Chapter 1 Introduction 1
1.1 Research Background 1
1.1.1 Public Campaigns on C-E Translation of Public Signs 1
1.1.2 Academic Research on C-E Translation of Public Signs 7
1.2 Research Questions,Purpose and Significance 17
1.3 Research Methodology 19
1.4 Research Organization 19
Chapter 2 Text Analysis of Public Signs 21
2.1 Definition of Public Signs 21
2.2 Classification of Public Signs 24
2.2.1 Classification of Public Signs on Basis of Information States 25
2.2.2 Classification of Public Signs on Basis of Application Range 27
2.3 Features of Public Signs 33
2.3.1 Lexical Features of Public Signs 34
2.3.2 Syntactic Features of Public Signs 37
2.3.3 Textual Features of Public Signs 39
2.4 Functions of Public Signs 42
2.4.1 Directing 45
2.4.2 Prompting 46
2.4.3 Warning 47
2.4.4 Informing 48
2.4.5 Persuading 49
2.4.6 Propagating 49
2.5 Text Types of Public Signs 50
2.6 Different Translation Strategies for Translation of Public Signs and Translation of Other Text Types 53
Chapter 3 C-E Mistranslation of Public Signs 58
3.1 Manifestation of C-E Mistranslation of Public Signs 59
3.1.1 From Linguistic Perspective 59
3.1.2 From Pragmatic Perspective 60
3.1.3 From Cultural Perspective 62
3.2 Causes of Its Problems 63
3.2.1 Lack of Awareness or Knowledge of the Functions and Text Types of Public Signs 64
3.2.2 Lack of the Guidance of Appropriate Theories 65
3.2.3 Lack of Awareness or Knowledge of Cultural Differences 66
Chapter 4 Feasibility and Necessity of Applying Translation Variation in C-E Translation of Public Signs 68
4.1 Overview of Translation Variation and Translation Variation Theory 68
4.1.1 Overview of Translation Variation in Translation Field 68
4.1.2 Huang Zhonglian and His Translation Variation Theory 72
4.2 Feasibility of Applying Translation Variation in C-E Translation of Public Signs 83
4.3 Necessity of Applying Translation Variation in C-E Translation of Public Signs 86
4.3.1 To Eliminate the Mistranslation in Corresponding Translation of Public Signs 86
4.3.2 To Handle Pragmatic Conflicts 87
4.3.3 To Release Extra-linguistic Information 88
4.3.4 To Complement Cultural Default 89
4.3.5 To Pursue Language Aesthetic Effects 90
4.3.6 To Simplify the Target Text 91
Chapter 5 Methods of Applying Translation Variation in C-E Translation of Public Signs 93
5.1 Omission 94
5.1.1 Selected Translation 95
5.1.2 Edited Translation 96
5.1.3 Narrated Translation 99
5.1.4 Condensed Translation 101
5.2 Amplification 104
5.2.1 Translation plus Comment 104
5.2.2 Translation plus Explanation 106
5.2.3 Translation plus Writing 108
5.3 Adaptation 110
5.4 Imitation 112
5.5 Creative Translation 114
Chapter 6 Conclusion 118
Acknowledgements 122
Appendix 124
Part 1 Traffic or Road Signs 124
Part 2 Signs in Public Places 129
Part 3 Tourist Signs 133
Part 4 Commercial Signs 137
Part 5 Signs on Environmental Protection 141
Bibliography 146