本文获南京大学2006年度本科优秀毕业论文（设计）一等奖（2002级外国语学院唯一一篇获全校一等奖的学士论文）
A Critical
Analysis of the Translations of Public Signs in
by
ZHANG Yanping
Under the Supervision of
Professor Ke Ping
Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements
for the Degree of Bachelor of Arts
Department of English
School of Foreign Studies
Nanjing University
May 30, 2006
Upon
the accomplishment of this thesis, I would like to convey my sincere gratitude
to Professor Ke Ping, my supervisor, without whose help and support this thesis
would not have been possibly completed and presented in its present form. His
instructions and suggestions guided me in planning and implementing this study in
a methodical way. His earnestness in
academic research inspired me and motivated me to carry
out the physically and mentally demanding field work involved in the study. Moreover, his
strict regard to details prompted me to revise the language and
format of this thesis repeatedly.
My
thanks also go to Professor He Chengzhou, who supported me to take up the present topic of study.He
was kind enough to encourage me
to keep on with it,
which helped me to bring this thesis project to a desirable end.
Besides,
I want to give my thanks to my classmate and research partner,
Li Xiaosa, for the efforts she made with me to
collect from many
public places in Nanjing all the
samples needed for the study.
Finally,
I wish to thank my parents, whoseenormous love and support have accompanied me throughout my four years’ study at , I could have gone
nowhere.
本研究的目的在于揭示公共标识语汉英翻译中应遵守的原则和所采取的翻译方法和策略技巧，以使公共标识语的译文遵从目标语同类可比文本的规范，获得目标语读者和观众的认同，实现达到其信息传递和呼唤大众的功能。
本研究主要以纽马克的《翻译教程》（2001）为理论基础。纽马克认为不同的文体文本翻译应采取不同的翻译方法。他将文本分成三种类型:表达型、信息型和呼唤型；表达型文本适用语义翻译，信息型和呼唤型文本适用交际翻译。鉴于公共标识主要向公众传递信息和发出呼唤的功能, 作者认为公共标识语的翻译宜采用交际翻译。
本研究是通过语料研究和问卷调查进行的，研究方法为定性分析。研究作者实地调查了南京公共场所的双语标识牌，收集大量实例，分门别类地分析了翻译中存在的问题；并选择部分有代表性的标识语翻译收入问卷, 邀请母语为英语的人士回答了问卷。
调查发现南京现有公共标识语的翻译多采用直译而忽略交际翻译, 导致了很多语用失误之处。在语料研究的基础上, 作者发现列举了一些最为常见的错误类型，如词语误用、语法错误、译法不统一致、译文冗长累赘、不忠实原文等等。
针对以上现状, 研究者探讨了公共标识语汉英翻译中为达到交际效果译者而须宜采用的翻译策略技巧，如解释性翻译、增译、减译(或不译)和改译等，并提出公共标识语翻译应遵守准确性、经济性和忠实性的原则。本研究发现：为了取得预期的交际效果，公共标识语的译文还应遵从目标语同类可比文本的规范，即字数较少、使用常见词语和简单的句子结构。
本研究虽然存在一些缺陷和不足，但其发现在实践和理论方面都有一定的意义。在实践方面，它针对公共标识语的翻译现状提出了可操作性强的翻译策略与技巧；在理论上，本文说明了翻译研究需要把已有的翻译理论和其他学科的研究理论（如语料库语言学和语用学）相结合, 从而更有效地解决翻译中的实际问题。
The
purpose of this research is to find out the principles governing, and translation
strategies and methods
workable in Chinese-English (C-E) translation of public signs so
that the informative and vocative functions of such texts can be fulfilled.
The
theoretical basis of this thesis came from A
Textbook of Translation, written by Newmark (2001). Newmark points out
three main functions of language, namely the expressive, informative and
vocative functions, and argues that informative and vocative texts
should be communicatively translated. Considering that the chief functions of public signs are informative and
vocative,
the study concluded that the communicative
translation approach should be adoptedin
translating such texts.
This
research was based on field study and
surveys, and used
comparable corpus and qualitative analysis. The author investigated many
bilingual public signs in critically analyzed
the main existingproblems
identified in these translations. Besides, ten translations of public signs were
selected and transcribed in a questionnaire, which was administered to a
group of native English speakers (including a linguistics professor) to test
their communicative effect.
The
study found that
translators of public signs are inclined to translate
literally and neglect the
communicative function of the original. On the
basis of corpus study, the thesis discovered some most common types of translation mistake, including misuse of
words, grammatical mistakes, inconsistency in referring to the same object, wordy
translations and unfaithful translations, and came up with four translation strategies that are advised to be adopted by the translator
to avoid these mistakes, namely, paraphrase, amplification, reduction
(or zero translation) and adaptation. The thesis concludes that accuracy,
economy and faithfulness should be the main principles to be followed in the
C-E translation of public signs. The research also
found that
in order to achieve communicative effect, the translation of public signs
should conform to such conventions of English public signs as shortness in
length, plainness in vocabulary and simplicity in sentence structure.
Despite its limitations, the present research is significant in that it yields some important findings regarding
the problems existing in the C-E
translation of public signs in
摘 要..............................................................................................................
Abstract.........................................................................................................
1.1.2 Rationale for the Research
C-E translation of
public signs
1.3 Organization
of the Thesis
Chapter Three
Results and Discussions
3.1 A Critical
Analysis of the Problems in Translations of Public Signs
(1) Misuse of words and grammatical mistakes
(2) Inconsistency in referring to the same object
3.2 Proper
Translation Methods and Specific Strategies in the Translation of Public Signs
3.2.1 Communicative Translation
(3) Reduction (or Zero Translation)
4.1.1 Ways of Adapting to the Conventions of
English Public Signs
4.1.2 Principles Guiding C-E Translation of Public
Signs
4.1.3 Methods and Skills in C-E Translation of
Public Signs
4.2 Implications
of the Findings
4.3 Limitations of
the Study and Suggestions for Further Research
References....................................................................................................