Source: CCTV.com
06-19-2007 09:48
Special Report: 2008 Beijing OlympicsBeijing is getting ready to welcome the world for the 2008 Olympics. Some 6 million foreign visitors are expected for the sports gala. One of the many preparations is targeting bad English on public signs.
Over the decades since China opened up to the outside world, nearly all of the country's major cities have English translations on signs and instructions in public places.
But the translators' skill varies. A number messages fail to get across to their audience, and some even prove misleading.
One common but irrational practice is to use the Chinese phonetic spelling instead of English.
Sometimes, the Chinese spelling appears with the English translations on the same sign, only to confuse foreigners unfamiliar with Beijing's geography.
Another problem is restaurant menus. The translations often leave foreign enthusiasts of Chinese cuisine, or those who are just hungry, puzzled and helpless.
But the municipal government is out to right the linguistic wrongs. It's put together a panel of 35 experts from home and abroad. Later this year, they'll work out a set of guidelines for translation of public signs in Beijing. They will cover traffic, scenic spots, medical establishments, sports venues, and restaurants, among many others.
By the end of the year, Beijing will have finished its first phase of correction for public signs in English.
Editor:Liu Fang
