Journal of English Teaching.
Literature, and Applied Linguistics ISSN 2614-5871 Vol.
No.
Published by English Language Education Department of UMG https://doi.
org/10.
30587/jetlal.
Direct and Oblique Translation Methods in the Subtitle of Atlas Movie Malla Kharima Agung1.
Yessy Purnamasari2* Politeknik Negeri Bandung Jl Gegerkalong Hilir.
Kecamatan Parongpong.
Kabupaten Bandung Barat.
Indonesia purnamasari@polban.
Received: 1st December 2025 Accepted: 8th January 2026 Published: 6th February 2026 Abstract This study focuses on analyzing the direct and oblique translation methods in the Indonesian subtitles of the Atlas movie.
The data for this study is based on Act II of the Atlas movieAos structure, the confrontation section of the movie that consists of 486 data.
The data was analysed using Vinay & Darbelnet's theory about translation methods.
Additionally.
Catford's theory about transposition functions as a supported theory of the transposition procedure in this study.
The objectives of this study are to identify the translation methods used in the Indonesian subtitles of the Atlas movie and to identify the dominant methods in the Indonesian subtitles of the movie.
The research method used is a qualitative The result of this study reveals the use of the direct and oblique translation method with the literal procedure of 1%, the borrowing procedure of 7.
2%, the calque procedure of 3.
7%, the transposition procedure of 24.
7%, the modulation procedure of 24.
5%, the equivalence procedure of 13.
4%, and the adaptation procedure of 0.
4% Based on the result, the dominant translation method is oblique translation method with 63% This reflects the importance of mastering both SL and TL to make the SL message clear and appropriately conveyed to the TL audience.
The movieAos sci-fi genre with complex terms further supports the methodAos dominance.
Keywords: Translation Method.
Direct.
Oblique.
Subtitles Introduction (Capitalized first letter.
Times New Romans.
Bold, 10 p.
Manuscripts should be 3,000-6,000 words including references, notes, and tables.
The introduction includes the background and objectives.
The introduction section ends with an emphasis on items to be discussed.
You can cite the previous studies that inspire you by mentioning the name of the author and the year of publication (Name of author.
Please use APA 6th edition style.
You are encouraged to use Mendeley as the referencing tool.
It will help you insert your bibliography with ease.
Every paragraph should be single-spaced with indentation in each paragraph.
This section also elaborates the literature reviews/theoretical construct of the research.
You should tell readers the kinds of research, journal articles and books you use in analysing your data.
Introduction The process of conveying a text's meaning into a new language as intended by the author is known as translation (Newmark 1.
This definition emphasizes the significance of a translator, whose responsibility is to convert the Source Language (SL) into a translation that is suitable for the culture in the Target Language (TL).
In this regard, technology greatly affects translators since it opens the growing demand for translation services in the realm of digital media (Granell and Chaume 2.
The rapid technological growth, which has increased the connection between technology, language, and culture, is the cause of the large volume of information that has been converted to audiovisual forms (Zhang and Liu 2.
In order to draw in a large number of viewers, digital media technology of days, particularly in multimedia material, such as online videos on streaming services like Netflix.
Amazon Prime Video, and others, is dubbed or subtitled in multiple languages (Escribano.
Cintas, and Massidda 2.
A key element of audiovisual translation, subtitles help make content accessible to a worldwide audience.
Subtitles are a simultaneous transcription or translation of a video dialogue at the bottom of the screen (Gambier and Gottlieb 2.
According to Ananta & Irwandika .
, the main function of subtitles is to deliver the message of a film accurately to the audience and make them appreciate a film that has time and space limitations.
Videos, movies, and other media these days may employ languages that people may not be familiar with, therefore subtitles are genuinely As Alabsi .
stated that subtitles are an easy yet powerful tool that helps the viewers to think and imagine about the video's message in addition to its visuals.
In Indonesia itself, many Indonesians are having trouble with their English proficiency, thus, a movie translator is needed (Renandya et al.
, 2018, as referenced in Hudi et al.
, 2.
Journal of English Teaching.
Literature, and Applied Linguistics Vol.
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February 2026 According to Gottlieb .
, a translator needs to have strong listening skills, critical thinking, a strong sense, precise hand control, and excellent time management ability.
There are several adjustments to the SL features because of the limited time, space, and presentation of the subtitle (Cintas and Anderman 2.
Therefore, a translator needs to master both the SL and TL and subtitling ability.
Several experts and linguists explain the definition of translation.
One of which is offered by Nida .
, who stated that translation is a process of recreating the SL into the most similar natural equivalent of its message on the TL, both in terms of meaning and style .
s cited in Ran, 2.
This idea of finding equal meaning is closely related to the background of this study, the transmission of the SL meaning to the TL with differences in cultural aspects.
In this study, the theory proposed by Vinay and Darbelnet .
is used to identify translation methods.
translation study, there is a distinct difference between translation methods and translation procedures.
Safi & Nasser .
stated that Vinay and Darbelnet's definition of methods is a comprehensive arrangement of the translator.
While, procedure is a special technique that the translator uses in a text with limited cases.
