Yogyakarta, April 23, 2026 — A team of lecturers and students from the English Literature Study Program, Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY), successfully conducted a community engagement program titled “Translation as Storytelling” at Museum Benteng Vredeburg Yogyakarta.

The program aimed to strengthen museum staff’s ability not only to translate diorama labels into English, but also to transform those translations into meaningful and engaging narratives for international visitors.

The Program Participants (Doc. Brigitta Sita Oentari)

Bridging Language and Story

Museums today serve not only as spaces for displaying historical artifacts, but also as platforms for storytelling. However, translation practices in museums often remain limited to literal word-for-word rendering, which may not fully convey the intended meaning, especially for foreign visitors unfamiliar with local cultural contexts.

Addressing this issue, the UNY team introduced the concept of “translation as storytelling,” emphasizing that translation should go beyond linguistic accuracy and focus on building understanding and narrative engagement.

The program was led by Dindadari Arum Jati, S.S., M.Hum. as the Team Leader, Dr. Andy Bayu Nugroho, S.S., M.Hum., Dr. Tyas Gita Atibrata, S.S., M.A., and Brigitta Sita Oentari, M.Hum. They were assisted by student team members: Sri Wulandari, Alya Nashwa Ramadhani, Dhira Rahagi Paksindra, Imtitsa Shobiha Sahin, and Affrendi Kurniawan.

First Session by Brigitta Sita Oentari, M.Hum. (Doc. Anisa Putri Mursid)

Interactive Training Sessions

The training was attended by 20 museum personnel, including educators, conservators, curators, preparators, and a librarian. It was structured into three main sessions:

1. Understanding Translation in Museum Contexts

The first session introduced participants to key principles of translation, including accuracy, clarity, and readability. Drawing from previous research conducted at the same museum, the session highlighted how inconsistent translation of proper names can lead to confusion among visitors. Participants were encouraged to rethink translation not simply as transferring words, but as ensuring that meaning is effectively understood.

Second Session by Dindadari Arum Jati, S.S., M.Hum. (Doc. Dhira Rahagi Paksindra)

2. Storytelling for Museum Educators

The second session focused on storytelling techniques for museum guides. Participants learned how to connect diorama details with human experiences, apply narrative structures, and move beyond simply reading labels.

Third Session by Dr. Andy Bayu Nugroho, S.S., M.Hum. (Doc. Dhira Rahagi Paksindra)

Student Modeling by Imtitsa Shobiha Sahin (Doc. Dhira Rahagi Paksindra)

3. Integrating Translation and Storytelling

In the final session, participants practiced turning factual diorama labels into short oral narratives in English. There was also a live modeling demonstration by Imtitsa Shobiha Sahin, who showed how a static label could be transformed into a dynamic and engaging story. Her performance provided a concrete example of how storytelling can enhance visitor engagement.

During the practice session, working in groups, the participants applied hybrid translation strategies and storytelling techniques to create more natural and meaningful explanations.

This hands-on activity allowed participants to directly experience how translation and storytelling can work together to improve communication with international audiences.

Fourth Session by Dr. Tyas Gita Atibrata, S.S., M.A. (Doc. Dhira Rahagi Paksindra)

Positive Impact and Participant Response

The program received highly positive feedback from participants. Most reported that the materials were engaging, easy to understand, and directly applicable to their daily work.

Notably, participants expressed that the training provided new insights and inspiration in educating museum visitors. Many also reported increased confidence in explaining historical content in English, particularly when combining translation with storytelling techniques. (Brigitta)