A Study Of C-E Translation Of Public Signs In Major Scenic Spots In Kunming In The Light Of Skopos Theory

The present thesis is an attempt to explore issues related to C-E translation of public signs found in some major scenic sites of Kunming, such as Yunnan Nationalities Villages, Golden Temple Scenic Spot, Daguan Pavilion Park, Kunming Horti-expo Garden, Yunnan Safari Park, Yuantong Temple, Green Lake Park. A total of 334 samples have been collected, classified, and analyzed for the purpose of identifying the problems that exist in their translation from Chinese into English. By drawing on the Skopos theory as a theoretical basis, the author tries to argue that there are a variety of problems in the C-E translation of these signs, and that such problems include extensive use of unidiomatic expressions that can be misleading, word-for-word renderings that are nearly incomprehensible, inadequacy in the handling of culture-loaded words and expressions and failure to make manifest the purpose of the signs due to a lack of proficiency in English on the part of the translator. On the basis of such findings, the author tries to offer some suggestions and countermeasures for the improvement of the C-E translation of such signs.Structurally, the present thesis is composed of seven parts. The first part is the Introduction, which gives an account of the background, objectives, methodology, significance of the study, as well as the organization of the thesis. The second part, or Chapter One, provides a literature review of this thesis. Chapter Two elaborates on the features of public signs in general and Chapter Three introduces the theoretical framework of this thesis. In Chapter Four, the collected samples are analyzed in detail. Chapter Five offers suggestions for the solution of existing problems, and finally in the last part, the Conclusion, summaries are made of the findings of the thesis.