an analysis on the translation of public signs英语专业论文本科学位论文.docx

1、an analysis on the translation of public signs英语专业论文本科学位论文中国某某某某学校学生毕业设计(论文)题 目: An Analysis on the Translation of Public Signs 姓 名 ： 0000000 班级、学号 ： 00000000 系 (部) ： 经济管理系 专 业 ： 商务英语 指导教师 ： 0000000 开题时间： 2008-11-12 完成时间： 2009-10-2 2009 年 10 月 02 日目 录毕业设计任务书1毕业设计成绩评定表2答辩申请书3-5正文6-26答辩委员会表决意见27答辩过程记录

2、表28课 题 An Analysis on the Translation of Public Signs一、 课题(论文)提纲.引言1.1研究背景1.2 研究目的1.3 研究方法.公示语的翻译 2.1公示语的翻译特点 2.1.1简洁2.1.2 简单2.1.3 清晰 2.2中英公示语翻译上的差异2.2.1 观点的不同2.2.2 排列顺序的不同 2.3 公示语翻译中的常见错误 2.3.1 拼写错误 2.3.2 语法错误 2.3.3 逐字翻译.公示语翻译的策略 3.1符合国际标准的翻译策略3.1.1 指示性3.1.2 提示性3.1.3 强迫性3.1.4 限制性 3.2符合中国特色的翻译策略3.2.

3、1 具有中国特色的公示语标语3.2.2 具有中国特色的旅游景点内公示语 3.3 其他策略.结语二、内容摘要公示语在我们生活当中必不可少，它涉及到了我们生活中的许多方面。随着中国的发展，越来越多的外国友人来到中国工作，旅游和学习。公示语给他们的日常生活带来了方便，同时也帮助他们更好地了解中国。然而，公示语汉英翻译现状不容乐观，存在着许多错误，这些错误导致了语用的失误，也损坏了我国的国际形象。因此我们应该更加注意它。只有当公示语的翻译达到其原本目的时，我们才能说我们的翻译是成功的. 关键词：公示语; 汉英翻译; 翻译策略三、 参考文献1. Baker. Mona Rutledge Encyclop

4、edia of Translation Studies. London. Rutledge. 1998 2. BassnettMcGuire.Susan Translation Studies. London and New York. Methuen.19803. Duan Liancheng.Baker. Mona Rutledge Encyclopedia of Translation Studies. London. Rutledge. 1998 4. BassnettMcGuire. Susan Translation Studies. London and New York. Me

5、thuen. 19805. Duan Liancheng, How to help foreigners know China. Beijing.China Reconstructs Press. 19986. Jim Di & Nida. Eugene A. On Translation. With Special Reference to Chinese and English. Beijing. China Translation and Publishing Cooperation.19847. New mark peter. A Text Book of Translation. S

6、hanghai foreign language Education Press, 20018. 包惠南. 文化语境与语言翻译. 北京.中国对外翻译出版公司.20019. 郭力嘉. 中国大城市公示语汉英翻译研究. 四川大学硕士学位论文.200610. 连淑能. 汉英对比研究. 北京.高等教育出版社.199311. 氿全菊. 公示语及其翻译. 山东大学硕士论文.200512. 刘伟. 中国城市汉语公示语英译失误探析及其翻译研究. 上海外国语大学硕士学位论文，200813. 王颖.吕和发. 公示语汉英翻译. 北京.中国对外翻译出版公司.2007An Analysis on the Translat

7、ion of Public Signs000000000Abstract: Public signs, which can be seen in public place affect us in many ways are necessary to us. With Chinas development, more and more foreigners come to China for their business, tour and study. Public signs can bring convenience for their daily life; meantime it a

8、lso can help them know better about China. However, there exist many problems in the ChineseEnglish translation of public signs causing the pragmatic failure and damaging our international image. So we should pay more attention to it. Only when translation of public signs achieves the intended purpo

9、se can we say our translation is successful.Keywords: public signs; Chinese -English translation; translation strategies .IntroductionIn this chapter, it is focused on the introduction of this thesis, including the background, objectives and Mythology of the research.1.1 Background of the research W

10、ith China has gained the membership of WTO and intensification of our reform and openingup policy, China become more and more international, so more and more foreigners streaming into China in increasing numbers. Under this circumstance, China now is facing a new challenge in translation studies, a

11、great number of materials translated in English are to essential for foreigner to help them better adapt to China and make them feel at home is an important problem to consider and solve. If we are careful enough to pay attention to it, we can find many improper bilingual public signs, for example“游

12、人止步 ”，we translation it “ The Tourist Stop the Steps,” “Tourist Dont Go Further ” or “ Tourist Stop here . But which is accurate? In fact, all these are wrong from the English versions as their functional failure. In summary public signs perform an irreplaceable role in the process of integration wi

