Correlation Between Translation Learning Strategy And Translation Performance

With the development of globalization, cross-cultural communication in different fields is increasing drastically. As a means of international communication, translation is an essential skill for English learners, on which students spend a great deal of time. Effective strategies are desirable for students in their translation learning. English major students are a main group to learn translation. Some of them are would-be translators in different fields; so translation-learning strategies are of even greater importance to them. Therefore, significant is the research on the correlation between translation learning strategies adopted by English major students and their translation ability. Based on the data collected through tests and questionnaires, this paper aims to find out relatively effective strategies for translation learning by analyzing, with the help of statistical software, the results of translation performance of the junior English major students in non-key universities who adopt different learning strategies.First, the author gives a review of the researches concerned home and abroad. Then, the author offers an introduction to the definition and categories of learning strategy adopted by foreign language learners. In the following part, the author gives a detailed account of the whole process of collecting the data needed in the study and analyzing the data. On the basis of data analysis, the author compares the results of students' performance in the translation tests and finds out these learning strategies which are relatively effective to help students improve their translation performance .At last, the author offers some suggestions on translation teaching.In this study, the author finds out a number of learning strategies are significantly related to students' translation ability in both English-Chinese translation and Chinese-English translation. They are the following: 1) master of a large vocabulary; 2) good command of English grammar and powerful capability of constructing long sentences; 3) good knowledge about the differences between Chinese culture and western culture; 4) systematical knowledge of translation theories; 5) mastering necessary translation techniques; 6) good writing in foreign language and mother language; 7) much translation practice .Of the above listed learning strategies, 2) and 4) are significantly but negatively related to students' translation ability .The findings suggest knowledge of the difference between cultures, translation techniques, good writing and more translation practice are of great help in developing students' translation ability. This study also indicates that the subjects are in lack of ability to analyze and construct long and involved sentences. In addition, they need more knowledge of translation theories.On the basis of the result analysis of subjects' translation performance and their feedback to the interview questions, the author offers suggestions on translation curriculums, teaching materials, teacher training and translation test paper .The author hopes this study can provide some reference for translation teaching.