A Cross-Cultural Comparative Analysis of Indonesian and English Proverbs: Paremiology and Translation Equivalence
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46961/mediasi.v7i2.2046Keywords:
Proverb Translation, Intercultural Communication, Qualitative Analysis, Functional Equivalence, MKITSAbstract
This study explores the cultural values embedded in Indonesian and English proverbs through a cross-cultural comparative analysis, addressing a phenomenon that has received limited attention within translation frameworks. A total of thirty proverb pairs with equivalent meanings were selected and classified using the Matti Kuusi International Type System (MKITS), focusing on social life themes. The data were collected from proverb dictionaries, academic sources, online databases, and native speakers. Qualitative content analysis is employed to explore thematic patterns, cultural meanings, and type of equivalence between Indonesian and English proverbs. The findings indicate that equivalence operates primarily at the functional type and pragmatic levels rather than through formal or structural similarity. Many Indonesian proverbs employ indirect and nature-based imagery while several English equivalents express meanings more directly and situationally. Functional and partial equivalence appear most frequently, suggesting that proverb translation often requires cultural adaptation rather than literal transfer. The analysis also shows that some proverbs cannot achieve full equivalence due to differences in metaphorical structure, cultural association and communicative nuance. Rather than making broad cultural generalizations, this study identifies tendencies within the selected data regarding how Indonesian and English proverbs represent social life and moral values. By combining MKITS thematic classifications with equivalence analysis, this present study offers a structured approach to examining cross-cultural proverb translation and highlights the importance of cultural context in interpreting proverbial meaning across language.
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