公示语汉英翻译

从目的论角度看公示语的汉英翻译作者：赵越来源：《新课程学习·下》2015年第03期摘要：随着我国改革开放的不断深入，国际化进程的不断加快，我国各个城市内部的公示语汉英翻译越来越受到人们的关注，公示语的汉英翻译水平在一定程度上已经给整个城市的魅力值造成一定的影响。

从目的论的具体含义论述入手，分析了在目的论指导下的公示语汉英翻译，供相关人士参考，以更好地提升我国城市内部的公示语汉英翻译水平。

关键词：目的论；公示语；汉英翻译；角度分析公示语是指面向公众的提示、显示及指示，其内部含有与人们日常生活、生产等活动息息相关的内容。

同时，随着国内市场经济的不断发展，国内外国人士的不断增多，公示语在人们日常生活中扮演的角色将会越来越重要，其应用的范围也越来越广，所包含的内容也越来越丰富，在一定程度上已经成为人们日常生活及生产活动中必要的组成部分之一。

此外，随着公示语在大中型城市的广泛应用，城市内部的公示语在某种情况下已经组成了我国留于外国人士的第一印象。

因此，从目的论的角度看公示语的汉英翻译分析研究有着较大的理论和公示语汉英翻译实际意义。

一、目的论具体含义目的论在整个功能派翻译理论当中占据非常重要的地位，是整个功能派翻译理论的基础性理论。

其最早是由德国著名的翻译学家雷斯与付米尔于20世纪80年代提出，其在很大程度上摆脱了传统的等效翻译理论的对已英汉翻译的约束，以整个语言翻译的目的入手，将整个翻译工作放置于文化与理论相结合的环境当中，为整个世界内容各种语言之间全面地实现高效及准确的翻译起到了开辟性的作用。

在采用目的论进行翻译时，其将整个语言翻译的过程认知为一种跨文化交际的行为，整个翻译工作的目的就是为准确地实现跨文化的交际工作，这在很大程度上解决了长期的存在与翻译界意译与直译之间的矛盾。

在目的论翻译指导思想的指导下进行相关的翻译工作时应该严格握好语言翻译的语内连贯和语际连贯的原则，其强调在翻译过程中应从对方的语言习惯入手，不需要全面地按照忠实法则进行翻译。

教育研究现今社会中，无论是学生、家长、企业、国家等都对于高等职业院校的毕业生的考核评价有着不同的理解。

学生希望以接受高等职业教育后走向社会后，可以以自己的水平能力立足社会；家长希望学生接受高等职业教育走向社会后，学生快速进步发展，功成名就；企业希望通过使高职毕业生在校期间强化考核评价，可以提高学生的综合素质水平，提升毕业生质量；国家希望通过学生的考核评价可以提高社会整体的高素质应用型人才的水平，促进地方区域经济快速发展。

由此可见，高等职业教育学生考核评价是其毕业生质量提高的风向标，是高等职业教育改革的方向指针。

只有全面考虑各方利益，调动各方的积极性，学生的考核评价才能促进高等职业教育健康稳定发展。

参考文献：[1]唐杰，吉俊民.全面实施素质评优引导学生进行素质教育[J].清华大学学报，2001（1）：6-10.[2]周立志.高职高专教育教学评价体系的比较研究[J].高教探索，2002（10）：17-20.[3]吴钢.现代教育评价课程[M].北京：北京大学出版社，2008.31.[4]李瑞昌.高等职业教育考试改革的探索与实践[J].潍坊高等职业教育，2008（12）：8-11.[5]左宏明.高等职业教育考试考核改革与探索[J].辽宁高职学报，2007（11）：4-5.1.引言2002年，“公示语”一词由北竹和单爱民在《谈英语公示用语的语言特点与汉英翻译》中首次提出。

