The Impact of Translation Shifts on Translation Equivalence: A Linguistic Analysis

Abstract

Translation shifts play a crucial role in maintaining translation equivalence, as they allow translators to adapt linguistic structures while preserving meaning. This study examines the impact of translation shifts on translation equivalence using a qualitative descriptive method. Data were collected from the novel It Ends with Us through documentation and note-taking techniques. The findings reveal that various types of translation shifts; unit shifts, structural shifts, intra-system shifts, and class shifts significantly influence how meaning, emotional nuances, and sentence structures are conveyed in the target language. These shifts align with the principle of dynamic equivalence, ensuring that the message remains clear and comprehensible despite structural modifications. However, this study is limited to a single literary work, and further research is needed to explore the effects of translation shifts across different text genres and translation approaches. Future studies could also investigate the impact of cultural and ideological factors on translation decisions to provide a more comprehensive understanding of translation shifts and their role in cross-linguistic communication.