从社会符号学视角论汉语公示语的翻译
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摘要
改革开放以来,我国在各个领域对外开放取得众所周知的成就。中国已经成为世界重要的旅游目的地、重大体育文化活动主办地、国际会议展览举办地、新科学技术策源地、国际贸易集散地、国际教育的生源地。来自世界的常住、短留人员足迹遍及中国31个省市、自治区。然而,一些街道名称、商店招牌、各地旅游点的介绍、其他对外宣传品等公示语的翻译和使用与中国现代化发展进程的实际需要有距离,还不能较好地满足国外受众对中国信息全面的、立体的需求,还不能贴近国外受众的思维和语言习惯。
公示语又名揭示语,标识语,标记语,警示语,但“公示语”现在被广泛接受和使用。大部分公示语是常见于公共场所的特殊文本,表示对公众的某个要求或引起人们的某种注意。或用寥寥文字,或用简易的图示,或两者兼用,广泛应用于我们生活的各个方面。公示语翻译能否达到它本来的功能,不但影响到外国友人在中国的食、宿、行、游、娱、购,还关系到城市的精神面貌和整体形象,进而影响到我国的国际形象,我们必须予以足够关注。对公示语的任何歧意,误解,滥用都会导致不良后果。只有认真探讨英语公示语的功能意义和语言文化内涵,才能真正发挥英语公示语在我国与世界接轨过程中的信息服务作用。
本文用社会符号学理论来阐述公示语的汉译英。社会符号学认为翻译就是翻译意义,包括指称意义,言内意义和语用意义。翻译的实质是文化交流,语言是一种独特的符号系统,具有信息功能、表达功能、祈使功能,美感功能,酬应功能、元语言功能。社会符号学理论树立的翻译标准是意义相符,功能相似。作者从社会符号学的角度具体阐述了如何翻译不同类型的公示语,怎样实现意义相符,功能相似。最后作者针对呼和浩特市公示语的英译所出现的问题来进行归类,并根据社会符号学的理论分析他们的问题所在。
It is well known that China has achieved great progress in many fields since reforming and opening up. In China many political, economic and cultural activities have been performed and more will be. It goes without saying that large numbers of foreigners have lived in China and more will crowd into China with the development of China. So translation of public signs becomes a must. But many problematic public signs exist in various forms such as the names of roads, shops, tourist literature, menus and some other publicity materials. Standardization of translation of public signs has become urgent; otherwise the situation will become disproportionate to the development.
Public signs, once called placard, is generally and widely used now. Most public signs can be seen in the public places, with some words, or pictures, or both on boards. Public signs have close relation with our lives, and of course translated public signs are closely related to foreigners' lives in China. What's more, it has some great effect on the image of country. So we should explore the meanings and functions of public signs and make a thorough study on the translation of public signs so that they can provide the proper information to foreigners and serve as communicators.
The thesis deals with the translation of public signs from the perspective of sociosemiotics. Translation is translating meaning which includes designative meaning, linguistic meaning and pragmatic meaning. Translation is the translation of these three meanings. Translation is exchanging culture, and the understanding of the meaning cannot ignore the factors of society environment. Language is a unique system of signs. It has six functions: expressive function, information function, vocative function, aesthetic function, phatic function and metalingual function. When analyzing the functions of source text, translators should take the whole text into consideration. The translation criteria from the perspective of a sociosemiotic approach is "correspondence in meaning and similarity in function". The criteria lay emphasis on the meanings and functions of language as a communication tool. Meaning and function are two inseparable sides for translation criteria. The author discusses how to translate different types of public signs from the perspective of sociosemiotics. The author also classifies the problematic public signs appearing in Hohhot City into several groups and analyzes them with sociosemiotic approach.
