Analysis On Problems In The C-E Translation Of Public Signs

China, as an increasingly international country, is attracting much more attention worldwide than she has ever before especially when such great global events as 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and 2010 World Expo in Shanghai are just around the corner. As more and more foreign visitors stream into China, the bilingual public signs, which are supposed to be the most immediate public guidance for visitors, start to play more and more important role not only in its public function for directing people, but more in their significance for upgrading the international image and reputation of China in the global community. However, the numerous and frequent occurrence of problems in the C-E translation of public signs makes the mistranslation of public signs an emergent issue that needs immediate and effective solution since improper translation of public signs will not only cause social disorder, but more seriously, it will degrade China's international status as a major role on the global platform.For that reason, the author ventures an attempt to analyze the current problems existing in the C-E translation of public signs and to seek proper translational strategies both from the perspectives of theory and practice. By closely observing numerous samples of both standard and problematic translation of signs, the author manages to generalize the characteristics of public signs and to categorize the problems and mistakes in the current C-E translation of public signs. Then, proper translational strategies are proposed on the basis of in-depth study of relevant theories and keen observation of practice.In terms of theory, the author finds that the theory of communicative translation and the concept of cultural translation are particularly inspiring. Communicative translation theory, which is pioneered and proposed by Peter Newmark, may provide the theoretical enlightenment for the strategy of the C-E translation of public signs. According to Newmark, all texts can be classified into three types, namely expressive, informative and vocative. Newmark also introduces two translational approaches for different types of texts, namely semantic translation and communicative translation. Semantic translation, which is the translation at the author's level, is applicable to expressive texts. That is to translate as close as to the source text. Informative and vocative texts should be translated at the readership's level. That means to emphasize on the effect it exerts on the readers. Therefore, it requires that communicative translation be utilized. Taking their characteristics into account, the text type of public signs actually intermingles the distinguish features of both the informative and the vocative text types. In that sense, it is advisable that the method of communicative translation be adopted in the C-E translation of public signs.Translation is not merely a cross-linguistic activity, but more of a transmission of cultural information. The translation of public signs is no exception. An appropriate translation of public sign should not only be linguistically correct, but also culturally acceptable. In that sense, the concept of cultural translation, which is defined by such translational theorists as Nida and Koller, should be rightfully introduced into the C-E translation of public signs. On the basis of the concept of cultural translation, Venuti proposes two cultural approaches to translation, namely "Foreignization" and "Domestication". Since the ultimate purpose of the translation of public signs is to make foreign visitors fully comprehend the direction without feeling culturally offended or emotionally alienated, certain modification or transformation should be made so that the translation can be culturally target-oriented. Therefore, the approach of "Domestication" is highly advisable when dealing with cultural factors in the C-E translation of public signs.