, Jiangsu and Zhejiang Jointly Promulgate and Implement Norms for English Translation of Signs in Public Places

Source: Xinmin Net

On August 24, the bureaus of quality and technical supervision, and language affairs committees of Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang jointly promulgated the “Norms for English Translation in Public Places   Part I — General Rules” jointly drafted by the three parties, which is a successful cooperation among the two provinces and one city in ushering in the World Expo and in the local standard and language use areas. In the near future, specific rules on English translation in transport, tourism, culture and sports, medical care and public health, finance, post service and telecommunications, and business service will be formulated to further normalize the use of English in public places.

With economic and social development, the demand of English use in public places of the Yangtze River Delta area has largely increased. However, owing to a lack of uniform standard and uneven levels of translation, the phenomenon of non-standard English use exists in all these areas, such as misspelling of words, mistakes in grammar use, printing and typesetting not complying with the norms for English, English translation not complying with the habit of English use, the translation of the same things or concepts inconsistent with each other on different occasions, etc..

The “General Rules” specifies the translating and writing principles, methods and requirements on translating, and requirements on writing for the English translation in public places, and applies to the English translation of various facilities, warnings, tips or such other information as public notices. It also lists English translations for 337 general entries as a reference appendix. The “General Rules” is also our province’s first local standard for language. In the near future, our province will formulate specific rules on English translation in transport, tourism, culture and sports, medical care and public health, finance, post service and telecommunications, and business service, so as to further normalize the use of English in public places.

Relevant Link: Norms for English Translation in Public Places Promulgated Today in Shanghai, Suzhou and Zhejiang and to Be Implemented with the World Expo as the Pivot