A Study on the Translation of Chinese Public Signs from Perspective of Functional Translation Theory
毕业论文
i Acknowledgements
I have met a lot of difficulties since I decided on the theme of my thesis, but fortunately I
have received help from many of my friends and teachers．
First of all, my heartfelt thanks go to Ge Liping, my supervisor, who has helped me so much at every stage of this thesis. She never hesitates to give me good suggestions and inspiring
encouragement. Besides, she herself pursues knowledge diligently, setting an example to us. She
has often urged me to improve the paper, and I did not let her down although it is still far from
perfection.
Then I wish to express my gratitude to teacher Du who taught us thesis writing. Her course was worthy and rewarding on how to write a thesis and make it better.
1 would also like to acknowledge my course teachers. During the past four years, they
taught me not only knowledge but also the right way to do scientific research. Their interesting
lectures all offered contributions to any achievement I have ever made.
Next, many thanks are given to my parents, who have tried their utmost to relieve my
pressure and brought forward many suggestions. I am also very grateful to my classmates and
friends for their emotional support and passionate love during the course of my doing research.
Finally, I would like to thank all the authors of the books and articles cited in my thesis,
their valuable perspectives and ideas provide rich materials for my reference. www.mozhua.net 毕业论文 ii
Abstract
With the successful staging of Beijing Olympic Games and the opening of 2010 World
Exposition in Shanghai, more and more foreign friends want to know China. However, as an
important window which other countries can learn about China through
it—public signs, there
are still many mistakes on the Chinese-English translation of them. This may seriously and
negatively influence the international image of China, even lead to a misunderstanding about China by foreigners.
This thesis points out the importance of public signs translation. First, it introduces the
elements of public signs and functional translation theory, and the researches on public signs;
second, it analyzes the problems occurred in public signs translation and indicates that many
problems existed in present signs translation practice mainly due to the only guidance of
linguistically oriented translation approaches, which are source-language-oriented. Being
constrained by the form and structure of the source text can only lead to Chinglish, verbalization,
and failure to grasp the main points. In fact, the only criterion to evaluate the translation of signs
is whether the intended functions of the translated text can be achieved in the target culture.
Functionalists, represented by Reiss hold that, the translated text is determined by the purpose of
translation, so as the strategy of translation. At last, with the guidance of functional translation
theory, the present study mainly discusses existing problems which is happened by ignoring
culture difference and explores the translation principles and skills of public signs. It can not
only provide a theoretical reference for the translation of public signs, standardize the translation
of public signs, but also enrich the practical application of functional translation theory, besides it
will also provide a new perspective for linguistic researchers in translation practice. Key words: public signs; functional translation theory; translation principles and skills www.mozhua.net 毕业论文 iii
内容摘要
随着2008 年北京奥运会的成功举办以及2010 年上海世界博览会的召开，越来越多的 国际友人希望了解中国。然而，作为让世界了解中国的一个重要窗口——城市公示语的英
译却存在着很多错误，这严重影响着中国的国际形象，甚至可能引起外国友人对中国的
误
解。
本文指出了公示语翻译的重要性，首先介绍了公示语和功能翻译理论的基本内容，并 分析了公示语的研究现状；其次举例分析了目前公示语的翻译错误，表明大部分公示语翻
译基本上沿用以翻译等值为中心的语言学派翻译法作指导，采取以源语语言和文化为取向
的翻译策略，以译文与原文的对等程度来评价译文质量，忽视了不同语言与文化之间的差
异性，结果导致翻译僵化、词不达意，严重影响了公示语的翻译质量；事实上，判断公示
语翻译是否恰当的关键因素在于译语文本是否在目的语文化中起作用。以莱斯为代表的德
国功能学派认为翻译目的决定译文，也决定翻译策略和方法，强调译文在译语文化中的交
际功能。最后，在功能翻译理论指导下，通过举例着重分析公示语翻译中由于忽视文化差
异而导致的错误，探讨公示语的翻译原则与技巧。其意义不仅能够给公示语翻译提供理论
参考，规范公示语的翻译，而且能够丰富功能翻译理论的实际应用，还能为语言工作者们
提供翻译实践新视角。
关键词：公示语；功能翻译理论；翻译原则与技巧 www.mozhua.net 毕业论文 Contents
Acknowledgements………………………………………………………………………………i Abstract
(English) ………………………………………………………………………………..ii Abstract (Chinese) ……………iii 1.
Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………1
1.1 Introduction to public signs………………………………………………………………..1 1.2 Introduction to functional translation theory………………………………………………3 1.3 Introduction to researches on public signs translation……………………………………..4 1.4 Introduction to this thesis…………………………………………………………………..4 2. Problems on public signs translation…………………………………………………………..5 2.1 Semantic translation problems……………………………………………………………..5
2.1.1 Spelling errors………………………………………………………………………..5
2.1.2 Grammatical errors………….……………………………………………………….5 2.1.3 Mechanical translation……………………………………………………………….6 2.2 Pragmatic translation problems…………………………………………………………….6 3. Enlightenment of FTT on public signs translation……………………………………………..7 3.1 Advantages of FTT to public signs translation…………………………………………….7 3.2 Application of FTT to public signs translation…………………………………………….7 4. Translation skills on public signs….………………………………………………………………8 4.1 Borrowing skill…………………………………………………………………………….8 4.2 Imitation skill…………………………………………………………………………………9 4.3 Creativity skill…………………………………………………………………………………9 5.
Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………………………9 5.1 Major finding…………………………………………………………………………………9 5.2 Purpose of this thesis…………………………………………………………………………10 5.3
Limitation…………………………………………………………………………………10 Works
Cited…………………………………………………………………………………………12 www.mozhua.net 毕业论文 1
1. Introduction
Since the reform and opening-up, English as an international language has become a
necessary tool for the Chinese people to communicate with the world. Then with the acceleration
of globalization, China joins in the WTO, wins the bid for the Olympic Games as well as the
World Exposition in 2010, more and more Chinese people learn English. English has come to
affect the culture, political and social structure of the region. Apart from magazines, news,
broadcast, Internet and other media channels, the social application of English begins to snatch
even bigger shares. Bilingual tourist handbooks, announcements, road signs, etc. are seen here
and there. It has been a trend to add bilingual signs to the main public places in order to provide
a “window” for foreigners to know China better.
Public signs are important parts of the linguistic environment and human culture. Any
misunderstanding, misuse of public signs can lead to bad social influences. Odd, inexact
translation not only confuses tourists but also blocks the way to attract investments. Therefore,
scholars begin to write articles to appeal to the issue. Beijing Review, China Daily and others
have published articles pointing out the vast amount of mistakes in public signs translation.
Besides, cities like Beijing, Shanghai launch campaigns to standardize road signs in order to
make navigation easier for visitors. 1.1 Introduction to public signs
When someone says public signs most people always think of these words like “莲花街”,
“禁止超车” and “请勿乱扔垃圾” in public places. Apparently, these belong to public signs but
not exhaustively. What is the definition of public signs? In Longman Contemporary
English-Chinese Dictionary, it is defined as a board or other notice giving information, warming,
or directions, etc. to people in public places (Longman 1331).
By now, there is no unified definition of public signs. However, it is true that public signs
have developed from a narrow meaning, i.e. signs for names and services of institutions, to a
much wider meaning including directives, notices, slogans, and warnings, etc. Public signs here
in this thesis are referred to those signs written on a piece of board, paper or metal etc. in public
places to provide information and public norms for the public. Only concise and written public www.mozhua.net 毕业论文 2
signs are discussed in this paper. Another thing needed to pay mention is that public signs
language differs from “sign language” which is to use the hands in a conscious, “verbal”
manner
to express the same range of meaning as would be achieved by speech or by grammar adopted by
the deaf (David Crystal 222). These two concepts should not be mixed.
According to Chen Xinren, public signs have four functions as follows: directing,
prompting, restricting, and compelling (Chen Xinren 58-64).
Directing signs: as its name suggests, directing is to offer directions. Directing signs provide considerate information service without any interruptions and restrictions, such as Example 1. INFORMATION (问询处); Example 2. Take-Away Service (外卖服务);
Prompting signs: prompting function means to guide people to do activities in public places, such as
Example 1. Caution: Mind the Step (警告：小心台阶); Example 2. Danger: High Voltage (危险：高压!);
Restricting signs: restricting function means to limit people?s behaviors in public places, such as
Example 1. Staff Only (闲人免进); Example 2. Keep Right (右侧行驶);
Compelling signs: compelling function means to require the public to do or not to do
something, such as
Example 1. NO ENTRY (禁止入内); Example 2. NO Parking (禁止停车).
