本科毕业论文-—从交际翻译理论看公示语的汉译英.doc

上海海事大学
SHANGHAI MARITIME UNIVERSITY
硕 士 学 位 论 文
MASTER’S DISSERTATION

论文题目：从交际翻译理论看公示语的汉译英
学位专业： 外国语言学及应用语言学

On the Translation of Chinese Public Signs:
From the Perspective of Communicative Translation Theory

By Yao Qiang
Under the Supervision of
Professor Han Zhonghua & Associate Professor Wei Yaochuan

A Thesis
Submitted to the College of Foreign Languages
of Shanghai Maritime University
in Partial Fulfillment of
the Requirements for MA Degree

Shanghai Maritime University
May 2009

Acknowledgements

Many people have given their assistance in my preparation of this thesis; however, I alone am responsible for any mistakes and imperfections occurring in it. Like any inexperienced writer, I met with some difficulties at first. And I am clearly aware of the fact that the thesis could not be considerably better but for all the invaluable advice and kind help from these people.
My scripts have been carefully read in full by my supervisor, respected Professor Han Zhonghua, who has generously offered his detailed and wide –ranging comments. It is my respected supervisor who makes the deficiencies in my article that used to be apparent and unavoidable become fewer and less glaring. I am also greatly indebted to associate Professor Wei Yaochuan for his generous help. I also benefit greatly from the informative and insightful lectures by Professor Wang Juquan, Professor Wang Dawei and Professor Zhen Lixin. To all these professors great thanks are due.
My final and heartfelt thanks must also go to my family for the love, encouragement and support they have been giving me during the two years.
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5、完成毕业论文（设计）期间的出勤情况
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三、论文（设计）水平
1、论文（设计）的理论意义或对解决实际问题的指导意义
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2、论文的观念是否有新意？设计是否有创意？
□ 优 □ 良 □ 中 □ 及格 □ 不及格
3、论文（设计说明书）所体现的整体水平
□ 优 □ 良 □ 中 □ 及格 □ 不及格
建议成绩：□ 优 □ 良 □ 中 □ 及格 □ 不及格
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指导教师： （签名） 单位： （盖章）
年 月 日

评阅教师评阅书

评阅教师评价：
一、论文（设计）质量
1、论文（设计）的整体结构是否符合撰写规范？
□ 优 □ 良 □ 中 □ 及格 □ 不及格
2、是否完成指定的论文（设计）任务（包括装订及附件）？
□ 优 □ 良 □ 中 □ 及格 □ 不及格
二、论文（设计）水平
1、论文（设计）的理论意义或对解决实际问题的指导意义
□ 优 □ 良 □ 中 □ 及格 □ 不及格
2、论文的观念是否有新意？设计是否有创意？
□ 优 □ 良 □ 中 □ 及格 □ 不及格
3、论文（设计说明书）所体现的整体水平
□ 优 □ 良 □ 中 □ 及格 □ 不及格

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二、论文（设计）质量
1、论文（设计）的整体结构是否符合撰写规范？
□ 优 □ 良 □ 中 □ 及格 □ 不及格
2、是否完成指定的论文（设计）任务（包括装订及附件）？
□ 优 □ 良 □ 中 □ 及格 □ 不及格
三、论文（设计）水平
1、论文（设计）的理论意义或对解决实际问题的指导意义
□ 优 □ 良 □ 中 □ 及格 □ 不及格
2、论文的观念是否有新意？设计是否有创意？
□ 优 □ 良 □ 中 □ 及格 □ 不及格
3、论文（设计说明书）所体现的整体水平
□ 优 □ 良 □ 中 □ 及格 □ 不及格
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摘 要
随着我国经济的发展和对外开放步伐的加快，中国与国际间的友好往来及经济合作日益增多，对外联系和国际交流日趋频繁。突出表现在城市面貌上，越来越多的公示语逐渐采用中英双语来表示。由于城市公示语和社会生活、国际形象等都有着密切联系，公示语的翻译也显得愈发重要。但因为公示语有其独特的语言特点和不同的功能意义，公示语的汉英翻译也面临许多实际困难。
基于以上原因，作者尝试从理论和实践的角度分析现今汉英公示语翻译中所存在的一些问题。通过对大量标准以及问题公示语翻译的深入观察分析，作者对公示语的一般特征进行了总结并从语言和文化两个层面对公示语翻译中出现的问题进行了分类。语言层面的错误包括拼写、用词不当、用词累赘及语法错误等；文化层面的错误包括中式英语、语气不当、忽略文化差异等。
在理论方面，作者发现交际翻译理论在公示语翻译中尤其具有启发性。交际翻译理论是由英国翻译理论家纽马克率先提出的。这一理论对于公示语翻译具有十分重要的理论启示。纽马克认为所有文本可分为三类，即表达型文本、信息型文本和号召型文本。而根据文本类型的不同，纽马克又提出了两种相应的翻译方法，即语义翻译和交际翻译。语义翻译以作者为中心，其表达效果要尽量贴近原文效果，因此适用于表达型文本的翻译。而交际翻译则更趋向于读者，其翻译宗旨是以读者为中心，因此该翻译方法更适用于信息型文本和号召型文本。鉴于对公示语语言特点的考虑，作者发现公示语的文本特点实际上融合了信息型文本和号召型文本的显著特征。因此，作者认为在公示语翻译中应当使用交际翻译策。
由于交际翻译策略只为译者提供了一个框架，并没有给我们翻译公示语提供可供操作的具体方法。因此，本文作者针对公示语翻译中出现的错误，讨论了一些具体的翻译方法。如采用国际常用的表达法，进行汉英置换、用词简明扼要、使用汉语拼音、功能优先等方法。对于具有中国文化特色的公示语，可以采用不译、转换思维角度、委婉语气及添加法来成功的传达原文的信息。
总之，本文以交际翻译理论为指导，系统的研究和分析了目前我国公示语英语翻译的错误和问题，并提出了相应的解决方法。希望通过本文的研究，能对公示语的英译做出一些微薄的贡献。
关键词：公示语；汉英翻译；交际翻译；翻译错误；翻译方法

