Abstract: Public signs refer to language intended to the public which offers public information for the purpose of instructing them or facilitating their lives. These signs include direction signs, road signs, billboards, warning signs etc. Public signs, especially the public signs of C-E translation, play a vital role in the life of the public. They also bring much convenience to the foreign friends. This paper focuses on the characteristic of public signs, which put in use a large number of nouns, verbs, phrases, take the form of combination of words and symbols, and some have Chinese characteristics. Based on Vermeer’s skopostheorie, public signs in public places are analyzed. Some of the public signs translated improperly are collected and classified. At the same time, some solutions are proposed.

Key words: public signs; C-E translation; skopostheorie; strategy

摘要：公示语指的是在公共场合向公众公示须知内容的语言，它包括指示牌、路牌、广告牌、警示语等。公示语尤其是汉英公示语在公众的生活中起着不可或缺的作用，为外国友人提供了便利。本文通过了解公示语的语言特点，即大量使用名词、动词、动名词、短语、文字与符号共用以及具有中国特色等，并以弗米尔的目的论为支撑，分析了公共场所随处可见的公示语，将其错误翻译收集起来，予以归类，并提出了相应正确的译本。 

关键词：公示语；汉英翻译；目的论；对策