AnAnalysisoftheCulturalPhenomenainTranslationofPublicSigns

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Abstract: This paper focuses on several aspects of the translation of public signs from the perspective of cross-cultural munication. It discusses the existing problems and possible causes for Chinese-English translation of public signs and offers some suggestions to establish standard translation of public signs. The author would like to draw a conclusion that an accurate translation of public signs should always take account of the cultural factors in both languages.

Key words: cross-cultural, public signs, translation, problems

【中图分类号】H0【文献标识码】A【文章编号】0476-031X(2010)-03-0000-02

Ⅰ.Introduction

A public sign is a special kind of writing style. It can be always seen in public places, calling people's attention by using only several words or just by a simple picture. The application of public signs ranges from our daily life, including food, clothing, shelter, and means of trel, to education as well as other fields, which almost covers every here and there. Public signs he great importance in standardizing people's activities, encouraging production, building a harmonious society and so on.

The study of the translation of public signs abroad has developed into a more standard and mature system. However, in China, although public signs he long been used for directing, warning, explaining in public places, the study of the Chinese-English translation started rather late, lacking systematization and standardization. On the one hand, the non-standard and inappropriate signposts can be seen almost everywhere in our country, on the other hand, the importance of accurate Chinese-English translation of public signs has not been realized by the society.

This paper focuses on several aspects of the translation of public signs from the perspective of cross-cultural munication. It discusses the existing problems and possible causes in Chinese-English translation of public signs and offers some suggestions to establish standard translation of public signs. The author would like to draw a conclusion that an accurate translation of public signs should always take account of the cultural factors in both languages.

Ⅱ.Classifications of Public Signs

Public signs are set up according to their special functions in different places for different audience. Apart from those “public information signs”, “public safety signs”, “public transport signs” and so on, there are also a lot of functional public signs for special usage, for example, management, munication, service, operation and so on.

1. Drawing interests

This kind of public signs aims at stimulating the consumer's interests in order to attract more customers. So they are always seen outside the shop's windows and doors. For example:

八折优惠 20% Off

今日特价 Daily Special

最后机会 Last Chance to Buy

开业纪念特卖 Anniversary Sale

2. Giving information

These public signs are mainly used for offering information, direction. For example:

此门关闭 请走旁门Out of use. Please use the other doors.

请在此付款 Please Pay Here

请用 Cash Only Please

暂停服务 Out of Service

对号入座 Seat by Number

3. Calling attention to crime. For example:

谨防扒手

Beware of pickpocket

不用时请锁住

Latch closed when not in use.

4. Advertising

All of us he seen the advertising signposts in public in the city. Either the private advertising or the public advertising is used for consolidating the appearance of a city .At the same time, they can also prompt the city's reputation. For example:

我们关注!欢迎批评!

We care! We want your ments!

为可能带来的不便表示歉意

We apologize for any inconvenience.

尊敬自然

Respecting Nature

废物利用 能源再生

Recycle your rubbish, it's a resource

Ⅲ.Existing Problems in Chinese-English Translation of Public Signs

Although public signs he been used widely in our daily life, the nonstandard or inappropriate translations of public signs can be seen almost everywhere, in the street, in the hotel, in the restaurant or even in some museums.

A. Mistranslation on the cultural level

On the one hand, translation mistakes on the cultural level may make foreigners feel offended in terms of customs, beliefs, and faiths. For instance, there was once a kind of pills for losing weight, calling “轻身减肥片(slimming pills)”in Chinese, which was translated into “obesity-reducing tablets”. As we all know, the word “obesity” is always related with foolishness, slow-wit in western world. According to western culture and their values, it would better to use “slimming pills” instead.

On the other hand, there are other signs belong to Chinese culture and are translated word-for-word without taking account of the cultural differences which may cause misunderstanding, such as “春运”(Chun Yun), which means the peak season of passenger transportation during the spring festival. It can never be simply translated into “spring transportation” which would not be understood by the foreigners.

There are also public signs that exist in both cultures. However, the English versions are not sound as well as Chinese which impress people firmly and vividly. They are not wrongly interpreted but be translated not in accordance with English customs or English culture. These translations can only express the superficial meaning without tranitting the spirit or the beauty of the sign to foreigners. A large number model of this kind can be found in our daily life.

