Translation Of Religious Culture-loaded Words From A Schema-theoretic Perspective

Cultural factors are paid much attention in translation studies. Complex and difficult as they are to translate, yet they are very important. American linguist Nida divided culture into5kinds, material culture, social culture, linguistic culture, ecological culture and religious culture. Among them, religious culture as a unique cultural form almost emerged and was developed simultaneous with human culture, and it influences every aspect of social life. Moreover, literature is the reflection of social life. Hence a close relationship is established between religious culture and literature. In China, Buddhism, Taoism and Confucius have a great influence on literature and art. Chinese classic literary works are rich in religious culture-loaded words which embodies Chinese deep cultural connotation. They become an important part of understanding literary works. However, at present studies and discussions on translation of religious culture-loaded words are restricted to summary of strategies used in famous versions and transformation of religious terms on surface level. Few researches have been done on transformation of religious ideology from cognitive perspective. Thus this thesis aims to discuss the translation of religious culture-loaded words in literary works under the guidance of schema theory to find out effective ways of translation to reveal religious cultural connotation and help target readers have a better understanding of classical works.This thesis first gives out the definition and literature review of religious culture-loaded words. Then it clarifies the definition, functions and classifications of schema theory, as well as schematic strategies in cognitive process of translation. This follows with the analysis of factors determining translation strategies from schematic perspective, which are respectively translation purpose, translator’s schemata, and translator’s assumptions of potential reader’s schemata. Finally through analyzing the translation of religious culture-loaded words in the circumstances of religious cultural corresponding, religious cultural conflicts and religious cultural vacancy, it draws the conclusion that schema theory is instructive and useful in guiding translation of religious culture-loaded words, and from the schematic perspective the translation principle is to activate the changes of schemata—schema refreshing, schema adding and schema reconstructing in potential readers to produce a highly similar response.