Figure of Speech

The definition and Kinds of Figure of Speech

Figure of speech shows an expression that uses language in a non literal way.  Kennedy (1979:487) stated that figures of Speech are not devices to state what is demonstrably untrue. Indeed they often state truths that more literal language can not communicate; they call attention to such truths; they lend them emphasis. According to Hicks (2007:92) there are kinds of Figures of Speech. They are Alliteration, Simile, Hyperbole, Assonance, Irony, Litotes, Metaphor, metonymy, Rhetoric, Synecdoche, Paradox, and Personification.

a.       Alliteration

Alliteration is a kind of figure of speech which has repetition of an initial sound in words into a sentence. Kennedy (1979:533) stated that alliteration occur in the repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of successive words. Example: I know where the nail is.

b.      Assonance

Assonance is like alliteration. The difference is assonance has repetition of a vowel sound in words into a sentence. Short (1996:111) stated that assonance is the term traditionally reserved for pattern of repetition between vowel sounds. Example: anytime, anywhere and easier.

c.       Hyperbole

Most of us, from time to time, emphasize a point with a statement containing exaggeration.  Hicks (2007:93) stated that hyperbole is obvious exaggeration. It is not literal truth but use figure of speech. Overstatement can be used also for humorous purposes. Example: I’ve told him a thousand times.

d.      Irony

Hicks (2007:93) told that irony is either making a point in words that mean literally the opposite or a condition in which a person seems mocked by fates or the facts. Example: you’re too quickly come here until the guests have gone all.

e.       Litotes

Litotes is a kind of figures of speech that has the opposite of hyperbole. Hicks (2007:93) stated that litotes is an understatement especially assertion by negation of the contrary. Example: I achieved not a little in a life.

f.       Metaphor

Metaphor is a statement that one thing is something else, which is literal sense, it is not. According to Kennedy (1979:490) in general, a simile refers to only one characteristic that two things have in common, while a metaphor is not plainly limited in the number of resemblances it may indicate. Example: Alexander is a fox

g.      Metonym

Metonymy is replacing the name of something by the name of related thing. Kennedy (2007:496) stated that the name of a thing is substituted for that on another closely associated with it. For instance, we say “the white house decided,” and the mean president did.

h.      Rhetoric

Rhetoric is a kind of figures of speech that shows a question. Lingga (2007:288) stated that rhetoric is a rhetorical question asked not to receive an answer, but to assert more emphatically obvious answer to what is asked. Example: you know what I mean, don’t you?

i.        Simile

When two things are compared using the words "like" or '"as," this is called a simile.  Kennedy (1979:497) stated that simile is a comparison of two things, indicated by some connective. Usually like, as, than or a verb such as resembles.  The things usually compared have to be dissimilar in kind for a simile. Example: the cigarette is like a murder.

j.        Synecdoche

Synecdoche is a kind of figure of speech that uses a part for whole of the part to tell a thing. Kennedy (1979:498) told that synecdoche is the use of a part of a thing to stand for the whole of it. Example: her hand can help my family.

k.      Paradox

According to Kennedy (1979:498) stated that paradox occurs in a statement that at first strikes us as self-contradictory but that on reflection makes some sense. Example: standing is more tired than walking.

l.        Personification

Kennedy (1979:496) told that such is one instance of personification: a figure of speech in which a thing, an animal, or an abstract term (truth, nature) is made human. Example: the bird runs faster



Astri Puji Lestari

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Problem in Translation

Problem Incorrigible in Translation

In this article, the writer tries to discuss some problems that usually be faced by the translator. There are doubts which were created by literally translating all words from the original version of source language. One of the most difficult problems in translating is found in the differences between cultures. Larson (1980:137) stated that the people of a given culture look at things from their own perspective. Many words which look like they are equivalent are not. Different cultures have different focuses. Some societies are more technical and less technical. If the source language text originates from a highly technical society, it may be much more difficult to translate it into the language of a nontechnical society.

When translate the text, the translator will face basic problems in translation. They are lexical, gramatical, and cultural. Lexical meaning is the first problem that faces by a translator when translates the text. In lexical change, polysemy planys an impotant role. Polysemy means the word not only has one meaning, always appear in doing translation especially in such a text. When a translator tries to transfer the message, he/she has to more pay attention in such words. http://www.articlesbase.com/science-articles/all-new-theories-and-concepts-about-translation-in-new-century-1774052.html. For example “bisa” in Indonesian word can be translate to English with much meaning. It can be “can, ability to do something” or “poison, a substance that when introduced into or absorbed by a living organism causes illness or death”. It depends on what the word is used as.

When translating the text, the translator  sometimes also found defficultes in translation. They are singular-plural nouns, aspects, gender. In Indonesian language there is no the indicator of singular or plural nouns.  For example “mobil” in Indonesia word means “car”, it is a singular noun. And then “mobil-mobil” as a plural noun can not be “car-car”, but it becomes “cars”. In English there is no meaning of “car-car”. So, the translator has to know grammatical structure of source language text. If the translators wrongly put a word in their translation, it will make their translation has wrong meaning.

The next problem is culture. As said by Larson (1989:3) that translation is the study of lexical aspects of the language, and its communicative and cultural context and Julian House (2009:11) in his book “Translation” said that translation is not only a linguistic act; it is also a cultural one, an act of communication across culture. A translator has to consider not only the two languages but also the two cultures. When the translator  translates the text that each has two different language structure, the translator must understand the social and cultural aspects of the source language and the receptor language. When the translator found a word that can not be translated into English, the translator will describe about that word. For example “rendang”, there is no meaning in Indonesian-English dictionary. So, the translate will describe about “rendang”. The description of “rendang” is traditional food made ​​of meat cooked with coconut milk and spices. The translator have to know more about tranditional thing. It will make the translator  easy to get the meaning of word.

 Astri Puji Lestari
4 SA 03
14609862