公示语又名揭示语,标识语,标记语,警示语,但“公示语”现在被广泛接受和使用。大部分公示语是常见于公共场所的特殊文本,表示对公众的某个要求或引起人们的某种注意。或用寥寥文字,或用简易的图示,或两者兼用,广泛应用于我们生活的各个方面。公示语翻译能否达到它本来的功能,不但影响到外国友人在中国的食、宿、行、游、娱、购,还关系到城市的精神面貌和整体形象,进而影响到我国的国际形象,我们必须予以足够关注。对公示语的任何歧意,误解,滥用都会导致不良后果。只有认真探讨英语公示语的功能意义和语言文化内涵,才能真正发挥英语公示语在我国与世界接轨过程中的信息服务作用。
本文用社会符号学理论来阐述公示语的汉译英。社会符号学认为翻译就是翻译意义,包括指称意义,言内意义和语用意义。翻译的实质是文化交流,语言是一种独特的符号系统,具有信息功能、表达功能、祈使功能,美感功能,酬应功能、元语言功能。社会符号学理论树立的翻译标准是意义相符,功能相似。作者从社会符号学的角度具体阐述了如何翻译不同类型的公示语,怎样实现意义相符,功能相似。最后作者针对呼和浩特市公示语的英译所出现的问题来进行归类,并根据社会符号学的理论分析他们的问题所在。
It is well known that China has achieved great progress in many fields since reforming and opening up. In China many political, economic and cultural activities have been performed and more will be. It goes without saying that large numbers of foreigners have lived in China and more will crowd into China with the development of China. So translation of public signs becomes a must. But many problematic public signs exist in various forms such as the names of roads, shops, tourist literature, menus and some other publicity materials. Standardization of translation of public signs has become urgent; otherwise the situation will become disproportionate to the development.
Public signs, once called placard, is generally and widely used now. Most public signs can be seen in the public places, with some words, or pictures, or both on boards. Public signs have close relation with our lives, and of course translated public signs are closely related to foreigners' lives in China. What's more, it has some great effect on the image of country. So we should explore the meanings and functions of public signs and make a thorough study on the translation of public signs so that they can provide the proper information to foreigners and serve as communicators.
The thesis deals with the translation of public signs from the perspective of sociosemiotics. Translation is translating meaning which includes designative meaning, linguistic meaning and pragmatic meaning. Translation is the translation of these three meanings. Translation is exchanging culture, and the understanding of the meaning cannot ignore the factors of society environment. Language is a unique system of signs. It has six functions: expressive function, information function, vocative function, aesthetic function, phatic function and metalingual function. When analyzing the functions of source text, translators should take the whole text into consideration. The translation criteria from the perspective of a sociosemiotic approach is "correspondence in meaning and similarity in function". The criteria lay emphasis on the meanings and functions of language as a communication tool. Meaning and function are two inseparable sides for translation criteria. The author discusses how to translate different types of public signs from the perspective of sociosemiotics. The author also classifies the problematic public signs appearing in Hohhot City into several groups and analyzes them with sociosemiotic approach.
引文
Baker,Mona.Routledge Encyclopedia of Translation Studies[M].London:Routledge,1998
