Study on the English Translation of Chinese Classics Meditative Notes in Solitude from the Perspective of Cultural Schemata Theory

Abstract

The Meditative Notes in Solitude, known as one of the “Three Canons of Personal Cultivation”, is a representative classic of Chinese traditional culture as well as a precious philosophy. Based on the cultural scheme theory, this paper selects Zhou Wenbiao’s English translation of the Meditative Notes in Solitude as the research text. Then, according to Nida’s division of cultural types, the examples are categorized into ecological, material, social and religious cultural schemata. Moreover, the bar charts are used to show the quantitative weights of each schemata examples. Finally, the translation methods adopted by translators under the three aspects of cultural schemata theory are analyzed and concluded with a view to enhancing the international communication impact of English translation of Chinese classics.