A public sign is a board or other forms of notice giving information of warning, or directions etc,(Zhao Qiurong,2008:101). With the development of economy and the acceleration of opening and reform, cooperation between China and foreign countries has increased largely. Different kinds of pageants such as EXPO and Asian Games have been hold in China. Some big cities in China like Shanghai and Guangzhou have been brought in the line with international practice. Under this circumstance, public signs, which are a part of external propaganda, become important increasingly.
Before 2005, the study on translation of public signs in China is almost zero(Li Xiaohua,2009:278). But in recent years the translation of public signs has caused extensive attention by some departments concerned. The first countrywide pro-seminar of public signs translation is held in Beijing in 2005. With the development of economy, the translation of public signs is becoming more skillful and mature. Directing signs, one kind of public signs, serve the public and provide guidance information. During the process of translation, translators should be clear of the qualities of directing signs and seek a perfect version.
The Skopos theory emphasizes that every translation has a purpose and the end justifies the means(Zhao Qiurong,2008:101). There are three rules subordinate to the Skopos theory: skopos rule, coherence rule and fidelity rule. The translation of directing signs should adhere to these three rules.
The thesis aims to analyze the situation of the translation of directing signs in big cities in China. The thesis picks Guangzhou and Shenzhen as representative of big cities and collects the different versions of directing signs. By comparing the rules and purposes defined by Skopos theory with the current situation, the thesis cultivates the dissatisfying phenomena of translation, and tries to put forward applicable suggestions.
