摘 要

汉语成语是民族文化的结晶，其翻译是一项其极复杂的工作。本文从图式理论的视角来研究汉语成语的翻译，发现该理论对汉语成语翻译具有重要的指导作用。在图式理论指导的指导下，本文重点剖析了受图式理论影响的翻译过程以及对成语翻译策略的具体性影响。

关键词：图式理论；背景知识；翻译策略

Contents

1. Introduction 1

2. Demonstration 1

2.1. Schema Theory 1

2.2. The background influence on translation 1

2.2.1. The political influence 2

2.2.2. The geographical influence 2

2.2.3. The cultural influence 2

2.3. The translation of Chinese idioms---from the perspective of schema theory 3

2.3.1. The process of the translation from the perspective of schema theory 3

2.3.1.1. Schema conversion from original author to translator 3

2.3.1.2. Schema conversion from translator to target reader 4

2.3.2. The specific illustration of translation of Chinese idioms from the perspective of schema 4

2.3.2.1. Literal translation 5

2.3.2.2. Free translation 5

2.3.2.3. Free translation and literal translation combined method 6

2.3.2.4. Simulated translation 6

3.Conclusion 7

Works Cited 9

Bibliography 10

The Translation of Chinese Idioms From the Perspective of Schema Theory

1. Introduction

Idioms are commonly used by people of all ages. Derived from classics, the folk or other sources, an idiom in a certain context succinctly expresses the writer’s intended meaning. However, when it comes to the translation of idioms, the very existence of idioms can be a serious hindrance to translators. The introduction of Schema Theory(ST) gives us a new perspective into the explanation of translation. British psychologist Bartlett points out in the book “Remembering” that “an illustration is a reflection of past experience or an active organization of past experience”(32). In current China, the study of the translation of Chinese idioms mainly focus on the internal issues existing in the translation of Chinese idioms. Most of them study subjects like the strategies of the translation of Chinese idioms. However, studies applying ST to translation of Chinese idioms are still few and far between. This paper aims to examine the translation of Chinese idioms from the perspective of ST.

1. Demonstration
   1. Schema Theory

Schema theory is a hot topic in modern cognitive linguistics. Schema theory holds that when people understand new things, they need to relate new things to background knowledge. The modern schema theory emerged in the mid-1970s. Its main representatives are Minsky and Rumelhart who call the schema a set of interacting knowledge structures stored in long-term memory in a hierarchical way. When people are understanding the input of new information, they need to link the input information with known information, which is background knowledge.

2.2 The background influence on translation

2.2.1 The political influence

With the spread of internationalization, political exchanges between countries are becoming more and more frequent. Therefore, the translation activities play a significant role in countries’ exchanges and mutual learning.

For example, the concept of leopard spot was formed in the mid-1960s. The South Vietnamese People’s Armed Forces established many small-scale base areas behind the theater. The United States’ military map is marked with “Leopard spots” in different colors. Later, the military term “leopard spot” was converted into a political term, referring to racial segregation policies that white racists forced blacks to drive into a few small areas. If we do not understand the political background knowledge of the concept of "Leopard Spot," how can we translate the information of the original language or just narrowly translate it? Other readers do not quite understand it. Therefore, the importance of political background knowledge in translation activities is self-evident.