Newmark .
described the difference between the translation method or translation strategy and translation procedure or translation technique .
s cited in Safi & Nasser, 2.
While translation procedures are concerned with clauses and smaller linguistic elements, translation methods focus on the full text (Newmark, 1988, as cited in Safi & Nasser, 2.
Vinay and Darbelnet's paradigm has limits despite its ongoing relevance, especially when it comes to audiovisual translation, a subject that has seen substantial change in terms of modes, technologies, and constraints.
As a result, this study acknowledges the necessity for complementary viewpoints from more recent AVT studies while adopting their theory as an analytical Vinay and Darbelnet categorize translation methods into two main methods: direct and oblique.
The direct translation method is a method in which the TL resembles word-for-word quotation of the SL.
Meanwhile, the oblique translation method is a method in which the translator interprets (WaliEski 2.
Direct translation methods consist of borrowing, calque, and literal translation procedures.
On the other hand, the oblique translation method consists of transposition, modulation, equivalence, and adaptation translation procedure.
There are numerous studies related to translation methods and procedures.
One of them is a study conducted by Wedriyani & Hikmaharyanti .
Examining the types of translation procedures used in the Indonesian translation of the animated movie "A Stork's Journey" is the focus of their study.
The result shows that both direct and oblique translation techniques were used by the translator.
The predominant translation procedure found in the Indonesian translation is literal translation.
Another study is conducted by Salsabila et al.
This study aims to find out the types of translation procedures, to analyze how the translation procedures function in The Secret Life of Pets movie subtitles, and to find out which type of translation procedure predominates in the movie subtitles.
The findings show that there are 100 data for the seven translation procedures based on Vinay & Darbelnet .
theory: thirty for borrowing, twenty for calque, seventeen for literal translation, ten for transposition, ten for modulation, twelve for equivalence, and one for adaptation procedure.
The findings show that the dialogues of the movie are adapted to the TL cultural and linguistic norms while still serving the SL meaning and tone.
Additionally, the study finds borrowing as the most frequently used translation procedure in the movie.
Next, there is a study conducted by Tipprachaban .
The study discusses about translation method in English and Thai subtitles in the CharlotteAos Web .
The objectives of this study are to understand the translation method in the movie that is translated by professional translators and to find out the dominant translation method in the movie.
The result of this study is that CharlotteAos Web mostly uses oblique translation, with 51.
81% of 1.
932 translation techniques found in the movie.
Furthermore, there is a study about translation methods and procedures conducted by Fitria .
This study discusses the translation procedure applied in the Indonesian subtitles of the English Vinglish movie.
This study aims to find out the kinds of translation procedures in the English Vinglish movie from its English into Indonesian subtitles and to determine the most dominant type of translation procedures in the movie subtitles.
The result shows that the movie consists of direct and oblique translation methods.
In the direct translation, 34.
89% is identified as literal translation, 39% as borrowing, and calque with zero occurrence.
Whereas, in oblique translation, 18.
67% of the data is transposition, 15.
23% as equivalence, 7.
86% as modulation, and 1.
47% as adaptation.
The most dominant translation procedure is literal translation, as one of the types of direct translation.
In addition to all the studies stated above, there is a study conducted by Suwandi .
The objectives of this study are to investigate what dominant strategies are used and how the subtitle translator translates complex sentences in Charlie and Chocolate Factory movie.
The result shows that the most used strategy to translate complex sentences in subtitles is reduction, with a total of 37.
In second place, there is an oblique translation strategy with a total of 35.
After that, there are direct translations, with 14.
paraphrase strategy with 9.
5%, and addition strategy with 3.
From the five studies stated above, it can be concluded that movie subtitle translation employs a combination of direct and oblique translation methods with a variety of dominant translation procedures from all five studies.
This study focuses on the analysis of direct and oblique translation methods in the Act II structure section of the Atlas movie.
Act II is one of three sections in three-act structure.
Three-act is a paradigm that separates a story into three acts, known as the Setup (Act I).
Confrontation (Act II), and Resolution (Act .
(Reedsy 2.
The movie Atlas presents an interesting case for studying translation methods due to its unique background of a future where humanity is at war with rebellious artificial intelligence, as it was released in 2024.
Although numerous studies have examined Journal of English Teaching.
Literature, and Applied Linguistics Vol.
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February 2026 translation methods in movie subtitles, most focus on entire films or specific linguistic features, with limited attention given to the analysis of translation methods within a particular narrative structure, especially Act II, which functions as the core of conflict development.
Moreover, research on translation methods in recent science-fiction films, particularly those addressing AI-related themes, remains limited.
Thus, the objectives of this study are to identify the translation methods used in the Atlas movie Indonesian subtitle and to identify the dominant methods in the Indonesian translation of the Atlas movie subtitles.
By examining the translation methods, such as direct and oblique, one can better understand how the choice of translation methods has an impact on the overall quality of the translation.
Method The study uses a descriptive qualitative research methodology.
According to Creswell .
, qualitative method is a research process that relies on creating a deep, detailed picture with words, documenting the thorough thoughts of informants, and conducting research in a natural environment to fully understand a problem related to society and The results are presented in numbers to give a valid and beneficial tactic for qualitative research (Maxwell.
