THE RUDE DURYUDANA AND THE TRICKY SENGKUNI

Abstract

This paper discusses the work of a foreign translator in rendering a wayang
performance entitled “Pandawa Boyong” simultaneously from Javanese to English. Wayang translation is brand new way to introduce Javanese culture to foreigners as well as to sustain its existance among people with modern lifestyles. One of the aspects translated in a wayang performance is the personalities of each characters. The translation will only convey the same effect as the original if the translator is expert in both, language and culture of Javanese and English. Each character has different personalities recognized from their speech acts and the tones as well as the gestures made by the dalang. Accordingly, the translator has to render the same speech acts as in the source language and consider the nonverbal language to create the same character.

Key words: Wayang, Simultaneous Translation, Speech acts, Sengkuni.