Analysis On Problems In C-E Translation Of Public Signs And Corresponding Translation Strategies Under The Guidance Of German Functionalism And Communicative Translation

As a typical text type, public signs are widely used in the public places to offer information and regulate people's behavior. They exert tremendous influence on people's daily life due to its intensity and popularity. Besides, with the rise of China in the international stage, there is an increasing number of population comes to China for a visit. And Chinese-English public signs in this case play an important role in international communication because they can greatly enhance cultural exchanges and economic cooperation between the countries.Based on functionalist translation theory and communicative translation theory, this thesis discusses C-E translation of public signs from the perspectives of functionalism, language and culture. By analyzing the existing problems in C-E translation of public signs and their possible causality, some feasible strategies and techniques are proposed which build up a benchmark to the studies of C-E translation of public signs.The thesis is developed into four chapters. Chapter one initiates with the introduction of the status quo of C-E public signs translation and research production, the main significance of this thesis and the research objective. Chapter two introduces German functionalism, communication translations as well as text types which shed light on the definition, classification, as well as functions of public signs and on the basis of which the author put forward a model for public signs translation. Chapter three focuses on the study of C-E translation of public signs from functionalism, linguistics and cultural perspectives. More over, the existing problems of translation of public signs and their possible solutions are examined respectively. Chapter four deals with translation strategies of C-E public signs in connection with linguistics, culture and the application of the functionalism, in which the acceptability of translated versions, the expectation of target text receiver, the intention of the sender are discussed.The errors in C-E translation according to the author's exploration of related resources derive from translators'carelessness, the language incompetence, less exposure of the signs theory and the interference of mother tongue, etc. It is concluded that the feasible translation strategies are back translation, communicative translation, adaptation, and etc. decided by the skopos of the translation, the intention of the sender with regard to the expectation of the receivers.