目的论视角下的杭州旅游景区公示语汉英翻译研究

目的论视角下的杭州旅游景区公示语汉英翻译研究
摘要：随着经济发展和旅游业的兴起，许多旅游景区内使用双语公示语，为外国游客提供方便，但是公示语的英译状况却不容乐观，存在很多错误和不规范的现象，影响城市形象。

本文以杭州的旅游景区为例，在目的论的指导下，分析了景区内公示语翻译的主要错误，并提出了相应的翻译策略，希望以此改善公示语的翻译，维护和提升杭州的城市形象。

关键词：目的论；公示语翻译；旅游景区
Study on C-E Translation of Public Signs in Hangzhou’s Sc enic Areas from the Perspective of Skopos Theory
Abstract: With the development of economy and the booming of tourism, bilingual public signs are used in many tourist scenic areas to provide convenience for foreign tourists. However, the translation of public signs is not satisfactory. There are many errors and non-standard phenomenon, which has a bad impact on the city’s image. Taking Hangzhou’s tourist scenic areas as an example, this paper analyzes the problems in the translation of public signs and put forward some translation strategies to improve the translation, as well as the image of Hangzhou.
Key words: Skopos theory; translation of public signs; tourist scenic areas
Study on C-E Translation of Public Signs in Hangzhou’s Scenic Areas from the Perspective of Skopos Theory
1. Introduction
1.1 The Introduction of Public Signs
In order to study public signs, we must first figure out the meaning of “signs” in English. A sign refers to “ a piece of paper, wood or metal that has writing or a picture on it that gives you information, instructions, a warning, etc”. This is the definition of sign given by Oxford Advanced Learner’s English-Chinese Dictionary(Sixth Edition). Therefore, it can be inferred that public signs include road signs, advertisements, product instructions, tourist handbooks, slogans, notices in public areas. Professor Lv Hefa points that “Basic information that involves people’s behavior and demand in food, housing, traveling and entertainment should all fall into the category of public signs, which are publicly shown to the public, tourists, overseas visitors, foreigners in
China and the Chinese in other countries (2005).”
Public signs have an impact on our life in many ways and provide much convenience and help for our daily life. In terms of the function of English public signs, they can be classified into four categories, directing public signs, prompting public signs, restricting public signs and compelling public signs.
(1) directing public signs
Directing public signs are used to deliver information, help people know about the surroundings or remind the public of the features of the location. These public signs show considerate information service, without any limitation and compelling meaning. For example, “Tickets”(售票处), “Department Store” (百货商场).
(2) prompting public signs
Prompting public signs are designed to warn people to pay attention to potential dangers or risks to avoid unnecessary loss. For example, “Caution! Watch your step!”(小心，注意脚下)
(3) restricting public signs
This kind of public signs set some requirements and rules for people to obey. They mostly appear in subway or some passages. It has played a important role in dredging the stream of people. For example, “Athletes Only.”(运动员专用) “Staff Only.”(员工通道).
(4) compelling public signs
Generally, direct and compulsory words are used to forbid people from doing
something. For example, “No Smoking.”(禁止吸烟) “No Parking”(禁止停车)
1.2 Research Objective and Significance
Hangzhou, crowned as “ Paradise on Earth”, is famous for its picture sque scenery. With a long history of 2,200 years, Hangzhou used to be one of the seven ancient capitals of China. Nowadays, it is the provincial city of Zhejiang Province, serving as the center of the province’s politics, economy, culture, traffic, and tou rism. As a historical and cultural city, Hangzhou attracts millions of tourists from home and abroad every year. Especially, when West Lake charges no admission fees, even more tourists swarm into the scenic spots every holiday.。