened in translating descriptive texts.
Suggestion
Based on conclusion above, the writer
gives the suggestions as follows:
1. For Users of Google Translate
Users of Google translate must reread
its result and check before copying the
result of Google translate in order to
not much errors in translating the text.
2. For other researcher
The result of this study can be used as
a references in conducting research
related to the translation.
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James, C. (2013). Errors in Language Learning and Use: Exploring Error Analysis. New
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Maulida, Hidya. (2017). Persepsi Mahasiswa Terhadap Penggunaan Google Translate sebagai
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