Abstract
With the accelerating development of China's economy and opening to the outside world, the economic cooperation and friendly exchanges between China and the outside world tend to increase greatly as the same as extroverted contacts and global communications. Therefore, more and more Chinese-English bilingual public signs appear in public, which is the distinguished feature of the updating development of modern cities in China. Since public signs attach great importance to social lives and international images of China, public signs translation appears to be of growing significance and emergency. However, regrettable mistakes in public signs translation can be frequently observed, due to the unique linguistic features and diversified functions of English public signs.
For that reason, the author ventures an attempt to analyze the current problems existing in the C-E translation of public signs and to seek proper translation strategies both from the perspectives of theory and practice. By closely observing numerous samples of both standard and problematic translation of signs, the author manages to generalize the characteristics of public signs and to categorize the problems and mistakes in the current C-E translation of public signs from linguistic and cultural level respectively. The errors on the linguistic level include spelling errors, inaccurate diction, word redundancy and grammatical errors; while the errors on the cultural level consist of Chinglish, harsh tone, ignoring cultural discrepancy, etc,.
In terms of theory, the author finds that the theory of communicative translation is particularly inspiring. Communicative translation theory, which is pioneered and proposed by Peter Newmark, may provide the theoretical enlightenment for the strategy of the C-E translation of public signs. According to Newmark, all texts can be classified into three types, namely expressive, informative and vocative. Newmark also introduces two approaches for different types of texts, namely semantic translation and communicative translation. Semantic translation, which is the translation at the author's level, is applicable to expressive texts. That is to translate as close as to the source text. Informative and vocative texts should be translated at the readership's level. That means to emphasize on the effect it exerts on the readers. Therefore, it requires that communicative translation be utilized. Taking their characteristics into account, the text type of public signs actually intermingles the main features of both the informative and the vocative text types. In that sense, it is advisable that the method of communicative translation be adopted in the C-E translation of public signs.
The communicative translation approach only provides the translator with a framework while no specific translation methods are offered. Therefore, the author of this thesis discusses several translation methods with regard to the errors in the translation of public signs, such as Following international standard, Economy in word employment, Utilization of Pinyin, Functional priority, No translation, Thinking in the opposite way, Euphemistic tone and Addition.
By using the Communicative translation approach, the author makes a systematic study and analysis of the translation of public signs in order to find some new translation methods and skills. It is hoped that this thesis will be of some help to the improvement of C-E translation of public signs in China.
Key Words: Public Signs; Chinese-English Translation; Communicative Translation; Translation Errors; Translation Methods
Content
Chapter One Introduction 1
1.1 Significance of Sign Translation 1
1.2 Current Studies on C-E Translation of Public Signs in China 1
1.2.1 Achievements of the Current Study 2
1.2.1.1 Research Center 2
1.2.1.2 Activities and Web Sites 2
1.2.1.3 Books and Dictionaries 3
1.2.1.4 Symposiums 3
1.2.2 Limitations of the Present Study 3
1.2.2.1 Inadequate Rules and Regulations 4
1.2.2.2 Unsystematic Theoretical Researches 4
1.3 Research Method and Data Collection 4
1.4 The Structure of the Thesis 5
Chapter Two A survey of Newmark’s Translation Theory 6
2.1 Newmark’s view on Translation 6
2.2 Language Functions and Newmark’s Text Typology 7
2.3 Communicative Translation (CT) and Semantic Translation (ST) 10
2.3.1 Background of CT& ST 10
2.3.2 Definitions of CT & ST 12
2.3.3 Comparison between CT& ST 13
2.3.4 Development of CT & ST 16
2.4 CT& ST and Text Typology 18
2.4.1 Application of CT & ST in different text-types 18
2.4.2 CT & ST and Hybrid Texts 21
2.5 Summary 21
Chapter Three Generalization of Public Signs 22
3.1 Definition of Public Signs 22
3.2 Functions of Public Signs 25
3.2.1 Directing 25
3.2.2 Prompting 25
3.2.3 Restricting 26
3.2.4 Compelling 27
3.3 Classification of Public Signs 27
3.3.1 From the Perspective of Information State 28
3.3.2 From the Perspective of Social Application 28
3.3.2.1 Traffic Signs 29
3.3.2.2 Road Signs 29
3.3.2.3 Signs at Scenic Spots 29
3.3.2.4 Names of Institutions and Shops 30
3.3.2.5 Signs for Shopping 30
3.3.2.6 Public Slogans 30
3.4 Stylistic Features of Public Signs 31
3.4.1 Lexical features 31
3.4.1.1 Frequent Use of Nouns and Noun Phrase 31
3.4.1.2 Wide Use of Verbs and Gerunds 32
3.4.1.3 Use of Abbreviation 32
3.4.1.4 Avoid Using Uncommon Words 32
3.4.1.5 Capitalization of English Signs 33
3.4.2. Grammatical Features 33
3.4.2.1 Use of Passive Structures 33
3.4.2.2 Use of Imperative Sentences 34
3.4.2.3 Use of Present Tense 34
3.4.2.4 Use of Simple, Short Sentences 34
3.4.3 Other Features 35
3.4.3.1 Combining Words with Pictures 35
3.4.3.2 Set Expressions 35
3.4.3.3 Signs with Local Characteristics 36
3.5 Summary 36
Chapter Four Error Analysis of the Translation of Public Signs 37
4.1 Errors on the Linguistic Level 37
4.1.1 Lexical Errors 38
4.1.1.1 Misspelling 38
4.1.2.2 Inaccurate Diction 40
4.1.2.3 Word Redundancy 42
4.1.2 Grammatical Errors 44
4.1.2.1 Misuse of Numbers 44
4.1.2.2 Misuse of Part of Speech 45
4.1.2.3 Misuse of Article and Preposition 46
4.1.2.4 Other Grammatical Errors 46
4.2 Errors on the Cultural Level 48
4.2.1 Culture, Language and Translation 48
4.2.2 Typical Cultural Errors 49
4.2.2.1 Chinglish 50
4.2.2.2 Harsh Tone 52
4.2.2.3 Ignoring Cultural Discrepancy 54
4.2.2.4 Cultural Default 56
4.3 Summary 58
Chapter Five Application of CT to the Translation of Public Signs----Suggested Methods 59
5.1 Enlightenment of Newmark’s Theory 59
5.1.1 Text Types of Public Signs 59
5.1.2 CT and the Translation of Public Signs 60
5.2 Suggested Translation Methods to Public Signs 61
5.2.1 Following the International Standard 62
5.2.2 Economy in Word Employment 67
5.2.3 Utilization of “Pinyin” 68
5.2.4 Functional Priority 68
5.2.5 Euphemistic Tone 69
5.2.6 No Translation 70
5.2.7 Thinking in the Opposite Way 70
5.2.8 Addition 71
5.3 Summary 73
Conclusion 74
Bibliography 76

