A Tentative Study On The Translation Strategies Of English Long Sentences From The Perspective Of Schema Theory

As two different kinds of languages, English and Chinese are heterogeneous in terms of sentence structures. With more nested structures and complex sentences, the English sentence is of a hypotactic nature and longer in total length. With more linear structures and clauses, the Chinese sentence is of a paratactic nature and its total length is relatively shorter. These syntactical differences lead to difficulties in the translation of English long sentences. Related studies have been made in the field of translation in China. And the author of this thesis has gained a deeper understanding about it when translating excerpts from The Last Speakers.Schema theory originated from studies on cognitive psychology. It has been widely applied to the study of reading comprehension in foreign language teaching. The present thesis attempts to use schema theory in the study of translating English long sentences and describe the psychological aspects of the translator’s practice in the process. Then tentative strategies for translating English long sentences are provided. This preliminary research suggests that if a translator acquires a more comprehensive cognitive schema, it is easier for him or her to produce a better version when translating English long sentences into Chinese.