公示语汉英翻译研究

论文摘要

纵观城市公示语的汉英翻译,大多存在着不少问题,除了由于粗心大意造成的拼写错误和语法错误以外,还存在冗长、不统一、晦涩难懂等问题。然而,随着改革开放以来我国在各个领域取得了众所周知的成就,我国已经并且即将举办越来越多的重大国际性的政治、经济和文化活动。北京于2008年将举办奥运会,上海也将于2010年举办世界博览会。为了树立我国良好的国际形象,不断规范和完善城市公示语的翻译成为了一项亟待完成的工作。在这样的背景下,作者对公示语及其汉英翻译进行了初步探索,目的是提出公示语汉英翻译的一些原则。在阐明与公示语相关的一系列概念、功能特色和语言风格的基础上,本文通过对比纽马克的语义翻译和交际翻译以及其与文本分类的关系,试探性地提出了公示语汉英翻译三原则:简洁、统一和易懂。“简洁”原则强调英译文语言的简明扼要。“统一”原则包含三层含义:1)与英语国家现成惯用的公示语的统一,英译可以采用“拿来主义”;2)与已经沿用至今且被广泛接受的译名的统一;3)与权威的官方网站,辞典和报刊的统一。“易懂”原则是指英译文的可读性,能被外国读者理解,尽量避免中式英语和翻译腔。在提出公示语汉英翻译原则之后,本文选取了大量经典译例,分析了这些译例中的不足,然后提供了改译译文,旨在通过比较来证明这三条原则对公示语汉英翻译的理论知道意义。

论文目录

• Abstract
• 摘要
• Introduction
• Chapter 1 An Overview of Public Signs
• 1.1 Definition of Public Signs
• 1.1.1 Definition of Sign in English
• 1.1.2 Definition of Public Signs in Chinese
• 1.2 Classifications of Public Signs
• 1.2.1 Classification from the Perspective of Function
• 1.2.1.1 Directing
• 1.2.1.2 Prompting
• 1.2.1.3 Restricting
• 1.2.1.4 Compelling
• 1.2.2 Classification from the Perspective of Information State
• 1.2.2.1 Static Meanings of Public Signs
• 1.2.2.2 Dynamic Meanings of Public Signs
• 1.2.3 Classifications from the Perspective of Social Application
• 1.2.3.1 Security
• 1.2.3.2 Traffic
• 1.2.3.3 Tourism and Public Facilities
• 1.2.3.4 Names of Institutions
• 1.2.3.5 Notification
• 1.3 Features of Public Signs
• 1.3.1 Conciseness
• 1.3.2 Directness
• 1.3.3 Suitable Mood
• 1.3.3.1 Directing Mood
• 1.3.3.2 Prompting Mood
• 1.3.3.3 Restricting Mood
• 1.3.3.4 Compelling Mood
• 1.3.4 Letters Combined with Pictures
• 1.3.5 Capitalization of English Pubic Signs
• Chapter 2 Common Problems in the Chinese-English Translation of Public Signs
• 2.1 Errors in the Linguistic Aspect
• 2.1.1 Spelling Mistakes
• 2.1.1.1 Wrong spellings
• 2.1.1.2 Misspelling of Capital Letters
• 2.1.2 Grammatical Mistakes
• 2.1.3 Lexical Errors
• 2.1.3.1 Pseudo-equivalents
• 2.1.3.2 Lexical Redundancy
• 2.2 Errors in the Cultural Aspect
• 2.2.1 Chinglish
• 2.2.2 Harsh Mood
• 2.2.3 Misunderstanding and Misusing Words with Different Cultural Connotations
• Chapter 3 Semantic and Communicative Translation Theory
• 3.1 An Overview of Semantic and Communicative Translation Theory
• 3.1.1 Background of Communicative Translation and Semantic Translation
• 3.1.2 The Definitions of Communicative Translation and Semantic Translation
• 3.1.3 Communicative Translation and Semantic Translation Vs. Other Translation Methods
• 3.1.4 Comparison Between Communicative Translation and Semantic Translation
• 3.1.4.1 Differences Between Communicative Translation and Semantic Translation
• 3.1.4.2 Similarities Between Communicative Translation and Semantic Translation
• 3.1.5 Development of Communicative Translation and Semantic Translation
• 3.1.6 Communicative Translation & Semantic Translation and Text Typology
• 3.1.6.1 Text Typology and Translation Methods
• 3.1.6.2 Development of Text Typology
• 3.1.6.3 Communicative Translation & Semantic Translation and Text Typology
• 3.1.6.4 Using Communicative Translation and Semantic Translation to Handle Text-type Hybridization
• 3.2 The Application of Communicative and Semantic Translation Theory to the Chinese-English Translation of Public Signs
• 3.2.1 The Text Type of Public Signs—Vocative Text
• 3.2.2 The Guidance to the Chinese-English Translation of Public Signs—Communicative Translation
• Chapter 4 The Principles of Chinese-English Translation of Public Signs
• 4.1 Conciseness
• 4.1.1 Reasons for the Establishment of Conciseness Principle
• 4.1.2 Necessity and Feasibility of Conciseness Principle
• 4.1.2.1 Translating Billboards
• 4.1.2.2 Translating Slogans
• 4.1.2.3 Translating Directing Boards
• 4.1.2.4 Translating Tourist Briefings
• 4.2 Consistency
• 4.2.1 Reasons for the Establishment of Consistency Principle
• 4.2.2 Necessity and Feasibility of Consistency Principle
• 4.2.2.1 Consistent with Idiomatic Expressions in English-Speaking Countries
• 4.2.2.2 Consistent with the Fixed Translated Names or Terms
• 4.2.2.2.1 Translating the Names Including Historic Significance
• 4.2.2.2.2 Translating the Names of Hotels
• 4.2.2.2.3 Translating the Names of Overseas Companies in China
• 4.2.2.2.4 Translating the Names of Roads and Streets
• 4.2.2.3 Consistent with the Official Websites, Dictionaries and Newspapers
• 4.3 Comprehensibility
• 4.3.1 Reasons for the Establishment of Comprehensibility Principle
• 4.3.2 Necessity and Feasibility of Comprehensibility Principle
• 4.3.2.1 Translating Without Real Understanding
• 4.3.2.2 Translating Without a Knowledge of China‘s National Conditions
• 4.3.2.3 Translating Without an Awareness of Semantic Differences
• 4.3.2.4 Translation Failing to Address Pragmatic Meaning
• 4.3.2.5 Translation Too Exaggerating to Be Acceptable
• Conclusion
• Bibliography
• Acknowledgements