Abstract

As China opens up even more to the outside world, international public places are not limited to luxury places in big cities any more, and foreign friends can be seen at any public place. At this time, bilingual public signs which express meanings correctly are more and more important. Therefore, some problems of C-E translation draw experts’ attention. The quality of C-E translation of public signs is not satisfactory and many problems occur, which greatly affect the functional performance of public signs and damage the image of China in international communities. Therefore, standardizing and modifying C-E translation of public signs is urgent and necessary.

This paper focuses on improper C-E translation of public signs in Xuzhou from functional approach. The author collects many public signs in Xuzhou, especially those with translation problems, and classifies them by translation errors into linguistic problems, cultural problems and inconformity. Functional approach is applied into discussions of some samples. The functions of public signs, the principles of C-E translation of public signs and existing translation errors and some feasible suggestions on revision are analyzed and proposed. The writer of the thesis is hoped to provide some recommendations to the C-E translation of public signs so that the public signs could play their roles well with the joint efforts by relevant government authorities, translators and sign makers, thus to improve the publicity image of the Xuzhou City.

Key words: public signs;     C-E translation;     functional approach

Contents

Abstract

摘要

Chapter One Introduction-1

1.1 Research Background-1

1.2 Research Significance and Purpose-1

1.3 Thesis Structure-2

Chapter Two Literature Review-4

2.1 Researches on Functionalist Translation Theory Abroad-4

2.2 Researches on the Translation of Public Signs At Home-5

Chapter Three Methodology-7

3.1 Research Questions-7

3.2 Research Methods-7

Chapter Four Discussions on the C-E Translation of Public Signs from the Functional Approach-9

4.1 An Overview of Public Signs-9

4.2 Principles of C-E Translation of Public Signs under the Framework of Functional Approach-11

4.3 Problems of C-E Translation of Public Signs from the Functional Approach and Revision Suggestions-13

Chapter Five Conclusion-19

5.1 Major Findings-19

5.2 Limitations-19

5.3 Suggestions for Further Studies-20

References-21