The data of this study is the Indonesian subtitles of the Act II movie structure of the Atlas movie.
Act II functions as the core of conflict development in the whole movie, thus the translation analysis focuses on narrative structure as seen in the subtitles.
The section has a 39-minute duration, starting from minute 32 to minute 71.
The total data of the movie section is 486 data.
The data was collected through a web browser.
Chrome, using its developer tools to download the English and Indonesian subtitles scripts.
After the downloading of the scripts is done, the scripts are merged to make them into one file.
Then, the data was selected by eliminating unnecessary data, such as interjections.
Act I and Act i sections of the movie, closed caption, and the narrative of the story.
In analysing the data, this study used Vinay & Darbelnet .
theory of translation methods and procedures and Catford .
theory about transposition to categorize the data.
After that, the data was analysed thoroughly.
Findings and Discussion Result In this section, the result of the analysis is shown.
Vinay & Darbelnet .
theory divides two methods in translation: direct and oblique.
The direct translation method includes borrowing, calque, and literal translation Meanwhile, the oblique translation method includes transposition, modulation, equivalence, and adaptation translation procedures.
In the Atlas movieAos Act II structure, both the direct and oblique translation methods are found.
The following pie chart provides information on the use of the direct translation method used in the Indonesian subtitles of the Atlas movie.
Figure 1.
The use of the direct method in the Indonesian subtitles of the Atlas movie Figure 1 illustrates the use of the direct translation method in the Indonesian subtitles of the Atlas movie.
Within the Act II structure, the literal procedure appears as the most frequently used procedure compared to all procedures in the direct method, accounting for 127 instances.
The borrowing serves as the second most used procedure, appearing 35 times, comprising 16 cases of pure borrowing and 19 instances of naturalized borrowing.
Lastly, the calque translation procedure is the least frequently used, with 18 occurrences.
Journal of English Teaching.
Literature, and Applied Linguistics Vol.
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February 2026 Figure 2.
The use of the oblique method in the Indonesian subtitles of the Atlas movie Figure 2 illustrates the use of the oblique translation method in the Indonesian subtitles of the Atlas movie.
In Act II, the transposition procedure appears as the most frequently applied translation procedure, appearing 120 times.
The modulation procedure follows closely, with 119 instances, while equivalence is the third most used, with 65 occurrences.
Finally, the adaptation procedure is the least employed, appearing only twice.
The distribution of specific types within transposition and modulation translation procedures is provided below.
Table 1.
Transposition types used in the Indonesian subtitles of the Atlas movie Transposition Type Frequency Percentage Level Structure Class Unit Intra-system Total The transposition translation procedure in this study is based on (Catford 1.
theory, which categorizes transposition into two types: level and category.
Within the category type, four subtypes exist: structure, class, unit, and intra-system.
In Act II of Atlas, transposition of structure is the most frequently used, appearing 55 times.
The second most used transposition is the transposition of unit, recorded 27 times.
Then, followed by transposition of intra-system that occurs 16 times.
Transposition of class ranks fourth, with 12 times.
Finally, transposition of level is the least used transposition type, appearing 10 times.
Table 2.
Modulation types used in the Indonesian subtitles of the Atlas movie Modulation Type Frequency Percentage Abstract for Concrete Explicative Modulation Part to Whole Part to Another Part Reversal of Term Negated Contrary Active for Passive Space for Time Journal of English Teaching.
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February 2026 Interval and Limits Change of Symbol Total Vinay and Darbelnet identify 10 types of modulation, including abstract for concrete, explicative modulation, part to whole, part to another part, reversal of term, negated contrary, active for passive, space for time, interval and limits, and change of symbol.
In Act II of Atlas, the most frequently used modulation is abstract for concrete, appearing 39 The reversal of term modulation follows, with 32 times.
Then, part to another part ranks third, with 17 times.
The explicative modulation comes next, applied 12 times.
Negated contrary modulation is the fifth most used, appearing nine In sixth place, part to whole, active for passive, and interval and limits each occur three times.
Change of symbol modulation appears only once, while space for time modulation is the least used, recorded at zero occurrences.
Figure 3.
The dominant method used in the Atlas movie's Indonesian subtitle After the showing of the translation methods and procedures used in the Indonesian subtitles, this section also shows the result of the predominant translation method in the movieAos Indonesian subtitles.
The studyAos findings indicate that the oblique translation method is the most dominant in the Indonesian subtitles of the Atlas movie.
A deeper analysis reveals that the literal procedure is the most frequently used procedure, followed by transposition as the second most Modulation ranks third in usage.
In contrast, the adaptation procedure is the least used procedure in the movieAos Discussion This section discusses and analyzes every translation method and procedure used by translators.
The analysis systematically identifies the methods and procedures present in the data and analyzes each instance based on its category.
Literal translation procedure According to Vinay & Darbelnet .
, the literal translation converts SL text to the TL as grammatically and idiomatically correct according to TL rules.
The data analysis of the literal translation procedure is provided on Table 3.
Table 3.
The data analysis of the borrowing translation procedure Data Number Source Language Target Language I believe you are 98.
