Looking for expert Balinese translation services? Since 2003, Green Crescent has been delivering professional translation services between English and Balinese to clients globally. We specialize in sectors such as legal, business, community, and marketing. Our team ensures accurate, high-quality translations tailored to your specific needs. Get a fast, free Balinese translation quote today!
Our Comprehensive Balinese Translation Services
Green Crescent’s skilled team of Balinese translators includes subject matter experts for industry-specific needs. We provide translations tailored to the linguistic richness of Balinese, ensuring cultural and contextual accuracy across its different dialects and levels of speech.
- High Balinese (Alus)
- Middle Balinese (Madya)
- Low Balinese (Basa Bali)
We specialize in both English to Balinese and Balinese to English translations, offering the following services:
Simple Translation
Our simple translations in the English/Balinese language pair are designed for basic communication needs. These translations are completed by a single Balinese translator without the involvement of an editor or proofreader, and therefore should not be considered final or polished work for most professional or formal use cases. While they are typically of high quality, simple translations are essentially "rough drafts" that do not go through additional editing, proofreading, or other quality control processes. These translations are ideal for personal letters, informal communications, initial drafts that will later be revised, or for situations where you need to quickly understand the general meaning or "gist" of a Balinese text.
Standard Translation (TEP)
Our Standard Balinese Translation service is designed to provide high-quality translations for everyday use, including business correspondence, websites, reports, presentations, and similar content. This service includes translation, editing, and proofreading (TEP) to ensure the highest level of accuracy and clarity in your Balinese communications.
Organization Critical Translation (TEP+)
Our Organization Critical Balinese Translation service is designed for situations where precision is essential. This option is recommended for texts intended for large-scale printing, legal contracts, medical documents, or any case where an error could be critical or costly. Each translated line is reviewed by a minimum of three linguists, with multiple rounds of proofreading. Subject matter experts (SMEs) may be involved as needed throughout the Balinese translation, editing, and proofreading (TEP) process.
Bilingual Editing
Bilingual Editing for Balinese Translation is the process of editing a translated text by comparing both the source and target texts in the English/Balinese language pair. The editor, fluent in the source language and a native speaker of Balinese, ensures that the translation is accurate, consistent, and faithful to the source text while also maintaining clarity and fluency in Balinese. This step occurs after the initial translation in our TEP (Translation, Editing, Proofreading) Organization Critical and Standard Translation services. We also offer this service as a standalone option for translations completed by individuals or organizations not affiliated with Green Crescent.
Proofreading
Our proofreading service for English to Balinese and Balinese to English translations involves reviewing a single-language text to identify and correct surface-level errors, such as spelling mistakes, grammar issues, punctuation errors, and formatting inconsistencies. This step is the final phase in our TEP (Translation, Editing, Proofreading) Organization Critical and Standard translation services. We also offer proofreading as a standalone service for translations completed by individuals or organizations not affiliated with Green Crescent.
Legal Translation
Green Crescent's elite team of linguists, each with subject matter expertise in legal fields, is ready to assist you with the translation of a wide range of judicial, administrative, and private legal documents between Balinese and English. We can also implement enhanced security measures to ensure strict confidentiality upon request.
Technical Translation
Technical translations involve any text that features specialized vocabulary or language registers, necessitating additional research and terminology verification. Common technical subject matter includes legal, medical, scientific, and IT topics. These translations require the expertise of linguists with in-depth knowledge of the relevant technical field in both Balinese and English.
Medical Translation
Green Crescent provides professional Balinese medical translations with a focus on accuracy and confidentiality. Our team of skilled linguists, specialized in medical terminology, ensures that your translations are both precise and secure.
Localization
Our translation services are tailored for specific target markets that require localized varieties of the Balinese language. Green Crescent ensures that your content resonates with the intended audience. Our experienced linguists provide translations that are not only accurate but also culturally relevant and engaging.