13、th outside world. In recent yeas, more and more Sinoforeign joint ventures and cooperative enterprises have been set up in China, which also bring into China a steady steam of business people from other countries. Foreigners will benefit from home. However the failure in the CE translation of public

14、 signs in China hinders the economic and cultural exchanges in the whole world. Some CE translations of public signs mislead and even irritate the “international citizens who defaces the image of our nation. Under such circumstances, it is very necessary to implement this research on CE translation

15、of public signs in China.1.2 Objectives of the research When we talk about public signs, the following ones will appear in our mind “keep silence”, “No smoking”, “Information”. All of these are included in public signs. Then what are public signs? According to the Oxford Advance Leurners EnglishChin

16、ese Dictionary, “signs refer to a board, notice, etc that directs somebody towards to somewhere, gives a warning, advertise a business etc. It is used as a means of distinguishing it from others or directing attention to it; later is used commonly on a board bearings name or other inscription, with

17、or without some ornament or picture. It is defined as a lettered board or other public display placed or before a building, room, shop or office to advertise, business translated there or the name of person or firm conducting it according to Websters Third New International Dictionary. Public signs

18、can affect the peoples life in many aspects and it can be list as following:1) used as traffic signs ,such as Two Way 双向行驶 One Way 单线行 2）Used in scenic spots, giving direction or explanation such as Visitor Center 旅游者服务中心 No Littering 请勿乱扔废弃物 3) Used in public accommodation to maintain public orders

19、, such as No Spitting 严禁随地吐痰 No parking 严禁停车 4) Used on the label, the package or in the pamphlet to give information about the commodity, such asGlass 小心玻璃 Handle With Care小心轻放 5) Used translation firms name Yixin Electronic Cooperation 益新电子公司 Yonghe Trading Company 永和贸易公司 1.3 Methodology of the re

20、searchIn the process of translation, all cultural elements, a translators mother tongue, value systems, thinking patterns, religious beliefs will influence his choice of translation strategies and approaches. The process is not the untraceable flow of thinking in the translators mind. This paper ada

21、pting to comparative analytical method analyze the causes. A Chinese public sign and the translated version are first compared and then translation problems are analyzed. In most causes, the ravished translation is also provided. . General Introduction to Public Signs and Their Translation In this c

22、hapter, we will analyze the language features of public signs and difference between Chinese and English public signs, at the same time, it still include errors in the translation of public signs. 2.1 Language Features of Public Signs With the signs are on a board, so the language on the signs shoul

23、d be in concise way due to the comparatively small space. Secondly, some public signs must draw the publics attention at first sight and the readers can catch its meaning very quickly and correctly, especially the traffic signs, such as “Abrupt Turn Right Ahead 前方急转弯,” the applied words should be cl

24、ear and easy to read, the sign is set without ambiguity. We can also analyze this topic in three ways.2.1.1 Conciseness According to William Strunk, Jr and E.B White in 1979(Joan Pinkham 2001.1): “vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain necessary words paragraph necessary sentences, f

25、or the same reason that a drawing should have to unnecessary lines and a machine necessary parts. It is also true of language of public signs. Usually the readers for public signs just look at the board with signs quickly when they pass by, so the language on it need simple, a phrase or just a word

26、is enough, for example, “No Smoking 禁止吸烟” “Open 正在营业”. We need not use sentences “please do not smoking and “we are on business”. So we must remember keep as conciseness as possible principle when we translate some public signs.2.1.2 Simple wordsDue to the target reader always speed little time on r

27、eading the signs. So the meaning of the signs should be clear and easy to them understood. As the target readers are the common people who have litter knowledge related to the concerned topic, the sign should directly hit the point and there should not exist on vagueness. In Ni and Lius essay (倪传斌和刘

28、治1988)， they provide an example “严禁客货混装 Dont put passengers and cargos together. The target reader may feel hazy because they do not know whether it means the passengers can not take the cargos themselves to the destination or whether it means the passengers are forbidden to sit on the cargos and th

29、ey should sit in the cab. So the sign“严禁客货混装” should be translated into “No Passengers on Trucks”. Then, readers can understand that it means the passengers can take the cargos themselves to the destination but they are forbidden to sit on the cargos. The sign are set for the public and many readers

30、 arent professional, therefore when translate sign, we should get the point directly and clearly and should not just talk around the bush. 2.1.3 Clearness Public signs are set for the foreigners who know a little English and English is not his mother language, and target readers also include oversea

31、s Chinese who is not a English native speaker. If the English version is full of rare words and expression, it will cause a pragmatic failure of communication and even misunderstand for public signs. We often see a small restaurant at the airport to provide fast food for the passengers, the English tablet should be “Snacks instead of “Refection, because the later one is rare words and often be used nowadays. Take another example, “景区坏境卫生，需要你的维护”, should we translate it into “Environmental Sanitation of the Scenic Spot Need Your Conserve”. The words “sanitat