5 percent accurate.
Aku yakin kau 98,5 persen akurat.
I'm learning from you.
Aku belajar darimu.
In data 56, each word in the SL is directly translated into its equivalent in the TL without any structural modification, translating I into aku, believe into yakin, you into kau, 98,5 percent into 98,5 persen, and accurate into In this case, the SL structure is still intact when implemented in the TL.
The same happens to data 61.
Each word in the SL is directly translated into its equivalent in the TL without any structural modification, translating I into aku.
Auam learningAy into belajar, from into dari, you into suffix -mu.
These translations are proof that the translator transferred the SL word into its literal meaning in the TL.
Borrowing translation procedure This translation procedure borrows the SL terminology and implements it into the TL.
This procedure is divided into pure and naturalized types of borrowing (Vinay & Darbelnet, 2000, as cited in Agustawan, 2.
Pure borrowing is a type of borrowing where the SL term is implemented letter by letter without changing the SL structure.
Meanwhile, naturalized borrowing is a type of borrowing that adapts the SL term to the TL norm.
Table 4 is the data analysis of the pure type of borrowing procedure.
Table 4.
The data analysis of the pure borrowing translation procedure Data Number Source Language Target Language Journal of English Teaching.
Literature, and Applied Linguistics Battleship Dhiib is down.
You are technically the first human on GR-39.
Vol.
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February 2026 Pesawat tempur Dhiib jatuh.
Secara teknis, kau manusia pertama di GR-39.
Based on data 2, the term Dhiib in the SL is borrowed into Dhiib in the TL.
Dhiib in the SL and TL refers to the name of the battleship that Atlas and other personnel of the Ranger, elite soldiers of the International Coalition of Nations (ICN), used.
Both the SL and the TL have a similar structure without changing anything.
Additionally, data 325 illustrates the use of pure borrowing procedure.
The term GR-39 in the SL is borrowed into GR-39 in the TL.
The explanation of what the GR-39 abbreviation stands for is not provided in the movie.
However, there is a scene that has a clue that GR-39 is a planet in the Andromeda galaxy.
The SL and the TL both has a similar Therefore, it is believed that it is a pure type of borrowing.
Table 5.
Data analysis of the naturalized borrowing translation procedure Data Number Source Language Target Language You gave me a lollipop for being a good patient.
Do you prefer pie or cake? Kau memberiku lolipop karena aku pasien yang baik.
Kau lebih suka pai atau kue? Table 5 shows the data analysis of the naturalized type of borrowing procedure.
In data 177, the SL word lollipop is borrowed into the TL lolipop with a slight difference in the use of double l in the SL and single l in the TL.
Data 235 also borrows the SL word pie into the TL pai with a slight difference in the ending of the word -ie to -ai.
This change illustrates the naturalized type of borrowing since the naturalized type of borrowing changes the SL term to the TL norm.
Calque translation procedure This translation procedure borrows the SL expression and translates every element of the SL into the TL literally.
This procedure is usually used in a noun or compound noun.
An example of the data analysis is provided in Table 6.
Table 6.
Data analysis of the calque translation procedure Data Number Source Language Target Language Ma'am, your blood pressure is rising to 145.
Such as.
I don't knowA artificial intelligence.
Bu, tekanan darahmu naik menjadi 145.
Seperti, entahlahAkecerdasan buatan.
Data 107 illustrates the calque translation procedure.
The SL term is translated using its own term in the TL, turning "blood pressure" into tekanan darah.
In addition, blood pressure is the force the heart puts on the arteries when it pumps blood around the body.
Furthermore, in data 411, the SL term is translated using its term in the TL, translating artificial into buatan and intelligence into buatan.
Both data 107 and 411 translate the SL term directly into the TL equal Transposition translation procedure In this procedure, the SL grammatical and structural aspect is transposed into the TL grammatical and structural In this study.
Catford .
serves as an additional theory for the transposition translation procedure.
Catford produced two types of transposition: transposition of level and transposition of category.
A type of transposition that changes the SL grammar .
losed syste.
to lexis .
pen set.
in the TL is called transposition of level (Cyrus 2.
Table 7 provides samples of data analysis for this type of transposition.
Table 7.
Data analysis of the transposition of level translation procedure Data Number Source Language Target Language He was supposed to keep you safe.
There should be no communication whatsoever.
Seharusnya Harlan menjagamu.
Seharusnya tidak ada komunikasi apa pun.
In data 273, the translation of the SL verb phrase Auwas supposedAy into seharusnya represents the transposition of the level translation procedure.
The translator transposes the SL simple past tense verb phrase Auwas supposedAy into an adverb, seharusnya, in the TL.
The SL indicates the grammatical aspect.
Meanwhile, the TL indicates the lexical aspect of the change to an adverb.
This transposition illustrates the change of sentence structure from grammatical to lexical.
For the data 479, the translator transposes the SL verb phrase Aushould beAy into an adverb seharusnya in the TL.
The same happens to this data that the SL indicates the grammatical aspect.
Meanwhile, the TL indicates the lexical aspect of the change to an adverb.