随后，中国学者从多个方面对“公示语”展开了研究。

截至2018年6月，中国期刊网（CNKI）上篇名中含有“公示语”的文章已达2100多篇。

由此可见，“公示语”已经吸引了不少中国学者，成为研究热点。

对于该词对应的英文，学者们持不同意见。

如：刘丽芬认为应译为“public signs”（2016），而赵楠和黄忠廉则认为译成signs 更可行（2015）。

造成译文不统一的主要原因可能是学者们对基本概念界定不清。

下面将对“公示语”和“（public）signs”的概念进行梳理。

公示语汉英翻译综述摘要：目前，随着公示语汉英翻译的发展，公示语翻译水平的高低直接代表了一个地区与国际接轨的紧密程度。

21世纪以来，我国对公示语汉英翻译研究政策大幅倾斜，相关研究快速发展，在相关领域也取得了较多重大成就。

但由于社会、历史等各项因素，公示语汉英翻译在发展上仍存在着一些问题。

本文从定义、特点、发展现状为着力点，梳理了公示语汉英翻译的研究成果，对公示语今后的研究方向作出探讨，以促进公示语汉英翻译快速发展。

关键词：公示语研究现状汉英翻译一、引言中国改革开放以来，为了自身的快速发展，我们与世界的交流和联系日益密切，外语作为通用语言，在国内发挥了前所未有的作用。

尤其是在我国的公共服务领域，外语的地位更加凸显。

公示语汉英翻译作为海外翻译活动的代表，顺应了我国“一带一路”国家策略，公示语汉英翻译能力的提高也反映了我国外语建设能力的提高，在向世界传播中国历史、传播中国声音、推动中国文化走向世界方面发挥着重要作用。

二、公示语汉英的定义在《谈英语公示用语的语言特点与汉英翻译》(北竹、单爱民)一文发表后，“公示语”一词第一次出现在大众眼中。

在此之后，标志语、标示语、标识语、标记语、公共标识等相关词语逐渐被其他学者所使用。

其中，赵小沛（2003）的《公示语翻译中的语用失误探析》中对“公示语”概念进行了明确解析。

虽然我国从上世纪开始就已经对公示语提高认识，加强重视程度，但是一直到20世纪末，对公示语仍然没有明确的定义。

2006年5月，在“城市导向与图形符号”国际研讨会上， BarryGray给公示语下了定义: Signs are anything from a smiplest way finding or information-marker to the technically sophisticated communication of a message。

其他学者也对公示语进行了定义：丁衡祁(2006)认为“公示语是在公共场合向公众公示须知内容的语言,它包括标识、指示牌、路牌、标语、公告、提示语等”。

公示语的汉英的英文翻译关于公示语的汉英的英文翻译摘要公示语广泛应用于我们的方方面面,因此也影响到我们生活的方方面面。

公示语具有指示性、提示性、限制性、强制性四种突出的应用功能;所展示的信息状态既有“静态”,也有“动态”;广泛使用名词、动词、动名词、词组、短语、缩略语、文字与标志组合、现在时态、祈使句、规范性和标准性语汇,以及部分本土色彩浓厚的语汇,从而构成英语公示语的独特语言风格。

从事汉英公示语翻译首先应考虑使用英语中规范和标准语汇进行一对一的汉英置换; 在无对应译法的情况下宜参照英语公示语的功能要求确定语言风格进行试译,然后在部分海外者中进行检验。

在确认不会产生任何误解的情况下才可实际应用。

关键词公示语语言风格功能特色汉英翻译Abstract Public signs in English are essential to tourists. Directing , prompting , restricting and compelling aretheir four most important functions ; The frequent use of nouns , verbs , gerunds , phrases , abbreviations , combination of words and signs , present tenses and imperative structures marks their most outstanding stylisticcharacteristics. Translators could work more effectively if they take note of the functional features and languagestyle of public signs.Key words English on public signs functional features language styles Chinese- English translation举办奥运会、世博会都需要良好的国际化语言环境。

