Communication is one of the fundamental pillars in creating mutual understanding among individuals. In the era of Globalization and the Internet of Things (IoT), which bridges and eliminates the boundaries of space and time, communication can now take place anytime and anywhere.

Various platforms such as Discord, X, and Instagram enable us to interact not only with local communities but also with international ones. This opens greater opportunities for building cross-border networking. Naturally, in international communication, language is an inseparable aspect.

In the effort to understand global conditions and cultures as a way to expand social relations, language serves as the initial step in learning and comprehending the world around us. According to Cronin (2003), language differences bring diversity across all aspects of global and social life.

However, our knowledge and patience in understanding languages and their contexts often remain limited. Factors such as lack of confidence and simple barriers like language barriers frequently hinder the establishment of international networking.

Therefore, the ability to accurately interpret both meaning and language is highly essential—not only to enhance our understanding of others but also to grasp the cultural context they carry. The skill of translation will remain relevant as long as humankind continues to exist.

Although AI has been recognized for providing convenience—including in language translation and facilitating international communication—it is still far from perfect. Idioms and proverbs tied to history or local contexts must be carefully understood in translation. For example, the phrase “Cat in a Sack”, which in Indonesian corresponds to “Kucing dalam karung”, does not literally mean a cat inside a sack, but rather that what one receives may not match the description provided.

In linguistics, there is a field of study called Semantics, which focuses on the meaning of words, phrases, and sentences. For the UNDIRA community, translation is not merely about mapping one word to another, but also about aligning meaning with the symbolism and local culture that speakers represent.

Another example of how translation plays a role in communication is in enriching vocabulary. In English conversations, we often overuse words such as “very”, “so”, or “like”. In fact, there are many alternative words that can be used to refine the aesthetics of language. By mastering vocabulary through strong translation skills, we can adapt word choices to suit different contexts and situations. This indirectly reflects professionalism in communication, both verbal and nonverbal.

Recognizing the importance of language in understanding cultures and the global world, the English Literature Program at Universitas Dian Nusantara (UNDIRA) is committed to enhancing students’ English proficiency. Today, English serves as the world’s universal language, widely used in both academic and non-academic contexts.

The English Literature Program at UNDIRA also collaborates with various organizations to help students expand their networks and cultural learning opportunities, including the Association of Indonesian Translators (HPI) and other institutions dedicated to strengthening students’ academic and non-academic competencies. Additionally, our curriculum incorporates the use of Wordfast, a translation tool developed by Wordfast LLC and Yves Champollion.

With UNDIRA’s English Literature Program, students learn not only the techniques of effective translation but also how to weave meaning-rich communication across nations—opening the door to broader global perspectives.

Journal References: 

Azizah, Nindi Nur. 2023. AN ANALYSIS OF SLANG WORDS TRANSLATION OF THE INDONESIAN MOVIE SUBTITLE. Sastra Inggris. Universitas Dian Nusantara.

Siregar, Roswani. et al. 2022. PENERJEMAHAN SEBAGAI JEMBATAN ANTARBUDAYA. Universitas Al Azhar Medan.

(Danang Respati Wicaksono / Humas UNDIRA)