Analysis of Students’ Error in Translating Idioms from English to Indonesia made by Sixth Semester of English Department Students at The University of Borneo Tarakan

Abstract

This study investigates students’ errors in translating idiomatic expressions from English into Indonesian among sixth-semester students of the English Education Department at the University of Borneo Tarakan. It also examines the factors contributing to these errors. Employing a descriptive qualitative approach, the study involved students with basic English proficiency levels. Data were collected through translation tests, document analysis, and semi-structured interviews. The findings reveal that students encounter considerable difficulties in interpreting idiomatic expressions, primarily due to limited linguistic knowledge, cultural differences between English and Indonesian, and stylistic constraints. These challenges are largely attributed to students’ unfamiliarity with idiomatic usage, difficulties in identifying appropriate equivalents, and limited exposure to idioms in both spoken and written contexts. The complexity of meaning embedded in idiomatic expressions further exacerbates these translation errors. The study underscores the importance of enhancing learners’ idiomatic competence and cultural awareness in translation instruction. It recommends that educators integrate idiomatic expressions more systematically into language learning activities to improve students’ translation accuracy and communicative competence.