公示语的汉英翻译摘要：随着经济全球化，中国正在经历巨大的变化。

英语已然成为全世界最流行的语言之一，因此双语的实施是不可避免的。

因为公示语的作用在于给人以信息，它是一个城市的面貌的重要组成部分。

而且它也是生活中最实用的语言，蕴涵了中国特有的文化。

为了构建现代化的大都市，必须注重进程中的每个细节，而公示语的翻译就是其中比较突出的一个。

本文从公示语的定义及重要性入手,分析了公示语汉英翻译中常见的质量问题,探讨了公示语的语言特点和公示语翻译应当遵循的原则,并对译者提出要求。

关键词：汉英翻译；公示语；Contents1.Introduction (1)1.1 A Brief Introduction of the Translation of Public Signs (1)1.2 The Definition of Public Signs (1)2.The Present Situation of the Translation of the Public Signs (2)2.1 Information Lost and Tampered (2)2.2 Words Improperly Used (4)2.3 Problem in Spelling and Pronunciations (5)2.4 Translation Disunified (6)2.5 Unsuitable Translation (7)3.Methods to Assess the Quality of Translation of Public Signs (8)3.1 From the Aspect of the Applied and Indicated Function (8)3.1.1 Informational Function (8)3.1.2 Instructive Function (8)3.1.3 Regulatory Function (8)3.1.4 Warning Function (9)3.2 According to the Standard Issued by the State (10)3.3 Taking the Traditional Translation into Consideration (11)4.Methods Employed in Public Signs Translation (12)4.1 Literal Translation (12)4.2 Semantic Translation (13)4.3 Adaptation (14)5.Some Recommendations (15)6.Conclusion (17)1. Introduction1.1 A Brief Introduction of the Translation of Public SignsThe errors in C-E sign translation have drawn much attention of the public and the experts in this field. As a result, academic research and public campaigns on C-E sign translation are prevailing now. With the first national seminar on translation of public sings being held by the China Translation Association on the International Translation Day in 2005, the translation of public signs has been on the agenda of the construction of a modernization China. On the seminar, experts on the translation of public signs, points out that, the use of language in a country implicates the culture of that nation; on the process of constructing a harmonious society, all kinds of improper use of our mother tongue and foreign languages is inharmonic with that theme.A lot of errors were found and have been put into process, changed or unified, however, it is even until now—two years after the first nation seminar, the situation is not so positive. The translation of public signs is still far from perfect, even in world-famous metropolis as Beijing and Shanghai. This not only gives a negative impression on our foreign friends, but also is baneful to the development of our economy and culture and the gradually increase of foreign-oriented communication. 1.2 The Definition of Public SignsAccording to Oxford English Dictionary, sign refers to a characteristic device attached to, or placed infront of,an inn or a store,as a means of distinguishing it from others or direct attention to it.Public signs include marker, pointer, guide post, catchline, pronunciamento, warning and so on. Sometimes it is also called the environmental communication notices and signs (Ding Hengqi, 2006).The Chinese name of public places mainly refers to name of certain places and public places, such as public service establishments, public cultural and sports places, tourist scenic spots, national exhibitions and large activities, the office for the national department and so on (Xu Jian,2006) .While in English, there are many classifications for public signs and each of themwith a special name. For example, public signs in public buildings are called environmental communication signages, which mainly refer to the way-finding directional signs (Ding Hengqi, 2006). The signs in sight-seeing spots are certainly an important aspect of the public signs and they belong to environmental communication. The informational instructions on foods, medicine, cosmetics are also one kind of public signs, the instructional notices. English has a really long history for bilingual or multilingual public signs study, so it has been developed in a complete way, while in China, in such a short time, we can not make thorough development. The Chinese public signs are somehow different from their English counterparts and have their own characteristics.2. The Present Situation of the Translation of the Public SignsThough we have carried out the policy of reform and opening up to the outside world for many years, the history of bilingual public signs is of certain limitation. Some cities adopt the double language of public signs in the purpose of giving convenience and connecting China with the world. Each city has their own kinds of translation and then uses it in a rather proud way of being the first group of cities walking before the big tide of double-language.However, for various kinds of reasons, the status quo of the translation of the public signs is not so positive.As media takes part in, more versions of translations have come out, unfortunately without unification. While concerning this problem, it can be divided into several classifications as following:2.1 Information Lost and TamperedInformation lost and tampered is a big problem in the translation of public signs. To explain this category, some specific examples are illustrated. Please look at the following examples:Example A: “Passengers, stop here.”“Guests go no further.”“Guests, stop here.”