Abstract:A public sign refers to a language-based message carrier used in public places to inform the public what they supposed to know. It is supposed to convey necessary and adequate information to the public. Public signs are almost everywhere and related to every aspect of our social life.
With the rapid development of our economy and the policy of reform and opening-up, China has developed good relationship with other countries and regions in various fields. Nowadays, more and more international visitors have shown their interest in coming to China for business, tourism, or education. In order to offer much information and convenience for foreigners, make them know more about China, many cities have made bilingual public notices and signs in public places. Therefore, public signs in both English and Chinese constitute an indispensable part in our communication materials and the translation of Chinese public signs into English is of great significance. However, at present, a great number of problems and errors can be found in the translation of public signs from Chinese into English, and the quality of translation is far from satisfactory. These problems and errors will not only cause social disorder, but more seriously, it will damage China’s international image. So the translation is in dire need of improvement.
This thesis takes a closed look at the present situation on Chinese-English translation of public signs, analyzes the main problems and the causes of the errors that exist in the public sign translation and put forward some suggestions and solutions for its translation.
Key words: Chinese-English translation; public signs; translation errors and strategies
摘 要:公示语指在公共场所用于告知公众信息的语言。它传递必要的信息给公众，涉及到我们生活的方方面面,因此也影响到我们生活的方方面面。
随着我国经济发展不断增长，对外开放不断加大，中国与其他国家和地区在各方面的友好往来及合作日益赠多，对外联系和国际交流日益频繁。当前，越来越多的外国友人来到中国进行商务投资，旅游观光和考察学习。为了方便外国友人在中国出行便利，许多城市在公共场所都采用了中英双语公示语的形式。公示语成为了外国人了解中国城市的一个窗口。因此，公示语属于对外宣传的一个重要部分，它的汉英翻译具有重要意义。但公示语的翻译现状不容乐观，存在许多的错误，这些错误不仅会造成社会秩序紊乱，更会破坏了我国的国际形象。因此公示语翻译质量继续提高。
本文对公示语的一般特征进行了总结并对现今汉英公示语翻译中所存在的一些常见的问题进行了分类，分析了其错误原因，从而在实践观察和对相关理论深入研究的基础上提出相应的翻译策略。
关键词: 汉英翻译； 公示语； 翻译错误及其策略