This transposition illustrates the change of sentence structure from grammatical to lexical.
The representation of the transposition of level translation procedure is represented by data 273 and 479.
Journal of English Teaching.
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February 2026 On the other hand, transposition of category is divided into four kinds.
The first type is transposition of structure.
Transposition of structure changes the arrangement of the SL structure.
Table 8 shows the sample of the data analysis of the transposition of structure.
Table 8 Data analysis of the transposition of structure translation procedure Data Number Source Language Target Language You told me to get there as quickly as we can, and a series of targeted leaps is the most efficient Very cute.
Kau menyuruhku ke sana secepatnya.
Serangkaian loncatan terarah adalah rute yang paling efisien.
Manis sekali.
The representation of the transposition of structure is shown in data 32 and data 73.
In data 32, the translator transposes the SL compound sentence into two simpler sentences in the TL.
The first sentence is kau menyuruhku ke sana secepatnya .
ou told me to get there as quickly as possibl.
The second sentence is serangkaian loncatan terarah adalah rute yang paling efisien .
series of targeted leaps is the most efficient rout.
This shows that there is a split in a sentence that changes the structure of the SL sentence.
Meanwhile, in data 73, there is a change in how TL brought the SL word order.
The position of the SL word cute in the phrase "very cute" is transposed to the front of the phrase, making it into manis sekali.
If it were translated using the SL structure, it would be sekali manis .
nce cut.
The next type of transposition is the transposition of class.
Transposition of class changes the SL word class .
erb, noun, adjective, and adver.
in the TL.
The example of the data analysis of this transposition is shown in Table 9.
Table 9.
Data analysis of the transposition of class translation procedure Data Number Source Language Target Language Would this be an appropriate time for humor? Because Harlan's dangerous! Apa ini waktu yang tepat untuk bercanda? Karena Harlan berbahaya! In data 183, the translation of the SL word humor into bercanda .
) represents the transposition of the class translation procedure.
In the TL, the SL word humor, a noun, is transposed into a verb bercanda.
This transposition from an adjective to a verb indicates a change in the SL structure of class.
If it were translated using the literal procedure, it would be apakah ini saat yang tepat untuk candaan? This translation is not suitable for use in this sentence, seeing the translation is stiff and unnatural in the TL.
Then, in data 250, the SL word dangerous, an adjective, is transposed into a verb berbahaya.
This transposition from an adjective to a verb indicates a change in the SL structure of class.
Both data illustrate the use of the transposition of class.
The third type of transposition of category is unit.
Transposition of unit changes the SL word unit .
ord, phrase, clause, and sentenc.
in the TL.
In Table 10, the sample data analysis of the subtitles that were identified as transposition of unit is shown.
Table 10.
Data analysis of the transposition of unit translation procedure Data Number Source Language Target Language I'm sorry, but I am unable to comply.
Impressive Maaf, tapi aku tidak bisa melakukannya.
Luar biasa.
In data 35, the translator transposes the SL clause "I am sorry" that consists of S P into a single-word noun, maaf, in the TL.
This indicates a transposition of the sentence unit from clause to word.
In addition, in data 444, the SL word, impressive, functions as an adjective.
In the TL, this single-word adjective is transposed into a phrase, luar biasa.
This shift from a single-word adjective to a phrase illustrates a change in grammatical unit.
Data 35 and data 444 illustrate the use of the transposition of units because of the transposition of the SL word unit in TL.
Finally, the last type of transposition of the category is intra-system.
Transposition of the intra-system involves translating the TL using no corresponding term in the TL system.
Table 11 provides samples of data analysis for this type of transposition.
Table 11.
Data analysis of the transposition of intra-system translation procedure Data Number Source Language Target Language We'll walk fast.
You analyzed my statements? Kita berjalan cepat.
Kau menganalisis penyataanku? Journal of English Teaching.
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February 2026 Data 42 transposes the SL simple future tense verb phrase "will walk" into the simple present verb word berjalan without using the words that indicate a future, such as akan .
in the TL.
This transposition illustrates a shift of tenses from a simple future tense to a simple present tense.
Additionally, in data 58, the SL word statements with the -s suffix in a noun is a sign of a plural noun.
However, in the TL, pernyataan is not marked as plural since the Indonesian language does not mark plural forms by adding an -s suffix but rather relies on the numerical context or by doubling the word.
an example, in statements and pernyataan-pernyataan .
, pernyataan means a statement, but pernyataanpernyataan means statements.
Therefore, the transposition shows a change in the grammatical system.
Both data 42 and 58 are the representation of the transposition of intra-system translation procedure.
Modulation translation procedure Modulation translation procedure involves changing the point of view of the SL.
Vinay and Darbelnet produced 10 types of modulation: abstract for concrete, explicative modulation, part to whole, part to another part, reversal of term, negated contrary, active for passive, space for time, interval and limits, and change of symbol.
The first type of modulation is abstract for concrete.
This type of modulation is a type that changes the SL general expressions into more specific areas, or vice versa.
Table 12 provides samples of data analysis for this type of Table 12.
Data analysis of the abstract for concrete type of modulation translation procedure Data Number Source Language Target Language at which point you will run out of oxygen and die from atmospheric asphyxiation.
