English Politeness Markers and Translation Ideology

Abstract

This article discusses politeness markers in English found in King Solomon’s Mines novel and their translated version in Pependeman Nabi Sulaeman. This presents the result of an investigation on the politeness markers and the translation techniques used in meaning transfer. The main focus is to find out the translation ideology of the translator in this translating the English politeness markers from the novel. In analyzing the politeness markers, the taxonomy of the politeness structure of the House and Kasper added by terms of address is applied, while the translation techniques proposed by Molina & Albir are used to find out the translation techniques exercised by the translator. From 645 politeness markers, terms of address and downtoners are most frequently used by 45% and 22% respectively. While the most dominating translation techniques exercised are a deletion, established equivalence and variation with the percentages of 53, 16, and 15. It can be summed up that in the novel honorific markers are used to show politeness, while from the translation techniques used, it can be seen that the translator is keen on implementing the domestication translation ideology.