公共標示之語用中譯英：以臺南市五大公共交通處雙語公共標示為例

Pragmatic Translation of Public Signs from Chinese into English: Using Bilingual Signs in Tainan Public Transportation System as Examples

陳怡蓉(Yi-Jung Chen)

指導教授 ： 董大暉

長榮大學/人文社會學院/翻譯學系(所)/碩士(2013年)

https://doi.org/10.6833/CJCU.2013.00113

摘要

公共標示的語用失誤在臺灣營造英語生活環境，邁向國際化的努力上造成一定程度的困難。以往對於公共標示的翻譯研究多數以個案論述為主，其內容廣泛但相對鬆散，缺乏將問題有效歸類並加以分析。不少專家、學者，包括大眾傳媒都經常指出我國公共標示語的英譯上存在誤譯及眾多其他問題，但針對該相關領域的研究卻相對稀少。因此，本研究以臺南市五大公共交通處公共標示作爲研究對象，首先針對語言語用上的失誤，將公共標示英譯的誤譯類別與錯譯原因進行分類，並研究兩者之間的相關性。再者本研究採用Brown和Levinson的五種禮貌策略進行分析公共標示英譯採用何種禮貌策略，並與母語英文讀者的感知程度進行相關性分析。研究結果顯示，誤譯類別與錯譯原因之間的關係，以及譯文禮貌策略和讀者感知程度之間的關係，都呈現明顯的正相關。在此明確的對應關係之上，根據前人論述的公共標示翻譯原則和筆者所蒐集的國外公共標示，本研究提出所建議合適之公共標示中譯英策略。由於採用量化分析的方法，本研究結果呈現一定的概略化(generalization)，可做為日後翻譯公共標示參考之用，同時也可對於公共標示翻譯的教學和實務有所助益。

關鍵字

公共標示 ； 中譯英 ； 言語行為 ； 禮貌原則 ； 面子理論 ； 翻譯策略

並列摘要

Elimination of errors in public sign translation is an ever important task in building Tainan into an international city with English friendly environment. However, studies of public sign translation has long tended to focus on individual cases, and there has been a lack of a systematic classification and analysis of pragmatic errors in translation. Using bilingual signs in Tainan’s public transportation system as the research material, this study classified and analyzed translation errors from the point of view of pragmatics to establish possible causes of the translation errors. In light of Brown and Levinson’s politeness strategies, this study also analyzed the correlations between politeness strategies in the translation of public signs and the perceived degrees of politeness by English-speaking readers. The results of this study show translation errors correlate with a number of factors such as the differences between Chinese and English in word selection and stylistic conventions and the translation competence of the translator. And the correlation between politeness strategies and perceived degrees of politeness is positive. Based on the results of this study, suggestions are made on how to use politeness strategies to translate public signs. It is hoped that the study may make contribution to improving translation quality of public signs and the teaching and practice of public signs translation.

並列關鍵字

Public Signs ； Chinese to English Translation ； Speech Act ； Politeness Rules ； Face Theory ； Translation Strategies

參考文獻

Austin, J. L. (1962). How to do things with words. Oxford, UK: Clarendon Press.

Brown, P., & Levinson, S. (1987). Politeness: Some universals in language usage. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

Kasper, G., & Rose, K. (2002). Pragmatic Development in a Second Language. Oxford, UK: Blackwell.

Leech, G. N. (1983). Principles of pragmatics. London, UK: Longman.

Mey, J. (1993). Pragmatics: An introduction. Oxford, UK: Blackwell.