Back-translation
Back-translation is a crucial component of quality control, particularly for critical translations in the Balinese/English language pair. This process involves translating a previously translated text back into its original language, either Balinese or English, and comparing the result to the original translation for accuracy.
Peer Review
Green Crescent offers professional peer review services where one or more linguists not involved in the original translation process assess the quality, style, and overall fitness of the translation for its intended purpose.
SME Review
Subject Matter Expert (SME) review is a specialized form of peer review conducted by non-linguist professionals with expertise in specific fields. This process ensures that Balinese to English or English to Balinese translations of highly technical texts are both linguistically accurate and technically precise.
Transcreation
Our Balinese Transcreation Service adapts your content creatively to resonate with Balinese-speaking audiences. We ensure that your brand’s messages maintain their original intent, emotional impact, and tone while aligning with the cultural and linguistic nuances of the target market.
MTPE-Full (Machine Translation Post-Editing - Full)
MTPE-Full involves comprehensive post-editing of machine-generated translations to meet the highest standards of linguistic quality. This includes correcting grammar, syntax, and terminology to ensure the text flows naturally in Balinese or English.
MTPE-Light (Machine Translation Post-Editing - Light)
MTPE-Light is a streamlined version of post-editing designed for situations where speed and cost-efficiency are prioritized. The human editor fixes major errors, ensuring the overall meaning is clear and understandable.
Additional Language Services and Options for Balinese
Certified Translation
Green Crescent provides certified translations of a wide range of legal documents, including birth, marriage, and death certificates, diplomas, school transcripts, passports, and much more, in both Balinese and English. Our certified translations are recognized for their accuracy and compliance with legal standards, making them suitable for official use. You can receive hard copies of our standard certificate of translation mailed directly to your home or business.
Rush Service
If you require expedited service, Green Crescent can usually accommodate such requests. However, please note that rushing translations may come with trade-offs, which could affect both price and consistency. Please consult with a project manager for more details.
Discounts
Volume discounts are available for large projects, long-term clients, and for non-profits, charities, NGOs, and government organizations.
Minimum Fee
There is a minimum project fee of $75.00 USD per language, which can be reduced or waived for regular clients.
Additional Language Services
In addition to translation, Green Crescent offers a range of other Balinese language services, including interpretation, transcription, website design and development, and desktop publishing.
About the Balinese Language
Balinese, known locally as "Basa Bali" or "Bahasa Bali," is an Austronesian language spoken on the Indonesian island of Bali, as well as in parts of Lombok and Java. It is the native language of the Balinese people, with around 3.3 million speakers. Balinese is closely related to other Indonesian languages, including Javanese and Sasak, but it retains its own unique phonological, grammatical, and cultural characteristics. The language plays a vital role in Balinese culture, particularly in the context of traditional ceremonies, religious practices, and the island’s rich literary tradition.
The Cultural Context, History, and Linguistic Features of Balinese
Balinese has a rich cultural history that is deeply intertwined with the island’s unique blend of Hinduism and local traditions. The language is used in a variety of cultural expressions, including traditional music, dance, and literature. Classical Balinese literature, such as *kakawin* (poetic epics) and *usadha* (medical texts), are important parts of the island’s heritage, often written in ancient forms of Balinese or Javanese.
Balinese is notable for its social stratification, reflected in the use of different speech levels or registers. The three main speech levels are *basa alus* (high or refined speech), *basa madya* (middle or conversational speech), and *basa kasar* (low or informal speech). These levels are used depending on the social status of the speaker and listener, adding a layer of complexity to the language that is not present in many other Austronesian languages.
The Writing System: Balinese Script and Latin Alphabet
Balinese can be written using both the traditional Balinese script, known as "Aksara Bali," and the Latin alphabet. The Balinese script is an abugida derived from the ancient Brahmi script, similar to the Javanese script. It is primarily used for religious and cultural texts, while the Latin alphabet is more common in everyday use and modern media. Balinese script consists of a set of consonants with inherent vowels, as well as diacritics to indicate other vowel sounds.
