A STUDY OF THE TRANSLATION OF GOOGLE TRANSLATE: AN ERROR ANALYSIS OF THE TRANSLATION OF ELIZA RILEY’S RETURN TO PARADISE

Abstract

This study is intended to analyze errors made by Google Translate in translating
Eliza Riley’s Return to Paradise short story. The method is qualitative descriptive.
The data are collected by comparing the translation of Google Translate with that
of a professional translator. The errors are analyzed based on Mossop’s revision
parameters. The findings show that Google Translate failed to recognize idiomatic
expressions which caused fatal errors in the target text; errors in word choice that
caused word translated out of context; and illogical sentence at the target text
caused by cultural difference. As a conclusion, Google Translate may be useful to
help translate few words, phrase, and particular sentence in general, and also gives
a general comprehension in translating text. However, it may not give an adequate
result as a fine translation product.