Preface

Translation of public signs plays an important role in Sino-foreign cultural exchange and economic cooperation. But at present the quality of Chinese-English translation (hereafter abbreviated to C-E translation) of public signs in China is still far from satisfaction. Linguistic errors, pragmatic failure and cultural mistranslation are common problems in current C-E translation of public signs.

Text types are closely related to language functions. Language functions can decide text types. According to text typology, public signs are classified into informative and vocative texts which perform such functions as directing, reminding, warning, informing, persuading and propagating. Peter Newmark put forward communicative translation strategy to translate informative and vocative texts. The communicative translation lays emphasis on the readability of the target text and the reception of the target readers, the fluency, idiomaticness, brevity and comprehensibility of the target language. It stresses that the target text should be able to produce functionally the same effect on the target readers as the original on the readers. Translation variation theory, put forward by professor Huang Zhonglian, is a suitable and feasible theory to guide the C-E translation of public signs, which aims at representing contents and messages of the original by using appropriate adaptations such as addition, deletion, edition, narration, condensation, combination and rewriting to meet the specific needs of the specific readers under specific circumstances.

Based on the translation variation theory, this book analyses the feasibility and necessity of applying translation variation in C-E translation of public signs and explores the application of some translation variation methods in translating public signs so that the functions and skopos of C-E translation of public signs can be realized.

This book is composed of six parts. Chapter 1 briefs the background, purpose and significance, methodology of this study as well as the structure of the book. Chapter 2 is a text analysis of public signs, which presents definition, classification, characteristics, functions, and text types of public signs. It also makes a comparison of translation strategies for translation of public signs and those for translation of other text types. Chapter 3 mainly analyses the mistranslation in C-E translation of public signs and its cause. Chapter 4 and Chapter 5 are the key parts of this book. Chapter 4 first gives a brief overview and comment on translation variation and translation variation theory and then discusses the feasibility and necessity of applying translation variation in C-E translation of public signs. Chapter 5 explores the methods of applying translation variation to translate public signs, such as amplification, omission, adaptation, imitation and creation, so that the information and intention of the original can be conveyed exactly to the target readers. The final part comes to the conclusion in which findings, limitations and suggestions for further research are presented.

It is hoped that this book will provide some useful guidance for the readers to better understand the functions and text types of public signs and learn how to apply translation variation in their own translation practice and thus make a valuable contribution to the standardization of C-E translation of public signs.

Due to festinate time, limited knowledge and experience of the author, some mistakes and errors in this book are unavoidable. Feedbacks, comments and suggestions from all readers of this book are warmly welcome so that corrections can be made.

The Author