“Tourists stop here.”From the translation of public signs above, as Chinese, we have no difficulty in guessing the meaning this sign wants to express originally. That is “Staff Only”(LuHefa & Shan Lipin, 2004) in English and “游客止步”in Chinese. All the text of the translation mentioned above is quoted from some tourist spots. It is no doubt that such series of translation will actually cause more or less misunderstanding and raise discussion. Many of them adopt the literal translation skills and put it in a rather stiff way. And one of the big problems is that it neglects the culture: this public signs already have their counterparts in English. As to such a matter, it is better to use the relative and idiomatic way to express it.Example B: “Shanghai Swimming Pool” , “Shanghai Swimming Center” and “Shanghai Swimming Gym”, which is better for the translation of “上海游泳馆”?“Pool” usually means:(1) a small and rather deep body of usually fresh water;(2) a quiet place in a stream;(3) a body of water forming above a dam (Webster’s Dictionary).“Center”here is given the meaning of a group of the same things that come together and combined to a big one.While gym is the abbreviation of gymnasium:(1) a large room used for various indoor sports (as basketball or boxing) andusually equipped with gymnastic apparatus;(2) a building (as on a college campus) containing space and equipment forvarious indoor sports activities and usually including spectator accommodations, locker and shower rooms, offices, classrooms, and a swimming pool (Websters’) .It seems that all these words can be combined with “swimming”, but the meaning is different. “Swimming pool”usually refers to one pool and it is used to describe those outdoor ones; while “swimming center” often takes up the center of that place and is the biggest one and sometimes even the unique one in that area. “Swimming gym”is comparatively common and it is more sports-oriented and always inside a building.As a matter of fact, the “上海游泳馆” contains more than one swimming pool andis a building with roof. It is also equipped with many training devices with the special training course carried out daily. Seen from the explanations mentioned above, the “上海游泳馆” actually should be translated into “Shanghai Swimming Gym”.This category of mistakes usually results in the misunderstanding or semi-understanding of the word and the culture of English. Like Chinese, English is full of synonyms. Though they are similar with each other in meaning, they are still different under certain circumstance, expressing the different meaning. Small differences should be paid great attention to, otherwise, mistake will occur and information be lost or tampered.2.2 Words Improperly UsedAll the translation context are translated by translators or interpreters, while their acquired English is of various levels, so the translation will no wonder fall into various category. The improper use of words is unavoidable. And we can see this kind of mistake in many places.The most common one is the translation of the residence of a community. In China, people tend to use “**花园，**新村，**村”to describe a residence of a group of people. For example, the translation of “美政花园”is “Meizheng Garden”on the guidepost along Fuxing Road in Hangzhou. Here “花园” indicates the place for living. But what is “Garden”to English-speakers? According to Merriam-Webster on line dictionary, the explanation is as following:(1)a: a plot of ground where herbs, fruits, flowers, or vegetables arecultivatedb: a rich well-cultivated regionc : a container (as a window box) planted with usually a variety of smallplants(2) a: a public recreation area or park usually ornamented with plants and treesb: an open-air eating or drinking placec: a large hall for public entertainment(Webster’s)To conclude, “Garden”is a place with plants and is created for relaxation and entertainment. So when English-speakers see the guidepost and go into the “garden”with the purpose of having some scenery to view or some relax, but only to find some tall buildings disappointedly and embarrassedly.Another example is the “市北新工业区”. The translation is “Shibei Industry New Zone”. When seeing this translation, we will wonder where “Shibei” is. It’s no doubt that this will cause a big laugh when we see the Chinese. Beside, this translation has another problem: the translation seems to be very coherence with the Chinese letter, even the order of the word. Actually it’s wrong. According to the usage of English word, the adjective “New” should be put above all other adjectives (Bao Bing, 2002). Therefore, the right translation should be “Shanghai Northern New Industry Zone”.2.3 Problem in Spelling and PronunciationsThe problem in spelling and pronunciation is very common in public sign translation. As we know, spelling and pronunciation is the most basic skills of English. But the translation of public signs in some places unfortunately manifests the qualification of the translator’s English. The spelling problem contains the mistake of followings:1) Wrong spelling“No smoking” and “No Park” is possibly due to the carelessness of the translator. The correct writing should be “ No Smoking” and “No Parking”.2) Capitalized wordsIn the display of place name, the capitalized words are used in a very common way. We can see every road on the guidepost begins with a capitalized letter. But unfortunately, many are wrongly written, especially on the screen of the public transportation in Shanghai. There’s a screen on every bus or subway that shows the name of the stop. And the mistake of capitalized mistake is unified in a surprising way—mistake all in one way, “South Hong Mei Road”, “Yan Chang Road”, “Gui Lin Newly State” and so on. According to the convention of translation of roads issued in 2005, name of roads should be written in a formal way, with the first letter of the proper noun(Xu Jian, 