The Translation of Public Signs 英译公共标语

TheTranslationofPublicSignsMembers:TransLiBomyZhouContents1WhyshouldwetranslatethePublicSignscorrectly？2LanguageFeaturesofPublicSigns3ThetypesofPublicSigns4TipsfortheTranslationofPublicSigns1.WhyShouldWeTranslatethePublicSignsCorrectly？Publicsignscanbringconveniencefortheseforeigners'dailylife;meantimeitalsocanhelpthemknowbetteraboutChina.Ifnotcorrect,Englishtranslationofpublicsignscancausethefailureanddamageourinternationalimage.Itmaybringalotoftroubles.对公业务TOMALESERVICETOCORPORATIONSERVICETakethechildTakecareofyourchildFallintowatercarefullyDanger：DeepWater带好孩子小心落水不可回收NOMAYRECLAIMNon-recycledRubbish一次性用品ATIMESEXTHINGDisposables市民中心站ShiMinZhongXinZhanCivilcentre高新技术产业园区High-techIndustrialPankHigh-techIndustrialParkMoreexamples垃圾在此投放，烟头切勿投入Garbageonly,notforcigarettebults.危险！请勿动。Danger!Keepout!Danger!Notouch.(火车标语)车辆连接处，请注意安全。Vehicleconjunction,pleasewatchforyoursafety.Carriageconjunction,pleasebecareful.人民南路RenMinNanLuSouthRenMinRoad2.LanguageFeaturesofPublicSigns1.Conciseness(形式简洁)Usuallythereadersjustlookattheboardwithsignsquicklywhentheypassby,sothelanguageonitneedstobesimple,aphraseorawordisenough.Examples禁止吸烟“pleasedonotsmoking’’?“NoSmoking”正在营业“weareonbusiness”?Open2.Simplewords(用词简洁)Becausethetargetreadersalwaysspendalittletimeonreadingthesigns.Themeaningofthesignsshouldbeclearandeasytounderstand.Examples严禁客货混装A.“Don’tputpassengersandcargostogether’’?B.“NoPassengersonTrucks”Thesignsaresetforthepublicandmanyreadersaren’tprofessional,thereforewhentranslatesign,weshouldgetthepointdirectlyandclearlyandshouldnotjusttalkaroundthebush.3.Clearness(释义清晰)IftheEnglishversionsarefullofrarewordsandexpression,itwillcausefailureofcommunicationandevenmisunderstandings.Examples“景区坏境卫生，需要你的维护”A.“EnvironmentalSanitationoftheScenicSpotNeedYourConserve’’B.“KeepClearorNoLittering”Soweknowifwewantreaderscatchthemeaningatfirstglance,weshouldusetheconcise,clear,simplewordsandexpressionsinC—Etranslationofpublicsigns.3.TheTypesofPublicSigns1.TelltalePublicSignsThesesignscangiveussomeusefulmessageswithoutanyrestrictormandatorymeaning.Example:旅游者服务中心VisitorCenter双向行驶TwoWay单线行OneWay2.InstructionalPublicSignsThesesignsworkonlyforhintrole,withoutanyreferstothesignificance,yetuseveryextensive.Example:油漆未干WETPAIN售完SOLDOUT小心轻放HandleWithCare3.RestrictivePublicSignsThesesignsproposerestrictionstorelevantpublicbehavior,who'slanguageshouldbestraightforward,butwon'tmakepeoplefeeltoughorunreasonable.Example:凭票入场TicketOnly60千米/时60km/h(限速)4.MandatoryPublicSignsThesesignsrequirethepublicthingmustornottotakeanyaction.languangeshouldbestraightforwardwithoutanynegotiations.Example:禁止驶入NoEntry此处禁止钓鱼NoFishingHere4.TipsfortheTranslationofPublicSigns1.Asitneedssimple,aphraseofwordsorverbsisenough.Clear,concise登记入住CheckIn安全出口SafetyExit2.Usingimperativesentences请勿践踏草坪KeepoffTheGrassPlease留意脚下WatchtheSteps请勿打扰DONOTDISTURB3.Usingprecisewordsnotionalwords,corevocabularyandkeywordsareenough,auxiliaryfunctionwordsandpronounscanbeomitted.examples:洗车场WashingBay非客莫入Staffonly4.NouncommonvocabularySinsepubliclanguageshouldseriouslyconsidertheculturallevelofthepublicandtourists,souncommonvocabulary,thearchaism,thetermandslangshouldbeavoided.Thanks