I didn't register the suit because there is no body Pada saat itu kau akan kehabisan oksigen dan mati karena sesak napas.
Aku tidak mendaftarkan robot zirahnya karena tidak ada orang di dalamnya.
The representation of the abstract for concrete type of modulation procedure is shown in data 41 and data 119.
The SL uses a technical and scientific term to describe this movie scene.
Atmospheric asphyxiation, the technical term, occurs when the body does not receive enough oxygen due to its environment, in this case, it is another planet.
However, the translator uses a more familiar symptom in the TL, sesak napas .
ard to breath.
This translation helps the Indonesian audience to comprehend the context by making the term more general.
In addition, in the movieAos scene of the data 119 where the suit refers to ARC or armored robotic combat, it is more natural to say the armored robot in the TL.
is because the ARC is a suit-like robot that functions as a weapon and transportation.
If the SL phrase Authe suitAy is translated using the literal procedure in the TL, it would be pakaian ini.
However, this translation is unable to convey the SL meaning effectively as it is ambiguous to the Indonesian audience.
The SL term Authe suitAy has a more abstract message than the TL term, robot zirahnya .
he armored robo.
Therefore, the SL perspective of the ARC is changed into robot zirahnya, which is more likely to convey the SL meaning by detailing the abstract message in SL term.
The second type of modulation is explicative modulation.
This type of modulation is a type that makes the implicit message of the SL clear.
Table 13 shows the samples of the data analysis of the explicative modulation.
Table 13.
Data analysis of the explicative modulation translation procedure Data Number Source Language Target Language It seems like the respectful thing to say when one has died.
We'll call in the air strike once we reach the rescue Itu hal yang pantas untuk diucapkan bagi mereka yang berpulang Kita panggil pasukan udara begitu sampai ke pod In data 407, instead of directly translating "one has died" as seseorang telah meninggal, the translator changes the SL expression into mereka yang berpulang to create a more implicit expression and gives a cultural and euphemistic expression in the TL.
This change illustrates the use of explicit to implicit explicative modulation, where the SL explicit expression is changed into a more implicit expression in the TL.
For data 448, instead of directly translating "the air strike" as serangan udara, the translator changes the SL expression into pasukan udara.
In this procedure, the translator can change the SL perspective into a cause-and-effect perspective in TL.
In this case, the cause of the air strike .
erangan udar.
is the air force .
asukan udar.
This translation illustrates cause-and-effect relationship.
Both data 407 and data 448 are the representation of explicative modulation.
The third type is part to whole.
This type of modulation is a type where one part of something is changed into the whole part of it in the TL.
The example of the data analysis of this modulation type is shown in Table 14.
Journal of English Teaching.
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Data analysis of the part to whole type of modulation translation procedure Data Number Source Language Target Language You think Banks is still out there? It's only a matter of time before one of Harlan's soldiers finds us.
Menurutmu Banks masih hidup? Hanya masalah waktu sebelum prajurit Harlan menemukan kita.
In data 180Aos scene.
Atlas is curious about Banks' condition since his ARC is empty when Atlas found it.
Banks or Elias Bank is a colonel in the ICN and a teammate of Atlas catching Harlan.
If this word is translated using the literal procedure, it would be masih di luar sana.
This translation of the literal procedure would make the translation rigid and Yet, the translator changes the SL broader idea of survival.
Auis still out thereAy, into a part of that idea of survival, masih hidup.
Meanwhile, in data 309, the SL tells about the location of HarlanAos base, not the location of Harlan.
Meanwhile, the translator changes it into the location of Harlan or HarlanAos position in the TL and not the base.
Thus, this phrase reveals the change in its view from part to whole of the location of Harlan's base.
Data 180 and data 309 illustrate the use of part to whole type of modulation procedure.
The fourth type is part to another part.
A type of modulation procedure where the SL is translated into another part of the term in the TL is a definition for part to another part type.
In Table 15, the samples of the data analysis that were identified as part to another part type of modulation procedure are shown.
Table 15.
Data analysis of the Aopart to another partAo type of modulation translation procedure Data Number Source Language Target Language Let's just, umA Let's just get there as quickly as we Maybe try thinking quieter.
Ayo kita, ehmA.
Ayo kita ke sana secepatnya.
Cobalah berpikir lebih tenang.
In data 29, the phrase "as quickly as we can" indicates a fast response.
And if it were translated literally, it would be secepat yang kita bisa, but it is changed into another part of it, secepatnya.
This change is also in line with the subtitle regulation, which limits the number of characters per line to a maximum of 38.
Another analysis, data 440, also represents the use of part to another part type of modulation.
In SL, the word quieter generally refers to a state of sound In this scene.
Atlas gets angry since Smith, an AI that has a neural link with her, reads her mind without Thus, the phrase "thinking quieter" means having fewer thoughts in mind.
Instead of directly translating the SL word quieter as lebih diam in the TL, the translator changes the SL expression into lebih tenang.
This translation illustrates the change of part to another part from quieter .
ebih dia.
into lebih tenang .
Both data illustrate part to another part modulation.