2006) capitalized and other using small letters. So the correct spelling should be “South Hongmei Road”, “Yanchang Road”and “Guilin Newly State” .3) PronunciationThe pronunciation of the transportation is newly appeared in the major cities of China. It is carried out to give convenience to English-speakers. But as a matter of fact, the pronunciations on buses or subways are not very clear, especially in Hangzhou, so it is not an easy work to understand them. Methods should be adopted to solve this problem.Besides, there’s another problem of pronunciation, using American English or British English. British English is standard English according to the history of English, however as centuries pass, American English now has become more popular and used more widely. So when announced in the bus or subway, the name of the bus stop should adopt which version of English is actually a difficult choice. .Further more, the pronunciation should be paid great attention to. In the Y5 bus in Hangzhou, it can be clearly noticed that the announcer pronounce the “r” as “l”. And intonation is a big problem as well.2.4 Translation DisunifiedThe disunification here refers to the translation of the same place or of the same place name in different way and the different translation of the same Chinese character with the same meaning.1) Same place name with different translation versionDifferent buses have different translation versions for the same bus stop, not even take that of the subway into consideration. For example, in Shanghai, there are many bus stops before “上海植物园”. While the author rides on different bus, two kinds of pronunciations are heard “Shanghai Botanic Garden”and “Shanghai A rboretum”. These two kinds of translation are all correct and suitable but there’s only one problem: the name place is unique when it refers to the specific ones. Try to imagine, if two foreigners talk about this place, one with the translation of “Shanghai Botanic Garden”, while the other uses another one. What an embarrassing situation it was.2) Same common noun with different translation versionHere the same common noun is the noun commonly used in place name, referring to things of the same kind and the special one of this kind, such as the “station”“airport” and so on (Xu Jian, 2006) . This kind of translation should be unified in the whole city, the whole country and even the world as a whole. While the author discover that this aspect of translation is really terrible to some extent. Take “新村” for example. In Hangzhou, the translation of “闸弄口新村”is “Zha Nong Kou Community ” but “田林新村” in Shanghai is “Tianlin Newly Estate”. “新村” is shown in the same characters and means the same in China, but why the translation of the two characters are totally different. This kind of translation should be put into unity and convention.3) Differences in writing and pronunciationThe author also discovers that some place are written in one way on the bus stop post and the digital screen in the bus, but announced in another way. For example, “田林十一村” in Shanghai is written “Tian Lin No.11 Newly State” while is broadcast in “11th Tianlin Newly State”. Though it is just a small problem and can be understood to some extent. Any way, this disunity should also be emphasized in the progress to contribute a perfect image of a civilized city.2.5 Unsuitable TranslationHere unsuitable translation refers to those that need translation are not translated and vice versa.Many public signs are not translated, like many public signs in the subway of Shanghai. Shanghai is a very common place for foreigners to go, visit or invest. And the subway is somehow a very important transportation means. “老，孕，病，残专座”should be translated out, “please offer this seat to elderly or disabled people or those carrying children”; “get off first” for “先下后上”; “get-on district” for “上客区” and “get-off district” for “下客区”.The expression of some public signs is very particular and exclusive in China. They illustrate the fascination or the dark aspect of China to which there’s no need to translate to show to our foreign counterparts (Luo Xuanmin & Li Tuwang, 2006). Take “No pee here” for an example. This public sign is embarrassed and only indicates the impoliteness of Chinese, which will leave a negative impression to those foreign visitors in the scenery spot. Therefore, it is better not to translate this kind of publicsigns.3. Methods to Assess the Quality of Translation of Public SignsThe author has pointed out several categories of mistake. So what is the standard the author takes to assess those translations? The standards are illustrated as the followings:3.1 From the Aspect of the Applied and Indicated FunctionAs the public signs is used in every aspect of our daily life and does direct impact on our life, the translation of public signs is based on the acknowledgement of the applied and indicated functions of them. The most important ones are informational function, instructive function, regulatory function and warning function (Stuart Redman, 2002). The different functions of the public signs directly affect the style and the mood of the translation.3.1.1 Informational FunctionInformational function refers to the service of the information, without any limited or compellent meaning. It is to provide some information to better the service towards the aimed group of people. Its function is to indicate the context of the service, for example: “Information”for “问询”, “Car Rental ” for “租车”, “Travel Service”for “旅游服务” and “Take away” for “外卖”。