FROM MUSEUM TRANSLATION TO AUTHENTIC MATERIALS FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION: TRANSLATING JAVANESE ARCHAEOLOGICAL HERITAGE INTO ENGLISH THROUGH MUSEUM SONOBUDOYO'S BILINGUAL TEXTS

Abstract

Museum bilingual texts play an important role in communicating cultural heritage to international audiences while offering potential resources for English language education. However, limited research has integrated translation strategies, the representation of archaeological and historical meanings, and the pedagogical value of bilingual museum texts within a single analytical framework. This study investigates the English translation of Javanese archaeological heritage texts in Museum Sonobudoyo, Yogyakarta. Specifically, it examines (1) the translation strategies employed, (2) how archaeological and historical meanings are represented in the English translations, and (3) how the bilingual texts can be utilized as authentic materials for English language education. Adopting a qualitative case study design, the study analyzed bilingual Indonesian–English museum texts collected through document analysis and purposive sampling. The findings reveal three translation tendencies: resistance, negotiation, and a combination of both. Resistance generally produces strong representation by preserving culture-specific terminology, Negotiation tends to generate weak representation through descriptive adaptation, and the combined tendency results in partial representation by balancing cultural authenticity with readability. Furthermore, the bilingual museum texts demonstrate significant potential as authentic materials for English language education by integrating archaeological, historical, and cultural knowledge with real-world English communication. This study contributes an integrated framework linking translation strategies, heritage representation, and English language education, providing practical implications for museum translation, heritage communication, and authentic language learning.