The fifth is the reversal of terms.
This type of modulation uses another perspective of the SL to make the translation more natural in the TL.
Table 16 provides samples of data analysis for this type of modulation.
Table 16.
Data analysis of the reversal of term type of modulation translation procedure Data Number Source Language Target Language I'm an adaptive learner.
I have a flawless record.
Aku mampu menyesuaikan diri.
Rekorku sempurna.
Data 209 and 213 represent the reversal of term type of modulation procedure.
In data 209 movieAos scene.
Smith says something inappropriate to say.
Because of this.
Atlas is confused as to why he can say that.
Smith answered that he is an adaptive learner.
In the SL, the phrase "an adaptive learner" is translated into mampu menyesuaikan diri, which has a different approach from the point of view of the sentence.
If it is translated using the literal procedure, it would be seorang pelajar yang adaptif.
This translation sounds rigid and unnatural to use in Indonesian conversation.
For this reason, the change shows more natural and flexible in the TL.
In data 213, another scene from this movie shows that Smith says that he has a flawless record of syncing, and the reason for the failed syncing is Atlas.
If the SL word flawless is translated using the literal procedure, it would be tanpa cela.
The TL literal translation aku punya rekor tanpa cela would sound rigid and unnatural to use in Indonesian conversation.
For this reason, the change to rekorku sempurna .
y record is perfec.
shows a more natural approach in TL.
The sixth is negated contrary.
This type changes the positive form of the SL into the negative form in the TL or vice versa.
In Table 17, the samples of the data analysis that were identified as negated contrary type of modulation procedure are provided.
Data Table 17.
Data analysis of the negated contrary type of modulation translation procedure Source Language Target Language Journal of English Teaching.
Literature, and Applied Linguistics Number We have to walk to avoid detection.
I detect no movement and no heat signature.
Vol.
No.
February 2026 Kita harus jalan agar tidak terdeteksi.
Aku tidak mendeteksi gerakan dan jejak panas.
Data 34 represents the oblique translation method through the negated contrary type of modulation procedure.
this context.
Smith activated flying mode to reach the rescue pod location faster.
However, by doing so, it would put them within range of Harlan's drone.
In the SL, the phrase "to avoid detection" is a positive form.
It is not directly said In the TL, the phrase agar tidak terdeteksi expresses the same meaning using the opposite perspective of positive form in the SL, negative form.
This changes the form of the SL from positive to negative.
For data 348, the SL verb detect is a positive form.
There is no negative expression, such as no, not, never, or none.
Meanwhile, in the TL, the SL word detect is translated into tidak mendeteksi, which has the negative word not.
This changes the form of the SL from positive to negative.
Data 34 and data 348 illustrate the use of the negated contrary modulation for they change of form from positive to negative in the TL.
The seventh type of modulation is active for passive.
Active for passive is a type of modulation procedure where the SL active form is changed into the passive form in the TL or vice versa.
Table 18 shows the sample of the data analysis of the active for passive type of modulation procedure.
Table 18.
Data analysis of the active for passive type of modulation translation procedure Data Number Source Language Target Language It cannot be helped.
We missed one.
Tidak bisa aku hentikan.
Terlewat satu.
In data 63 movie scene.
Atlas wants Smith to stop learning something using her statements, but Smith is programmed to adapt to the userAos behaviour.
In this case, the SL verb phrase "it cannot be helped" is in the simple present tense of passive voice.
Meanwhile, the TL verb is in active voice, hentikan .
, with the subject being the doer, aku (I).
This reflects the change from passive voice in the SL to active voice in the TL.
Meanwhile, data 117 represents the change from passive voice in the SL to active voice in the TL.
The SL verb missed is in the simple past tense of active voice.
Meanwhile, the TL verb is in passive voice, terlewat .
as misse.
In Indonesia, one of the characteristics of a passive voice is when a verb has the prefix ter-, di-, ke-an, and ter-kan.
The eighth type is space for time.
A type of modulation procedure where the SL term, which indicates a space, is changed into the TL term that indicates time is the definition of modulation of space for time.
This type of modulation has no occurrence in Act II of Atlas movie structure.
The ninth type is interval and limits.
This type of modulation is a type of modulation procedure where an interval phrase is changed into a limit.
Table 19 provides samples of data analysis for this type of modulation.
Table 19.
Data analysis of the interval and limits type of modulation translation procedure Data Number Source Language Target Language This will only take a moment.
Just give me a second.
Ini hanya sebentar.
Tunggu sebentar.
Data 197 and 451 represent the interval and limits type of modulation procedure.
In data 197, the SL phrase "take a moment" states time, a moment .
ebuah mome.
Meanwhile, in the TL, sebentar indicates a range of time, a few seconds or minutes, but sebentar does not state a limitation.
This shows that the translator changes the SL phrase Aua momentAy, that is, a limitation, into an interval, sebentar.
The same happens with data 451.
In the SL, the phrase "a second" states time, a second .
atu deti.
Meanwhile, in the TL, sebentar indicates a range of time, a few seconds or minutes, but sebentar does not state a limitation.
This shows that the translator changes the SL phrase Aua secondAy, that is, a limitation into an interval, sebentar.