Vowels and Consonants: Balinese has a range of vowel sounds and consonants, with specific vowel length and nasalized sounds that are important in differentiating meaning. The language’s tonal and rhythmic qualities are especially evident in traditional songs and poetry.
The Balinese Alphabet
Balinese is written using both the Latin and traditional Balinese script:
- 5 vowels: A, a, E, e, I, i, O, o, U, u
- 23 consonants: B, b, C, c, D, d, G, g, H, h, J, j, K, k, L, l, M, m, N, n, P, p, R, r, S, s, T, t, W, w, Y, y
The Balinese script includes characters such as:
- Consonants: ᬓ (ka), ᬖ (ga), ᬤ (da), ᬦ (na), ᬩ (ba), ᬲ (sa), etc.
- Vowel signs: ᬶ (i), ᬸ (u), ᬾ (e), ᭀ (o)
The Balinese script is syllabic and each character represents a consonant-vowel combination. It is used for writing sacred texts and is often seen in temples and during ceremonies. However, the Latin alphabet is more practical for everyday use, such as in newspapers and signs.
Key Linguistic Differences Between Balinese and English for Translation
When translating between Balinese and English, several linguistic features must be considered to ensure accurate and culturally appropriate translations:
Speech Levels: Balinese uses different registers based on social hierarchy, which is a key aspect of communication. For example, *basa alus* is used in formal or respectful contexts, while *basa kasar* is used in informal settings. English does not have a direct equivalent to these speech levels, so translators must carefully manage tone and formality to reflect the appropriate level of respect.
Word Order: Balinese generally follows a Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) structure, similar to English, but it can also use a Verb-Subject-Object (VSO) order for emphasis or poetic expression. Translators must adjust word order when needed to maintain clarity in English, especially when dealing with more formal or literary Balinese texts.
Reduplication: Balinese uses reduplication, where a word or part of a word is repeated to convey plurality, intensity, or repetition. For example, "bali-bali" can mean "to go back and forth." English does not have a direct equivalent for this feature, so translators need to find appropriate ways to convey the intended meaning.
Honorifics and Respectful Terms: The use of honorifics is crucial in Balinese, especially when referring to elders, religious figures, or people of high status. These terms do not always have direct translations in English, requiring a nuanced approach to maintain the intended respectfulness.
Vowel Length and Nasalization: Balinese distinguishes between long and short vowels, and nasalized sounds can change the meaning of a word. For example, "pati" means "to die," while "pāti" (with a long vowel) might be used in a different context. These distinctions must be carefully managed in translation to avoid altering the meaning.
Loanwords and Indigenous Terms: Balinese has absorbed loanwords from Sanskrit, Javanese, and, more recently, Indonesian. These terms often carry specific cultural or religious significance. Translators need to decide whether to retain these words or find suitable English equivalents, depending on the audience and context.
Politeness and Address Forms: The use of polite language is highly nuanced in Balinese, especially when addressing elders or in formal situations. Translators must ensure that the intended level of politeness is maintained in English, even though English lacks the same system of respectful address.
By addressing these linguistic and cultural nuances, Green Crescent ensures that our Balinese translation services provide accurate, culturally sensitive, and linguistically precise translations. Our approach respects the cultural heritage of the Balinese language and ensures effective communication for both Balinese and English-speaking audiences.
An Insight into Balinese Expression
This passage is from the well-known Balinese literary work “Ramayana Bali” by Ida Pedanda Made Sideman, a classical figure in Balinese literature. This work captures the essence of moral and spiritual lessons within the Balinese interpretation of the Ramayana.
- Balinese: "Yen ring gelap naler, kawijayan ring dalan dharma minab dadi lintang sekar."
- English Translation: "In the midst of darkness, the victory found in the path of dharma shines like a guiding star."