Bei,Zhu&Shan,Aimin.[北竹、单爱民],谈英语公示用语的语言特点与汉英翻译[J],北京第二外国语学院学报,2002(5)76-79
Bian,Zhengdong.[卞正东],论标语的翻译.上海翻译,2005,(1):27-31
Chen,Hongwei.[陈宏薇],汉英翻译基础[M].上海:上海外语教育出版社,1998
Chen,Hongwei.[陈宏薇],社会符号学翻译研究[J].青岛海洋大学学报,1996(3):88-89
Dai,Zongxian&Lv Hefa[戴宗显,吕和发].公示语汉英翻译研究[J]中国翻译,2005(6):38-42
Ding,Wangdao[丁往道],英语写作手册[M].北京:外语教学与研究出版社,1994
Fu,Zhiai[傅志爱],再谈城市街道商店和单位名称的翻译[J].中国翻译,2005(4):
Gentazler,Edwin.Contemporary Translation Theory[M].Shanghai:Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press,2004
Guo,jianzhong[郭建中],街道名称书写法,中国翻译,2005(6):34-37
Halliday,M.A.K.Language as Social Semiotic,the Social Interpretation of Language and Meaning.[M]London:Edward Arnold,1978
He,ziran[何自然],语用学与英语学习[M].上海:上海外语教育出版社,1997
He,Xuegeng[贺学耘],汉英公示语翻译的现状及其交际翻译策略[J].外语与外语教学,2006(3):56-58
Jiang,Xiaohua[蒋晓华],符号学翻译研究[M].北京:外语教学与研究出版社,2003
Ke,Ping[柯平],英汉与汉英翻译教程[M].北京:北京大学出版社,1991
Li,Changjiang[粟长江],公安标示语和警示语的英译[J].中国翻译,2003(3):81-83
Li,Ming[李明],社会符号学的历史渊源及其翻译原则[J].上海科技翻译,1997(4):6-9
Liu,Qing[刘庆],当代翻译理论[M].北京:中国对外翻译出版公司,1999
Liu,Wei[刘伟],中国城市汉语公示语英译失误探析及其翻译研究.硕士论文,上海外国语大学,2008
Lv,Hefa[吕和发],公示语的汉英翻译[J].中国科技翻译,2004(1):38-40
Ma,Huijuan[马会娟],奈达翻译理论研究[M].北京:外语教学与研究出版社,2003
Morris,Charles.Foundations of the Theory of Sign.[M]Chicago:University of Chicago Press,1971
Newmark,Peter.Approach to Translation[M].Shanghai:Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press,2001
Newmark,Peter.A Text of Translation[M].Shanghai:Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press,2001
Ni,Chuanbin[倪传斌],标记语的英译原则及实例分析[J].上海科技翻译,1998(2):18-20
Nida,Eugene Albert.Toward a Science of Translation[M].Shanghai:Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press,2004
Nida,Eugene Albert.Language,Culture and Translating[M].Shanghai:Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press,1993
Nida,Eugene Albert &Taber,R.Charles The Theory and Practice of Translation[M].Shanghai:Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press,2004
Pierce,Charles Sanders Logic as Semiotic:The Theory of Sign[M].In Justus Bucher,ed.,Philosophical Writings of Peirce.New York:Dover,1955.
Pinkham,Joan.The Translator's Guide to Chinglish[M].Beijing:Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press,2000
Qv,Quanju[仇全菊],公示语及其翻译.硕士论文,山东大学
Ren,Jinsheng[任静生],公共揭示语汉译英错误剖析[J].合肥工业大学报,2001(2):104-106
Schuttleworth,Mark&Cowie,Moire Dictionary of Translation Studies[M].Shanghai:Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press,2004
Saussure,Ferdinand de.Course in General Linguistics,[M].ed.Charles Bally and Albert Sechehaye,trans.Wade Baskin.New York:Philosophical Library,1959.
Tan,Zaixi[谭载喜]编译,奈达论翻译[M].北京:中国对外翻译出版公司,1984
Wang,Mingyu&Song,Yao[王铭玉,宋尧].符号语言学[M].上海:上海外语教育出版社,2005
Wang,Mingyu[王铭玉].语言符号学[M].北京:高等外语教育出版社,2004
Wang,Yinquan&Chen,Xinren[王银泉,陈新仁],城市标识用语英译失误及其实例剖析[J].中国翻译,2004(2):81-82
Wu,Weixiong[吴伟雄],中文标语英译浅谈[J].中国翻译,1998(1):35-38
Xu,Jianping[许建平],英汉互译实践与技巧[M].北京:清华大学出版社,2000
www.E-signs.info(汉英公示语研究在线)
www.language.chinadaily.com.cn
www.bjenglish.net.cn
Yan,Quanhong[杨全红],也谈汉英公示语的翻译中国翻译,2005(6):43-46
Zhao,Xiaopei[赵小沛],公示语翻译中的语用失误探析[J].南京理工大学学报,2003 (5):68-71
Zhang,Renxia[张仁霞],用社会符号学的理论谈旅游资料的汉译英.硕士论文,广东外语外贸大学,2004
