Translation Strategies and Cultural Meaning Shifts of Sambet-Related Expressions in the Netflix English Subtitles of Para Perasuk

Abstract

This research investigates the ways in which sambet-related expressions are translated in the Netflix English subtitles of the Indonesian film Para Perasuk and examines the cultural meaning changes resulting from those translation choices. Four expressions were selected as the focus of analysis: sambetan, di-sambetin, alam sambet, and sambetin. The study applies a qualitative descriptive approach through a comparison of the Indonesian source dialogues and their corresponding English subtitles. Recent research on culture-specific subtitling, particularly Abdelaal (2019) and Alaa and Al Sawi (2023), provides the analytical basis for identifying the translation strategies. The analysis reveals two strategies, namely generalization and substitution. Generalization is identified in sambetan → Trance Party, di-sambetin → be possessed, and sambetin → put … in a trance. Substitution is identified in alam sambet → hallucination realm. The results indicate that the subtitles generally retain the broad supernatural or trance-related dimension associated with sambet in the film, although several culturally specific associations become less explicit. The rendering of alam sambet also introduces a different conceptual perspective in the target text. Furthermore, the findings indicate that contextual interpretation and grammatical function contribute to the selection of different English renderings for related sambet-forms.