Meaning Shifts in Translation: An Analysis of Adele's "Someone Like You" Lyrics as a Literary Text

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the differences in meaning that emerge in the process of
translating Adele's song "Someone Like You" into Indonesian, focusing on its function
as a literary text. The main objective is to identify and compare the nuances of meaning
contained in the source language (English) and the target language (Indonesian), and
to examine how translation affects emotional tone, style, and aesthetic quality. A
qualitative descriptive approach was employed, drawing on literary translation theory
to analyze the lyrics line by line. Data were collected by repeatedly listening to the song
and reading its lyrics to grasp both the overall message and the meaning of individual
lines, and by comparing the source lyrics with an existing Indonesian translation. The
findings show that shifts in meaning occur not only at the lexical level but also in cultural
and emotional dimensions, which in turn shape how the target-language audience
interprets the lyrics as a whole. Six representative lines were examined in detail,
revealing that certain word choices carry emotional and cultural nuances that a literal
rendering does not fully capture, particularly around expressions of settled life,
emotional withdrawal, discomfort, and the duration of love. This study offers insight
into the challenges of translating literary texts, particularly song lyrics, and underscores
the importance of preserving both the beauty and the depth of meaning throughout
the translation process.