A study on the standardization of English translations for tourist attraction signage: issues, causes, and countermeasures
旅游景点标识语英译的规范化研究：问题、成因与对策

摘要

随着全球化进程不断加深和我国旅游业蓬勃发展，旅游景点标识语的重要性日益凸显，其英译质量也成为影响外国游客体验及地区形象的关键因素。本文围绕旅游景点标识语英译的规范化问题，从失误类型、成因分析、改进策略三个层面展开系统研究。通过实地调研与文献分析，结合大量旅游景点标识语英译实例，系统归纳出三大类失误：一是语言层面的拼写错误、语法混乱与用词不当；二是文化层面的意象误传，特别是文化负载词的处理不当；三是功能层面的信息传递失效，包括信息冗余、缺失等问题。在进一步深入分析后发现，上述问题主要源于两大因素：译员专业素养不足和翻译流程管理不规范。前者体现在语言能力薄弱、翻译技能欠缺、跨文化意识不足等方面；后者表现为审核机制缺失、反馈渠道阻塞、维护更新滞后等管理漏洞。针对这些问题，本文也相应提出以人才培养与流程管理为核心的规范化路径，以期为提升旅游翻译质量、促进跨文化传播提供参考。

Abstract

As globalization deepens and China's tourism industry flourishes, the importance of signage language at tourist attractions has become increasingly prominent. The quality of their English translations has emerged as a critical factor influencing foreign visitors' experiences and regional image. This paper systematically examines the standardization of English translations for tourist attraction signage, exploring three dimensions: error types, root causes, and improvement strategies. Through field research and literature analysis, combined with numerous translation examples, three major categories of errors are systematically identified: First, linguistic errors including spelling mistakes, grammatical errors, and inappropriate word choice; second, cultural misinterpretations, particularly the mishandling of culturally loaded words; Third, functional failures in information transmission, including redundancy and omissions. Further analysis reveals these issues stem primarily from two core factors: translators' inadequate professional competence and non-standardized translation process management. The former manifests as weak language proficiency, inadequate translation skills, and insufficient cross-cultural awareness; the latter appears as management gaps such as absent review mechanisms, blocked feedback channels, and delayed maintenance updates. Addressing these issues, this paper proposes a standardized approach centered on talent development and process management, aiming to enhance tourism translation quality and facilitate cross-cultural communication.