Definition of Interpretation – For some people, maybe the term interpretation is familiar to the ears or even maybe Reader has often practiced what is called the interpretation.
If you don’t understand yet, one of the jobs that often do interpretation is the profession of translator. When translating a work, the translators will interpret the work to be translated, before translating it into a specific language.
The translation process needs to be done, so that the foreign language in the work can be conveyed well into other languages. The purpose is so that the meaning of the original sentence does not change.
It should be known that the interpretation process is not only applied to the world of translation, but also in various other fields. So, what exactly is meant by that interpretation? So as not to be confused, let’s see the explanation in the following article!
Meaning of Interpretation
In general, the meaning of interpretation is the process of giving opinions, impressions, ideas, and theoretical views on a certain object that comes from a deep idea and is influenced by the background of the person who created the object.
In general, the concept of interpretation is used to translate certain information from the initial form into another form. For example when a researcher is examining an ancient record on stone media that was carved using a sharp tool.
The ancient record contains various symbols that need to be interpreted by researchers, so that the meaning and purpose of people today can be understood.
Researchers need to interpret the meaning that the stone carver wants to convey. Information that can be interpreted by researchers, can be in the form of writing, oral, or pictures, and can contain one or more languages in one media.
According to the Big Indonesian Dictionary (KBBI), interpretation means the interpretation of giving, impressions, opinions, and theoretical views about an object.
However, in general, interpretation or what is also known as hermeneutics is a philosophy or theory that explains the meaning of a meaning.
The word hermeneutics itself is a verb that comes from the Greek language yaki hermeneuein which means to interpret or translate. Interpretation is included in the structure of the explanatory text.
The structure of the explanatory text consists of several general statements about the topic that explain the sequence of the event process. Interpretation contains conclusions and topics explained.
Generally, the interpretation text is at the end of the paragraph and the text explains the gist, view, and also the conclusion of the topic in the explanation text.
Definition Interpretation From Members
In order to better understand interpretation, here are definitions of interpretation from various experts.
1. Freeman Tilden
Tilden expressed his opinion that the understanding of interpretation is an activity that has an educational nature and has the purpose of expressing meaning and relationships through intermediaries based on original objects and experiences.
2. Walin
Walin defines interpretation as a way of service that aims to help so that a certain group can be aroused and have a sense of sensitivity to feel the beauty of the environment along with its variations and relationships with the environment.
3. Kaelan
Kaelan believes that interpretation is an art that provides an overview of indirect communication.
4. Ricoeur
According to Ricoeur, interpretation is a process of orderly thinking that is done to find the hidden meaning from the meaning that has appeared in a level fold. The level fold is in a literal sense. Symbols and meanings according to Ricoeur have mutually correlated properties and also have many meanings.
5. Sumaryono
Interpretation is an effort to reveal the meaning that is still veiled or an effort to unfold the level of meaning that is in the literature.
6. MacKinnon
According to MacKinnon, interpretation is a branch of science that studies art in providing explanations about an area such as fauna, flora, geological processes, history, and culture in the community.
From the opinion of experts, it can be concluded that interpretation does not always have a relationship with writing. Interpretation can be a way for someone to describe a condition, view, and everything that can only be seen and cannot be touched.
Types of Interpretation
As stated earlier about the meaning of interpretation, Reader certainly understood that interpretation can be done in many fields and has various types. Here is an explanation of the general type of interpretation.
1. Interpretation of Short Stories
Interpretation of short stories is a process to interpret and describe various meanings from short stories or short stories. Short story interpretation can also be interpreted as an activity to search for meaning and make the short story be able to be adapted and explained to conditions that are suitable in real life.
For example, interpreting the meaning of the adoption of a figure with a poor background, by using a poor figure can explain the habits and character of the figure in accordance with the situation and conditions experienced by the people from the lower economy.
2. Image Interpretation
The second type is image interpretation, which is the activity of analyzing photos and images produced through certain tools and the purpose of taking photos or images is to identify the object and its role.
In practice, image interpretation is done by remote sensing using a special tool. So, the interpreter through the results of observation with the specific image tool will get a number of shapes, colors, and so on.
3. Interpretation of History
Historical interpretation can be defined as an interpretation activity on a historical data, so that it can bring about the existence of subjectivity. In general, when analyzing historical relics, various shapes, symbols, and images will be found as material or data to be interpreted.