VIII

Chapter One Introduction
1.1 Significance of Sign Translation
With the implementation of the reform and opening-up policy in 1978, China has gradually turned into an open country and its communications with foreign countries in the fields of diplomacy, economy and culture are increasingly enhanced. Nowadays foreigners of all works of life swarm into China for study, for work, for tourism or for other reasons. Many important international conferences and forums are also held in China. So, how to provide convenience for these foreigners during their stay and let them know more about China is the top priority for us to contemplate. For most foreigners, they know little about Chinese, let alone Chinese culture. Under such circumstances, the C-E translation of public signs plays an important role as a way of communication because these signs will provide foreigners with the information they want and guide their actions. Many big and medium-sized cities in China now have bilingual public signs for the convenience of foreigners, but the quality of translation is far from satisfactory owing to innumerous and ridiculous mistakes. Barry Gray, the Chairman of the International Graphic Symbols Committee, points out that “Signing affects everybody——travelers, shoppers, visitors, drivers, etc., whether in the course of business or pleasure. Bad signing is at best irritating and at worst can be life threatening and dangerous. ” Therefore, it is the high time for us to give a detailed investigation of current sign translation in order to obtain good bilingual public signs and acquire a positive international image.
1.2 Current Studies on C-E Translation of Public Signs in China
C-E translation of public signs has drawn increasing attention from the academic circle and the public in recent years. According to the statistics from CHKD, there are about 103 papers discussing C-E translation of public signs. Obviously, many achievements have been made.
1.2.1 Achievements of the Current Study
1.2.1.1 Research Center
In 2002, the research topic of C-E translation of public signs was established by Beijing International Studies University, where a re