Finally, the last type is a change of symbol.
Change of symbol is a type of modulation procedure where there is a change of symbol in the TL.
In Table 20, the sample of the data analysis that was identified as a change of symbol is Table 20.
Data analysis of the change of symbol type of modulation translation procedure Data Number Source Language Target Language We are 498.
9 feet below the surface.
Kita berada di 152 meter di bawah permukaan.
Journal of English Teaching.
Literature, and Applied Linguistics Vol.
No.
February 2026 Data 290 is the only change of symbol type that is found in analyzing the Atlas movie subtitles.
In the SL, the phrase "498.
9 feet" is translated into 152 meter, which has a different approach in the use of measurement units.
The SL measurement unit, feet, a non-SI (International System of Unit.
, is changed into meter, a SI unit, to give more understanding to Indonesian measurement, which is a SI unit.
If it were using the SL measurement unit, the Indonesian audience might not get the meaning of the movieAos scene.
Therefore, the SL measurement is changed into the standard Indonesian measurement.
Equivalence translation procedure Equivalence is a translation procedure in the oblique translation method.
This translation procedure is a process of translating the SL and TL same situation using completely different stylistic and structural texts in the TL.
In addition, in translating idioms and proverbs, equivalence is usually used (Munday 2.
Table 21 shows the samples of the equivalent translation procedure.
Table 21.
Data analysis of the equivalence translation procedure Data Number Source Language Target Language Peace to the fallen.
Well, let's not pop the champagne just yet.
Istirahatlah dalam damai.
Yah, sebaiknya kita jangan senang dulu.
In this movieAos scene where data 116 was taken.
Atlas sees her teammates' ARCs and bodies scattered all over the For this reason, the SL phrase "peace to the fallen" is used as an expression when someone dies to show grief.
the TL, this phrase is translated into istirahatlah dalam damai, which is an equal way to translate the SL's phrase, which means a hope for someone that died.
Since if it were translated using the literal procedure, it would be damai untuk yang This translation is rigid and uncommon.
Therefore, the SL expression "peace to the fallen" is changed into its equal expression in the TL istirahatlah dalam damai.
In addition, in data 350, the SL phrase "pop the champagne" is an expression of celebration.
This definition is in line with the movieAos context, where Smith is congratulating Atlas for her success in killing Casca.
In this case, the SL phrase, an idiom, is translated into a word that is not an idiom.
Even though SL and TL are not equal in their types, the TL translation senang helps in conveying the meaning of the SL idiom to the TL.
Adaptation translation procedure The adaptation procedure is another translation procedure in the oblique translation method besides transposition, modulation, and equivalence.
This translation procedure involves translating a text when there is no similar expression in the TL that can convey the SL meaning.
The data provided is the only adaptation found in the Act II structure of the Atlas movie.
Data 479 has a similar term to data 471.
Therefore, there is only one data that is provided in Table 22.
Table 22.
Data analysis of the adaptation translation procedure Data Number Source Language Target Language Battleship Dhiib isA Do you copy? Pesawat tempur DhiibA Apa kau dengar? In the SL, the term ship refers to a flying aircraft in the futuristic background.
If this word were translated using the literal procedure, it would be kapal.
However, if the translator were to use kapal as the translation, kapal .
cannot fly in the air.
It is still called a plane in TL.
Thus, it is adapted to the term pesawat tempur .
ighter plan.
, which carries the same function and is a culturally natural way to express a ship for the context of sci-fi or futuristic background in Indonesia.
Conclusion This study identifies the direct and oblique translation methods used and the dominant translation method in the Indonesian subtitles in the Atlas movie.
The result of this study reveals the use of the direct and oblique translation method with the literal procedure of 26.
1%, the borrowing procedure of 7.
2%, the calque procedure of 3.
7%, the transposition procedure of 24.
7%, the modulation procedure of 24.
5%, the equivalence procedure of 21.
2%, and the adaptation procedure of 0.
7% With the highest translation procedure used is the literal translation procedure, this indicates that the Atlas movie maintain the SL structure into the TL.
Based on the results, the most frequently used translation method is the oblique translation method, at 63%.
Even though the highest translation procedure used is the literal procedure, it does not conceal the fact that the most used translation method is the oblique translation method.
This finding shows that not only does the movie respect the SL by maintaining its structure, but it also preserves the meaning of the SL sentence well.
Additionally, with the oblique method being the dominant method, this suggests that the Journal of English Teaching.
Literature, and Applied Linguistics Vol.
No.
February 2026 translator frequently adjusts the SL into the TL culture and structure.
The transposition as the highest procedure in the oblique translation method, transposes the SL structure into the TL structure.
Furthermore, the modulation, equivalence, and adaptation procedures help in making the SL message more natural, equal, and suitable for the Indonesian audience by changing.
The oblique method as the dominant method also shows that translating movie subtitles requires a significant amount of knowledge about idiomatic expressions, colloquial expressions, and culture both in SL and TL.
Furthermore, due to the science fiction background of this movie, where there are technological words, phrases, and clauses, this makes the oblique translation method is the most dominant method.
References