In most parks in China, signposts like “小小青草 足下留情”, “小草微微笑 请你走便道”, “保护绿草 留住绿意” (Keep Off the Grass) can be seen everywhere. There are also various translations, such as “Mind you don’t tread on the green meadow”, “Little grass is iling slightly. Please walk on the pement”, “Preserve green grass and retain the green color”, they were translated literally according to those of Chinese. The author suggests using the standard one of “Keep off the Grass” in western countries. There are also others like “Please give me a chance to live!” in some European countries. Although the translations is not exactly faithful to the original version, the westerners can understand it quickly, at the same time, they may feel ease at home.


B. Wrong spelling or wrong grammar

This kind of translation shows the poor quality of C-E translation of public signs. Theoretically, wrong spelling or wrong grammar can be oided easily if the translator has the responsibility for his own interpretation. However, such mistakes can be seen everywhere.

Some, like the restaurant signpost announcing a new menu item, “three kinds of crap” rather than “three kinds of carp”, result from carelessness. No one wants to eat crap, even in China. Carp, on the other hand, is tasty.

The wrong spelling or wrong grammar signposts not only deface the city but also lee a poor impression to those foreigners about the English proficiency of our Chinese people.

Ⅳ. Suggestions for Existing Problems

Translation from Chinese into English is by no means a mere matter to find equivalents between the source and target language. It involves a variety of processing tasks whose fulfillment demands responsibility and creation on the part of the translator.

A. Language styles of Chinese and English public signs

The translator should know the language style of both Chinese and English pubic signs well. “There are five important features about English public signs: firstly, most of the public signs are written in capitals without full stop, secondly, the public signs are always short even one word, thirdly, the public signs are

本文关于中国翻译及实例及旁门方面的免费优秀学术论文范文,关于中国翻译相关论文范文素材,与AnAnalysisoftheCulturalPhenomenainTranslationofPublicSigns相关毕业论文范文,对不知道怎么写中国翻译论文范文课题研究的大学硕士、本科毕业论文开题报告范文和文献综述及职称论文的作为参考文献资料下载。

in simple writing style, such as noun, verbal noun or phrase, fourthly, imperative sentence is used sometimes, fifthly, formal writing style is used sometimes” (Hu Wenzhong, 1987:1). As for Chinese public signs, the main feature is that using simple words to show simple meaning. That is to say, be brief and concise. If a public sign is too long, it would be difficult for people to catch the main meaning of the content and remember it.

When the translator know the features of both the original version and the translation version, it would be easier to adapt between them. For example, once there was a public sign posted by health service center to prompt citizens’ health sense. “随地吐痰乞人恨 罚款一千有可能 传播肺病因此起 卫生法例要遵行” .Obviously, this sign was written in ragged verse in order to warn citizens not to spit everywhere. If it was translated into English word-for-word, the original meaning may he no effect on foreigners who may take it as a joke. The proper translation can be “No spitting. Maximum penalty $1000”.

In interpreting a public sign, the translator needs to understand not only language differences but also language similarities. While understanding differences will help to know where the problem lies, understanding similarities may help to generate genuine translations.

B. Formal-normal-informal

According to different situation, the expression of English can be divided into formal, normal, informal. For example, “No Smoking”, “Thank you for not oking” and “For hygiene’s sake, please refrain yourself from oking in this room.”, this set of three signposts can respectively stands for formal, normal, informal expressions of English . These three linguistic forms should be properly used in different places.

In general, nonstandard abbreviations and symbols, and ambiguous dictions should be oided because the use of them could be unforable for efficient expression.

C. Some special requirements for translators

Firstly, a qualified translator should keep developing his language petence in both languages and hing a clear concept of the cultural differences as well as similarities. Secondly, to be a qualified translator demands great efforts by developing his language intuition to pick up idioms and specific expressions and his power of observation and insight of English. Moreover, it is important to be sensitive to social-cultural and cross-cultural information. Last but not least, a qualified translator should always he a sense of responsibility for his own translation.

Ⅴ.Conclusion

Nowadays China is striving to improve the standard of opening to the outside world. Therefore, as the visiting card of China which expresses the foreigners first, it is urgent to standardize various C-E translations of public signs. Since public signs has always been "the face of the city", every citizen has the duty to point out the errors in signposts which around us in our city. On the other hand, more and more foreign visitors e to China in recent years, so the standardized public signs in English are essential to the development of international touri in China.

This paper discussed several aspects of the Chinese-English translation problems of public signs, especially the cultural phenomena in translations. Based on some genuine examples, the author offered some suggestions to establish standard translation of public signs. The author made a conclusion that an accurate translation of public signs should always take account of the cultural factors in both languages. During the process of munication with foreign countries, translators would play an important part and burden hey responsibilities to standardize the Chinese-English translation of public signs.

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