Tonight I stayed in the company to work extra shifts with my team members, helping Hillary do her job arranged by her boss after work today. We are required to correct many Chinglish translations. Some of the translations are really incredible and funny. one case I corrected is that “别吻我。我害羞。”, which is a public sign on protecting grass. Unfortunately, it is translated into “Don’t kiss me. I’m very bashful.” Although this translation reveals the literal meaning of the source text accurately but I do not think it is a good translation.

Owing to the cultural differences between Chinese and English, translation can not be done word for word. Translation is not only to transfer the “meaning”, but also to explain the “cultural background information” to the target readers. However, you can translate “元宵节” into “Lantern Festival” with the following explanation in form of notes.

The Lantern Festival is a Chinese festival celebrated on the fifteenth day of the first month in the lunar year in the Chinese calendar. It is not to be confused with the Mid-Autumn Festival, which is also sometimes known as the "Lantern Festival" in locations such as Singapore, Malaysia. During the Lantern Festival, children go out at night to temples carrying paper lanterns and solve riddles on the lanterns. It officially ends the Chinese New Year.

                                         From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lantern_Festival

In this way, we can transfer the meaning of “元宵节” comprehensively to the westerners. However, sometimes we can not interpret the cultural meaning so detailed owing to the limitations of text style, time, context or other aspects. For example, in the above case, I think it will be hard to express the equivalent meaning in the literal translation for the translation sounds no relationship with the protection of grass. In west society, it will be hard for them to understand this anthropopathic rhetorical device in public sign. Therefore the translation does not realize the same function as the source text, namely, the translation is useless. Considering the special requirement of words on sign, I think we can omit the literary sense and aim to realize the functions in the target text. So my suggestion: “Please keep off grass.”

Well, it is just my opinion. Welcome your advices.

 Although we came back late at night, I don’t think working extra shifts is a torture. being with the lovely team members is such a happy thing. Wangying will not come in the next days coz she has to prepared for her advanced interpreter examination. Good luck to her!

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Always keep the faith. Hope to the end.