Looking for expert Javanese translation services? Since 2003, Green Crescent has been delivering professional translation services between English and Javanese to clients globally. We specialize in areas such as cultural, literary, historical, and community-based projects. Our team ensures accurate, high-quality translations tailored to your specific needs. Get a fast,
Our Comprehensive Javanese Translation Services
Green Crescent’s skilled team of Javanese translators includes subject matter experts for industry-specific needs. We provide translations tailored to all major Javanese dialects, including:
- Ngoko (the informal, everyday language)
- Krama (the formal and polite register)
- Krama Inggil (the most formal, honorific form)
The standard dialect for written communication is generally based on Krama, the polite form of the language, making it suitable for both formal and general translation needs.
We specialize in both English to Javanese and Javanese to English translations, offering the following services:
Simple Translation
Our simple translations in the English/Javanese language pair are designed for basic communication needs. These translations are completed by a single Javanese 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 Javanese text.
Standard Translation (TEP)
Our Standard Javanese 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 Javanese communications.
Organization Critical Translation (TEP+)
Our Organization Critical Javanese Translation service is designed for situations where perfection is essential. This option is recommended for texts intended for large-scale printing, technical documents, legal contracts and patents, 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 Javanese translation, editing, and proofreading (TEP) process.
Bilingual Editing
Bilingual Editing for Javanese Translation is the process of editing a translated text by comparing both the source and target texts in the English/Javanese language pair. The editor, fluent in the source language and a native speaker of Javanese, ensures that the translation is accurate, consistent, and faithful to the source text while also maintaining clarity and fluency in Javanese. 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
With each additional round of editing and proofreading, the error rate of a document approaches the perfection horizon. Our proofreading service for English to Javanese and Javanese 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 specialized legal fields, is ready to assist you with the translation of a wide range of judicial, administrative, and private legal documents between Javanese and English. Nearly all countries recognize that submitting documents for translation does not compromise attorney-client privilege. Furthermore, we can 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, engineering, and IT topics, but any text that utilizes industry-specific terminology or neologisms may be considered technical in nature. These translations cannot be executed by generalists alone; they require the expertise of linguists with in-depth knowledge of the relevant technical field in both Javanese and English.
Medical Translation
Green Crescent has established protocols to ensure compliance with HIPAA and HITECH regulations, which you can learn more about here. Our Javanese medical translations are treated as "organization critical," unless otherwise specified, and we are committed to implementing the necessary digital security measures and legal safeguards for every project subject to HIPAA and HITECH requirements. Our team of skilled linguists, specialized in medical terminology, ensures that your translations are both accurate and secure.
Localization
Our translation services are tailored for specific target markets that require non-standard varieties or dialects of the Javanese language. Green Crescent is equipped to accommodate requests for localized Javanese translation, ensuring that your content resonates with the intended audience. Our experienced linguists are well-versed in the nuances of Javanese, allowing us to provide translations that are not only accurate but also culturally relevant and engaging. By focusing on the unique linguistic characteristics of Javanese, we help you effectively connect with your audience and enhance the impact of your message.
Website, App, and Software Localization for Javanese
At Green Crescent, we leverage our extensive experience in software development to provide specialized Javanese localization services. We excel in adapting your website, app, or software’s content, design, and functionality for Javanese-speaking audiences. Whether you need a fully multilingual solution or specific adaptations for Javanese, our services encompass translating text, adjusting images, and modifying layouts. We also adapt and program code for both mobile and desktop applications, ensuring that your app functions seamlessly across Javanese-speaking regions while adhering to platform-specific guidelines. Let us help you create an engaging and culturally relevant experience for your Javanese-speaking users.
Back-translation
Back-translation is often a crucial component of the quality control process, particularly when translating highly technical documents or for critical translations in the Javanese/English language pair where an error could have significant consequences. This process involves an independent linguist translating a previously translated text back into its original source language—either Javanese or English—without reference to the original document. The resulting text is then compared to the original translation to verify its intelligibility, accuracy, and suitability for its intended use. Back-translation is also relevant in situations such as the translation of legal documents, medical texts, and marketing materials, where precise wording is essential. It can be particularly beneficial when adapting content for different cultural contexts, ensuring that the intended message is preserved and resonates appropriately with the target audience in both Javanese and English.
Peer Review
Green Crescent offers professional focus group services that include a comprehensive "read-through" conducted by one or more linguists who were not involved in the original translation process. This approach allows for an unbiased assessment of the translation's quality, style, and overall fitness for its intended purpose. The focus group can evaluate various aspects of the text, including linguistic accuracy, cultural relevance, and the effectiveness of the messaging in reaching the target audience. Feedback is provided on how well the translation conveys the original intent and nuances of the source material, ensuring that it resonates with readers in both Javanese and English contexts.
SME Review
Subject Matter Expert (SME) review is a specialized form of peer review conducted by non-linguist professionals with deep expertise in specific fields. This process is particularly important for Javanese to English or English to Javanese translations of highly technical texts, ensuring that the content is both linguistically accurate and technically precise. In fields such as legal, medical, scientific, and engineering, SMEs help verify the correct use of industry-specific terminology, adherence to regulatory or technical standards, and the contextual relevance of the translated material. By incorporating SME review into the translation process, we ensure that your final product is not only fluent and culturally appropriate but also technically sound and ready for professional use in both Javanese- and English-speaking markets.
Transcreation
Our Javanese Transcreation Service goes beyond simple translation by creatively adapting your content to resonate with Javanese-speaking audiences. At Green Crescent, we ensure that your brand’s messages, campaigns, and communications maintain their original intent, emotional impact, and tone, while aligning with the cultural and linguistic nuances of the target market. Whether it’s marketing, branding, or advertising, we reimagine your content to feel authentic and compelling in Javanese, helping your brand connect meaningfully and effectively with Javanese-speaking audiences.