For example, when an archaeologist inside a cave found several symbols and pictures on the wall of the cave. The picture was certainly made with a specific purpose and purpose, for example to explain the customs of the community at that time.
Sometimes, there are some symbols and pictures whose meaning is unknown. So that interpretation is needed to interpret the symbols and pictures.
After performing the interpretation, the archaeologist can convey the meaning of the symbols and images through writing and verbally using language that is easily understood by the community at that time.
The result of the interpretation is to be able to get complete historical evidence along with information as a result of the historical evidence.
Interpretation of history, in general, can bring up a subjectivity. Therefore, there are several things that must be observed before interpreting, such as the background and also the point of view of the interpreter.
According to Gilbert J. Garraghan, historical interpretation can be divided into five types, among which are verbal interpretation, psychological interpretation, logical interpretation, factual interpretation, and technical interpretation.
4. Interpretation of Nature
The fourth type of interpretation is natural interpretation. Natural interpretation is an activity of interpretation and description of a condition or natural scenery around. For example, when a person sees the sky, then that person can interpret what he sees at that time.
For example, by determining various cloud shapes that can be interpreted to resemble certain shapes that are quite familiar.
Then, when the color of the sky becomes blackish blue, then one can interpret that maybe at that moment it is cloudy which means it will rain soon.
5. Data Interpretation
Fifth, data interpretation is one form of activity in which the merging of an analysis result with various types of questions based on criteria that are appropriate to the standards that have been determined.
So, in certain activities, one can get a certain amount of data. For example, when a person conducts research that raises the topic of the factors that cause poverty in a certain area, then that person will conduct research related to any factors that cause poverty.
If the data has been successfully collected, then the researcher can do interpretation, to find out the factors that cause poverty in the area.
6. Music Interpretation
Interpretation can also be done on music. Music interpretation is a process used by a person to discover any meaning and desire of a composer. With the aim that music lovers can know the feelings that the writer wants to convey or feel when creating the music.
7. Map Interpretation
Map interpretation can be defined as a process of reading a map and giving meaning and interpreting the contents of the map by using the symbols written in it.
So, when someone looks at a map such as Google Maps, then that person will see various symbols. The symbols on the map mean several things such as the airport, petrol station and so on.
Purpose of Interpretation
Interpretation is done to achieve various specific purposes. Here is an explanation of the purpose of interpretation.
1. Increase Understanding
The main purpose of interpretation is to improve the understanding of an object. The word interpretation can be interpreted as an activity to explain the meaning of an object that is still unclear.
From the meaning alone, the purpose of this interpretation is clearly stated. Interpretation activities can help a person to minimize the occurrence of inconsistencies in the meaning and meaning of certain objects, for example such as historical interpretation.
With historical interpretation, an archaeologist can know the meaning, purpose, and meaning of a symbol and minimize the misinterpretation of the symbol.
2. Use of Data
Interpretation is done for the management of existing data. When interpreting, analysis is done to provide an explanation.
Analysis can only be done, when the data has been found and used appropriately. By doing interpretation, it can lead to a logical explanation based on the existing database.
3. Minimize Misinterpretation
Interpretation is done not only to explain an object, but also to help minimize the occurrence of misinterpretation of a particular object. This purpose is in line with the meaning of interpretation, which is the art of explaining, illustrating, and explaining something.
Principles in Interpretation
Based on the meaning and purpose of interpretation, here are five principles when interpreting that Reader need to understand before interpreting.
- There is no need to include explanations that have nothing to do with what is shown and explained, because it will be a useless explanation.
- Write information that matches all the elements contained in the explanation.
- Interpretation can also be referred to as an art that combines various types of art to reach a certain limit.
- When doing interpretation mediation, it does not need to be done sequentially, but it needs to be done according to needs and persuasion.
- When interpreting for children, there is no need to simplify the language of adults.
In addition to applying the five principles of interpretation, an interpreter must also apply an interpretation program. The purpose is so that the interpretation process or the result of the interpretation is in accordance with the wishes and there is no interpretation error.
The interpretation program covers seven plans, among which are:
- Can be used
- Efficient
- Able to express beauty
- Minimize damage or loss to natural and cultural communities
- Flexible and selective
- Public participation
- Optimum use of natural resources.
There is also a special interpretation program that must be known and covers five programs among them namely
- Trial and error
- Data analysis
- Unity
- Determine the theme and purpose of the program
- Doing an inventory of the resources available in a site.
From the explanation of interpretation in this article, Reader of course already understands what is meant by interpretation, right?