Bei,Zhu&Shan,Aimin.[北竹、单爱民],谈英语公示用语的语言特点与汉英翻译[J],北京第二外国语学院学报,2002(5)76-79
Bian,Zhengdong.[卞正东],论标语的翻译.上海翻译,2005,(1):27-31
Chen,Hongwei.[陈宏薇],汉英翻译基础[M].上海:上海外语教育出版社,1998
Chen,Hongwei.[陈宏薇],社会符号学翻译研究[J].青岛海洋大学学报,1996(3):88-89
Dai,Zongxian&Lv Hefa[戴宗显,吕和发].公示语汉英翻译研究[J]中国翻译,2005(6):38-42
Ding,Wangdao[丁往道],英语写作手册[M].北京:外语教学与研究出版社,1994
Fu,Zhiai[傅志爱],再谈城市街道商店和单位名称的翻译[J].中国翻译,2005(4):
Gentazler,Edwin.Contemporary Translation Theory[M].Shanghai:Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press,2004
Guo,jianzhong[郭建中],街道名称书写法,中国翻译,2005(6):34-37
Halliday,M.A.K.Language as Social Semiotic,the Social Interpretation of Language and Meaning.[M]London:Edward Arnold,1978
He,ziran[何自然],语用学与英语学习[M].上海:上海外语教育出版社,1997
He,Xuegeng[贺学耘],汉英公示语翻译的现状及其交际翻译策略[J].外语与外语教学,2006(3):56-58
Jiang,Xiaohua[蒋晓华],符号学翻译研究[M].北京:外语教学与研究出版社,2003
Ke,Ping[柯平],英汉与汉英翻译教程[M].北京:北京大学出版社,1991
Li,Changjiang[粟长江],公安标示语和警示语的英译[J].中国翻译,2003(3):81-83
Li,Ming[李明],社会符号学的历史渊源及其翻译原则[J].上海科技翻译,1997(4):6-9
Liu,Qing[刘庆],当代翻译理论[M].北京:中国对外翻译出版公司,1999
Liu,Wei[刘伟],中国城市汉语公示语英译失误探析及其翻译研究.硕士论文,上海外国语大学,2008
Lv,Hefa[吕和发],公示语的汉英翻译[J].中国科技翻译,2004(1):38-40
Ma,Huijuan[马会娟],奈达翻译理论研究[M].北京:外语教学与研究出版社,2003
Morris,Charles.Foundations of the Theory of Sign.[M]Chicago:University of Chicago Press,1971
Newmark,Peter.Approach to Translation[M].Shanghai:Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press,2001
Newmark,Peter.A Text of Translation[M].Shanghai:Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press,2001
Ni,Chuanbin[倪传斌],标记语的英译原则及实例分析[J].上海科技翻译,1998(2):18-20
Nida,Eugene Albert.Toward a Science of Translation[M].Shanghai:Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press,2004
Nida,Eugene Albert.Language,Culture and Translating[M].Shanghai:Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press,1993
Nida,Eugene Albert &Taber,R.Charles The Theory and Practice of Translation[M].Shanghai:Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press,2004
Pierce,Charles Sanders Logic as Semiotic:The Theory of Sign[M].In Justus Bucher,ed.,Philosophical Writings of Peirce.New York:Dover,1955.
Pinkham,Joan.The Translator's Guide to Chinglish[M].Beijing:Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press,2000
Qv,Quanju[仇全菊],公示语及其翻译.硕士论文,山东大学
Ren,Jinsheng[任静生],公共揭示语汉译英错误剖析[J].合肥工业大学报,2001(2):104-106
Schuttleworth,Mark&Cowie,Moire Dictionary of Translation Studies[M].Shanghai:Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press,2004
Saussure,Ferdinand de.Course in General Linguistics,[M].ed.Charles Bally and Albert Sechehaye,trans.Wade Baskin.New York:Philosophical Library,1959.
Tan,Zaixi[谭载喜]编译,奈达论翻译[M].北京:中国对外翻译出版公司,1984
Wang,Mingyu&Song,Yao[王铭玉,宋尧].符号语言学[M].上海:上海外语教育出版社,2005
Wang,Mingyu[王铭玉].语言符号学[M].北京:高等外语教育出版社,2004
Wang,Yinquan&Chen,Xinren[王银泉,陈新仁],城市标识用语英译失误及其实例剖析[J].中国翻译,2004(2):81-82
Wu,Weixiong[吴伟雄],中文标语英译浅谈[J].中国翻译,1998(1):35-38
Xu,Jianping[许建平],英汉互译实践与技巧[M].北京:清华大学出版社,2000
www.E-signs.info(汉英公示语研究在线)
www.language.chinadaily.com.cn
www.bjenglish.net.cn
Yan,Quanhong[杨全红],也谈汉英公示语的翻译中国翻译,2005(6):43-46
Zhao,Xiaopei[赵小沛],公示语翻译中的语用失误探析[J].南京理工大学学报,2003 (5):68-71
Zhang,Renxia[张仁霞],用社会符号学的理论谈旅游资料的汉译英.硕士论文,广东外语外贸大学,2004