MTPE-Full (Machine Translation Post-Editing - Full)
MTPE-Full (Machine Translation Post-Editing - Full) refers to the comprehensive post-editing of a machine-translated text between Javanese and English, ensuring the final product meets the highest standards of linguistic quality. In this process, once the machine generates the translation, a skilled human editor thoroughly reviews the entire content, ensuring that it is not only accurate in meaning but also flows naturally and fluently in the target language. This detailed editing process includes correcting grammar, syntax, and terminology, adapting the text for the intended audience, and ensuring it adheres to any stylistic preferences or regulatory requirements. MTPE-Full is suitable for business-critical texts where precision and quality are paramount.
MTPE-Light (Machine Translation Post-Editing - Light)
MTPE-Light (Machine Translation Post-Editing - Light) is a more streamlined version of post-editing, designed for situations where speed and cost-efficiency are prioritized over linguistic perfection. In this process, the human editor focuses primarily on fixing major errors and ensuring that the overall meaning of the machine-translated text is clear and understandable in the target language (Javanese or English). While MTPE-Light may not deliver a translation that is fully polished or ready for publication, it provides an efficient and cost-effective solution for internal documents, reports, and communications where basic comprehension is sufficient.
Additional Language Services and Options for Javanese
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 Javanese 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 often comes with trade-offs, which may 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 Javanese language services, including interpretation, transcription, website design and development, and desktop publishing.
About the Javanese Language
Javanese, known locally as "ꦧꦱꦗꦮ" (Basa Jawa), is the most widely spoken language on the Indonesian island of Java, with over 82 million speakers. It is the native language of the Javanese people, who are the largest ethnic group in Indonesia. Javanese is primarily spoken in the central and eastern parts of the island, as well as by diaspora communities in neighboring countries. While Indonesian serves as the national language, Javanese plays a crucial role in the daily lives of the Javanese people and is rich in cultural and historical significance.
The Cultural Context, History, and Linguistic Features of Javanese
Javanese is one of the oldest languages in Indonesia, with written records dating back over a thousand years. The language has a rich literary tradition that includes ancient manuscripts, religious texts, and epic poetry, such as the *Serat Rama* and *Serat Centhini*. These works reflect the deep influence of Hinduism, Buddhism, and later Islam on Javanese culture. The courtly Javanese of the Yogyakarta and Surakarta royal courts also played a significant role in shaping the language.
Javanese has several linguistic layers, reflecting a complex system of politeness levels. These layers—*Ngoko* (informal), *Madya* (middle level), and *Krama* (formal)—are used depending on the social context, the speaker’s status, and the relationship between the interlocutors. This politeness system is one of the key features that makes Javanese distinct from English and many other languages.
The Writing System: Javanese Script
Javanese was traditionally written using the Javanese script, known as "Aksara Jawa" or "ꦲꦏ꧀ꦱꦫꦗꦮ," which is derived from the Brahmi script. While the Javanese script is still used in formal and ceremonial contexts, the Latin alphabet is now the most commonly used script for writing Javanese, particularly in modern communication.
Vowels and Consonants: The Javanese script includes a wide variety of vowels and consonants, each represented by unique characters. In the Latin script, Javanese uses five basic vowels (/a/, /e/, /i/, /o/, /u/), and consonants similar to those in Indonesian, though with some differences in pronunciation.
Javanese Alphabet (Latin Script)
The modern Javanese alphabet, using the Latin script, consists of the following characters:
- Vowels: A, a, E, e, I, i, O, o, U, u
- Consonants: B, b, C, c, D, d, Dh, dh, 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
- Additional digraphs: Dh, dh, Th, th, Ng, ng, Ny, ny
Key Linguistic Differences Between Javanese and English for Translation
When translating between Javanese and English, several critical linguistic differences need to be taken into account:
Politeness Levels: Javanese features a highly complex system of politeness that must be carefully considered in translation. Depending on the relationship between the speaker and listener, different levels of formality—*Ngoko*, *Madya*, or *Krama*—may be used. English does not have such a formalized system, making it important to find appropriate equivalents that respect social hierarchies and cultural context.
Sentence Structure: Javanese follows a Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) sentence structure, similar to English. However, word choice and sentence formation vary significantly depending on the level of formality being used.
Pronouns and Respect Markers: Javanese uses a variety of pronouns to indicate respect and social status. This includes different forms for “you,” “I,” and other personal pronouns, depending on the level of politeness. These distinctions must be carefully preserved during translation to avoid misunderstandings.
Verbs and Aspect: Javanese verbs do not conjugate for tense as English verbs do. Instead, time and aspect are indicated through context or additional words. This difference requires attention when translating into English, as tense must be explicitly conveyed.
By addressing these linguistic and cultural differences, Green Crescent ensures that translations between Javanese and English are accurate, culturally appropriate, and sensitive to the complex social dynamics within the Javanese-speaking community.
An Insight into Javanese Expression
This passage is from Serat Kalatidha by Raden Ngabehi Ranggawarsita, first published in the 19th century. This iconic work is a cornerstone of Javanese literature, offering a profound reflection on the uncertainties of life, the passage of time, and the resilience required to navigate change.
- Javanese: "Ing tengahing peteng lan kabut, wong kudu nggawa obor tekad kanggo nemokake cahya sing sejatine."
- English Translation: "In the midst of darkness and fog, one must carry the torch of determination to find the true light."