Abstract: Traffic signs including road signs and warning signs are designed to provide necessary information on the road. With the development of globalization, the number of the foreign visitors is on the increase, in which case the translation of traffic signs has gradually played an indispensable role in our city life. After a sampling investigation on the internet, it can be found that most important traffic signs in some cities do not provide the translation or provide the incorrect translation of traffic signs. This study attempts to analyze the development of translation of common traffic signs and the mistranslation of traffic signs in Nanjing and some other domestic cities; and it concludes that mistranslation is primarily due to the lack of standard translation norms of traffic signs and the low-level quality of interpreter and personnel carelessness in the process of manufacturing. Aiming to help solve these problems, the paper tries to propose some tentative solutions to inspire the development of translation of common traffic signs. 

Key words: traffic signs; mistranslation; tentative solutions

CONTENTS

Abstract

中文摘要

1. Introduction.1

2. Analysis of Mistranslation of Common Traffic Signs 2

2.1 Common Problems in Traffic Sign Translation

2.2 Causes of Traffic Sign Mistranslation 

2.2.1 Lacking of Cultural Information 

2.2.2 Regulatory Concerns

  2.2.3 Man-made Negligence

3. Tentative Solutions  5

  3.1 Synthesizing Different Translation Methods 

  3.2 Standardizing Translation Norms

  3.3 Improving the Quality of the Translator

4. Conclusion8

Bibliography.9

Acknowledgements..10