From the examples above, it is seen that the language used in public signs are special and
unique. According to Functional Varieties of Present-day English, there are five outstanding
features of public signs. First, capital letters are quite often used in public signs without full stops.
Second, there is always few words even only one word in a public sign. Third, the language style
is concise. Public signs consist of nouns, verbs, or noun phrases. In order to be more concise,
articles would be removed sometimes. Fourth, imperative sentences would be used sometimes.
Fifth, formal style will be applied into some public signs. Only when we are familiar with these
features can we translate articles natively, and properly. Then, foreigners will not be confused
with public signs in China. We will have a deeper understanding through the examples followed:
a. VIP: Very Important Person
www.mozhua.net 毕业论文 3
b. RESTRICT HEIGHlT3. 3M c. Construction Site Keep out d. Handicapped only
e. Explosive: a substance or device that can cause an explosion.
f. No Smoking: A phrase used in notices indicating that the smoking of cigarettes, etc., is not
permitted in the surrounding area.
1.2 Introduction to functional translation theory
German scholar K. Reiss established the rudiment of Functional Translation Theory in 70s
of 20 th
century. She suggested that the special purpose of translating behavior should be used as a new model of translation criticism. That is, to evaluate translation from the relation between
original text and translation text. After her, in 1978, a student of hers named Hans J. Vermeer,
then professor at the Faculty of Applied Linguistics in Mainz/Germersheim, published an article
entitled Ein Rahmen für eine allgemeine Translationstheorie (A general framework theory of
translation). It marked the beginning of a new approach to translation studies which later became
known as functionalism. He put forward a theory named Skopostheorie which suggested that
translation strategies and methods should be determined by intended purpose or function of
translation text. Skopos is a Greek word which means purpose in English. There are three
important rules in Skopostheorie including skopos rule, coherence rule, and fidelity rule. Skopos
rule means that translation should be able to work in target language situation and culture in a
way expected by target language recipients; coherence rule means that translation need to be in
line with expression of target language in order to make it understood by target readers and
meaningful in target culture or communication environment; fidelity rule also known as “true”
rule means that there is a certain correspondence between the original text and the translation so
the verbatim translation is unnecessary.
One of the key words to understand his approach is Informationsangebot (information
offered), which means that the source text should no longer be seen as the ?sacred original?, and
the purpose (Skopos) of the translation can no longer be deduced from the source text but
depends on the expectations and needs of the target readers. In order to translate successfully, the
translator has to get acquainted with the specific situation of the recipients of his/her translation
www.mozhua.net 毕业论文 4
in the target culture.
Skopostheorie is the core part of functional translation theory. It is also the main idea of this paper.
1.3 Introduction to researches on public signs translation
There are few researches which are closely related to translation of public signs in the world. Vinay and Darbelnet in their Stylistique comparee du francais et de l’anglais described the
difference in reader response to poor translations on the one hand and idiomatic parallel texts on
the other on the basis of public road signs: they express irritation at French-Canadian road signs
(translated versions of the English signs familiar in the USA), which differ basically from
authentic road signs in France (Snell-Homby 86).
In domestic, there are lots of researches on translation of public signs. Professor Dai
Zongxian and Lv Hefa, well-known experts on research of public signs translation, write several
articles expounding the functional features and stylistic features of public signs. They note that,
the static and dynamic indications, the directing, prompting, restricting, compelling effects are
the functional features of the language applied on them. They analyze the functional features of
signs by drawing examples from London, the host city of 30 th
Olympic Game (Dai Zongxian and Lv Hefa 38-42).
Chen Xinren points out the public signs belong to a special non-face-to-face communication with the purpose of influencing the public?s behaviors (Chen Xinren
58-64); Wang Yinquan
discusses the translation mistakes from pragmatic point of view (Wang Yinquan 55-56); Ni
Chuanbin and Liu Zhi hold that Chinese-English translation of public signs should base on
principles which are conciseness, standardization, and moderate humor (Ni Chuanbin and Liu
Zhi 18-20); there is even a website entitled www.e-signs.info English-Chinese Expression on
Signs Research and Service Online and the first professional book named A Chinese-English
Dictionary on Signs was published in 2004.
However, these are mainly dealing with the problems occurred in translation. Little is said
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