西瓜电影院,提古勒和弗洛尔的草莓冰淇淋,湖南华夏银都
| I. Introduction Along with the fast development of international communication and China's opening-up to the outside world since 1978, Chinese-English signs have been found almost everywhere in public places in the middle and big cities, for the convenience of foreign tourists and businessmen in China on the one hand, for the building an environment for China's opening-up on the other hand. Nowadays more and more foreigners will come to visit China, especially after the year 2008 when China hosted the Olympic Games. The Chinese Government and other departments in China have been more aware of the importance of the C-E translation of public signs. At present, the signs for public information, drafting, manifestation and operation are indispensable to our life and have become an important media to communicate vital information in the public. 1n most cities, bilingual public signs are provided in order to bring convenience to increasing foreigners. Therefore, whether the English version is suitable has great significance. The reasons that I choose this topic as my bachelor degree thesis are just based on the significance and necessity of public sign translation. We should know what the pubic signs are first. Then clarify them. They include a large variety such as Traffic and Road Sign, Signs in Scenic Places and Names and Services of Institutions and Shops. Those written materials which are printed in our school will be included in this thesis. Besides generalizing the features and functions of public signs, this thesis tries to analyze the culture influence, and try to find out solutions to them under the guide of functionalism following the principles which are pointed out in this thesis. All in all, public sign translation is far from easy and should be paid more attention. We still have a long way to go to make public sign translation perfect. II. Introduction to Public Signs 2.1 The Definition of Public Signs At the very beginning, it is necessary for us to define and analyze the basic characteristics of signs. According to Oxford Advanced Learner's English-Chinese Dictionary (Extended Fourth Edition) (2002: 1406), it is defined as "board, notice, etc. that directs sb. towards sth, give a warning, advertise a business, etc." But we know,“公示语”is not the whole meaning of the English word "sign", so professor Lv Hefa defined it in his book---《汉英公示语词典》(2004), public signs are terse and elicit words, sentences, even photographs that are closely related to daily life, production, ecology and professions so as to direct, prompt, restrict, warn, or even compel the public. And according to Prof. Ding Hengqi (2006), public signs refer to the language used in public places to transfer information to the public. They include road signs, traffic signs, public notices, slogans, indicators, cautions, signs in scenic places and services of institutions. Obviously, "signs" in English originally mainly refer to way-finding signs/directional signs, shop signs or notices, but with its increasing use in society, the coverage of "signs" has greatly expanded. Nowadays, signs are widely used in society and they play an indispensable role in our daily life. They are used in public utilities (e.g. metro, airports, gas stations etc,), in public transports (e.g. terminals, taxi stands, piers, ticket offices, highways, public vehicles, etc)，in scenic areas (e.g. museums, historic relics, parks, amusement centers), in travel services, in streets and communities, in business establishments (e.g. stores, supermarkets, cafeterias, banks, photographer's, etc), in hospitalities (e.g. restaurants, airlines, resorts), in sports establishments (e.g. stadiums, golf courts, gyms, etc), in cultural amusements, and so on. From the definitions of public signs in various ways, it can be pointed out that there are usually two parts on a public sign, words and drawings. Public signs are common ones with both words and drawings. In a word, Public signs are practical texts. They are not literature works, but with literary characteristics because public signs are often used to attract travelers' interest and promote the quality of traveling. 2.2 Functions of Public Signs Since public signs are commonly used in our daily life. They makes our life much more convenience, they share some basic functions. According to Professors Wang yin and Lu Hefa, these basic functions are indicating functions and pragmatic functions 王颖、吕和发，2005) shared by both Chinese and English public signs. 2.2.1 Indicating functions It has been commonly regarded that public signs perform four basic indicating functions: directing, prompting, restricting and compelling. 2.2.1.1 Directing Directing function serves to indicate directions or the service information. It doesn't urge the public to take action or whatsoever. It is the very basic function of public signs. Directing public signs provide good information of service without any confining or compelling meaning. Therefore, they do not necessarily ask people to take any actions since their function is to direct the service. This kind of public signs here means to indicate people instead of requiring people to do something. This type of public signs does not give orders, so people should not take them as rules or compulsory information, instead, people each takes what she/he needs and makes clear his/her location, behavior and purpose from the information provided. Public signs in this function are often used in service industry and in scenic spots,. For example, the signs in train station “Information(问询处)” is tell the passengers who need information exactly what they require. The sign“金顿大酒店”(Jindun Hotel) is only of directing function to customers who need to go into this hotel,. So both of these situation are thus of no significance to anyone else than tell the exactly information. Buy One Get One Free(买一送一)，which is a very common notice in the market, induces the customers to buy the goods. Let’s look more examples of directing functional public signs: Underground(地铁) Public Toilet/WC(公共厕所) Ticket(售票处) Emergency Exit(紧急出口) 2.2.2.2 Prompting While a sign of directing function compels audience to obey its direction, a sign of prompting function allows audience to decide whether to follow it or not. Prompting function serves to arouse the public's attention to their immediate surrounding. This function of public notices and signs gives the readers precautions and make the readers take proper actions in public. The prompt of this kind of signs is not compulsory; instead, it is open to the audience's options whether to implement it or not according to specific situations. Signs of this function are characteristic of polite and simple words and various sentence patterns. For instant, the sign“预留座位”(Reserved) on the table in the restaurant means that others have booked the table in advance, and that you have to find some other seats. The sign “Mind the step”(注意台阶) advise the people to be careful of the step which is not easy to pay attention to. There are also some more examples of this function of public signs: Caution: Wet Floor (小心地滑)， Danger (危险) Mind Your Head(小心碰头) Recycled(回收利用) Authorized Personnel Only(未经许可，不得擅入) 2.2.2.3 Restricting Public signs with restrict functions which is different from the above two, ask the audience to restrict their behavior for the sake of public order, safety, or social morality. The languages are usually simple and straightforward but not tough, they don't make people feel rude or impolite. Unlike the pubic notices and signs with promoting function, the ones with restricting function are rather forceful. If the readers do not abide, they will break some rules or laws and impair the public interest. This category of public signs uses straightforward language, but don't make readers feel offensive or rude. The purpose of public signs in this category is to confine the activities or actions of the related public with their specifically chosen words, but do not imply impolite, rough and unreasonable attitude. For example: Slow Out (减速慢行)is commonly seen on streets, roads, highways, etc. Car drivers should always keep slow when they see this signs for it is a rule to abide by. If anyone breaks the rule, something miserable may happen. "Ticket Only"(凭票入场)indicates that entrance can only be permitted when you have tickets. Follow are some more examples: Staff Only (闲人免进)， Keep Silence(保持安静) 2.2.2.4 Compelling Public signs with compelling functions which is different from the above three, public signs still perform the compelling functions which oblige the related public to take or not to take certain forbidden actions. They give out warnings, usually warning the readers of danger or prohibition of certain behavior in the interests of the public or of the individuals /organizations who place them. At times, the violation of warning signs may incur some fine/penalty or punishment or prosecution to the offenders. Compelling signs is usually straightforward and uncompromising. They carry harsh mood. In such context, people have no alterative, but to obey. With a tough, forceful and direct tone, there is no possibility to make comprise. No Overtaking On Bridge (桥上严禁超车) No Littering(不要乱扔杂物) No Photography (严禁拍照) |
