The Research of Foreign Language Signs in Beijing Road from the Perspective of Spolsky’s Language Policy Theory

Ruan Yunqi

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijll.20231103.11

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The Research of Foreign Language Signs in Beijing Road from the Perspective of Spolsky’s Language Policy Theory

Ruan Yunqi

Published in International Journal of Language and Linguistics (Volume 11, Issue 3)

Received: 10 April 2023 Accepted: 24 April 2023 Published: 10 May 2023

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Abstract

Foreign language signs are used in providing message towards foreigners, including information, indication, warning, etc. While traveling in foreign countries, those correct signs play a crucial role in showing direction, introducing spots and keeping people away from danger and so on. However, the Beijing Road Cultural Tourism Zone, which receives a large number of foreign visitors, sets up some foreign language signs with wrong English translations. Moreover, as a tourism card of Guangzhou City, in the study of situation of foreign language sigs translation, the Beijing Road Cultural Tourism Zone have not yet been studied as an example. Therefore, this thesis chooses to research on it. Based on the three dimensions of language practices, language ideology, and language planning of Spolsky’s language policy theory, this thesis adopts questionnaires and field surveys to investigate and analyze the current situation and its reasons of the English translation of foreign language signs on the Beijing Road Cultural Tourism Zone of Guangzhou City. The survey shows that there are many situations with the translation of foreign language signs on Beijing Road, such as translating in pinyin and non-use of the English translation, as well as inconsistent translation, omission of translation, literal translation, and spelling errors. The above situation is a reflection of the completeness of Cantonese pinyin system and the Guangzhou government’s cultural protection, the government’s strong language sovereignty ideology and uneven language service ideology of the people involved, and the inadequate language planning in regulations formulation, translation standard publicity and translators’ management. Finally, this thesis proposes several strategies to provide certain reference proposals for Guangzhou city to formulate and improve relative language policies.

Published in	International Journal of Language and Linguistics (Volume 11, Issue 3)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijll.20231103.11
Page(s)	63-70
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Spolsky, Language Policy, Beijing Road, Foreign Language Signs, Reference Proposals

References

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Ruan Yunqi. (2023). The Research of Foreign Language Signs in Beijing Road from the Perspective of Spolsky’s Language Policy Theory. International Journal of Language and Linguistics, 11(3), 63-70. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20231103.11

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Ruan Yunqi. The Research of Foreign Language Signs in Beijing Road from the Perspective of Spolsky’s Language Policy Theory. Int. J. Lang. Linguist. 2023, 11(3), 63-70. doi: 10.11648/j.ijll.20231103.11

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AMA Style

Ruan Yunqi. The Research of Foreign Language Signs in Beijing Road from the Perspective of Spolsky’s Language Policy Theory. Int J Lang Linguist. 2023;11(3):63-70. doi: 10.11648/j.ijll.20231103.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ijll.20231103.11,
  author = {Ruan Yunqi},
  title = {The Research of Foreign Language Signs in Beijing Road from the Perspective of Spolsky’s Language Policy Theory},
  journal = {International Journal of Language and Linguistics},
  volume = {11},
  number = {3},
  pages = {63-70},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijll.20231103.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20231103.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijll.20231103.11},
  abstract = {Foreign language signs are used in providing message towards foreigners, including information, indication, warning, etc. While traveling in foreign countries, those correct signs play a crucial role in showing direction, introducing spots and keeping people away from danger and so on. However, the Beijing Road Cultural Tourism Zone, which receives a large number of foreign visitors, sets up some foreign language signs with wrong English translations. Moreover, as a tourism card of Guangzhou City, in the study of situation of foreign language sigs translation, the Beijing Road Cultural Tourism Zone have not yet been studied as an example. Therefore, this thesis chooses to research on it. Based on the three dimensions of language practices, language ideology, and language planning of Spolsky’s language policy theory, this thesis adopts questionnaires and field surveys to investigate and analyze the current situation and its reasons of the English translation of foreign language signs on the Beijing Road Cultural Tourism Zone of Guangzhou City. The survey shows that there are many situations with the translation of foreign language signs on Beijing Road, such as translating in pinyin and non-use of the English translation, as well as inconsistent translation, omission of translation, literal translation, and spelling errors. The above situation is a reflection of the completeness of Cantonese pinyin system and the Guangzhou government’s cultural protection, the government’s strong language sovereignty ideology and uneven language service ideology of the people involved, and the inadequate language planning in regulations formulation, translation standard publicity and translators’ management. Finally, this thesis proposes several strategies to provide certain reference proposals for Guangzhou city to formulate and improve relative language policies.},
 year = {2023}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - The Research of Foreign Language Signs in Beijing Road from the Perspective of Spolsky’s Language Policy Theory
AU  - Ruan Yunqi
Y1  - 2023/05/10
PY  - 2023
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20231103.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijll.20231103.11
T2  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
JF  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
JO  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
SP  - 63
EP  - 70
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-0221
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20231103.11
AB  - Foreign language signs are used in providing message towards foreigners, including information, indication, warning, etc. While traveling in foreign countries, those correct signs play a crucial role in showing direction, introducing spots and keeping people away from danger and so on. However, the Beijing Road Cultural Tourism Zone, which receives a large number of foreign visitors, sets up some foreign language signs with wrong English translations. Moreover, as a tourism card of Guangzhou City, in the study of situation of foreign language sigs translation, the Beijing Road Cultural Tourism Zone have not yet been studied as an example. Therefore, this thesis chooses to research on it. Based on the three dimensions of language practices, language ideology, and language planning of Spolsky’s language policy theory, this thesis adopts questionnaires and field surveys to investigate and analyze the current situation and its reasons of the English translation of foreign language signs on the Beijing Road Cultural Tourism Zone of Guangzhou City. The survey shows that there are many situations with the translation of foreign language signs on Beijing Road, such as translating in pinyin and non-use of the English translation, as well as inconsistent translation, omission of translation, literal translation, and spelling errors. The above situation is a reflection of the completeness of Cantonese pinyin system and the Guangzhou government’s cultural protection, the government’s strong language sovereignty ideology and uneven language service ideology of the people involved, and the inadequate language planning in regulations formulation, translation standard publicity and translators’ management. Finally, this thesis proposes several strategies to provide certain reference proposals for Guangzhou city to formulate and improve relative language policies.
VL  - 11
IS  - 3
ER  -

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Author Information

Ruan Yunqi

School of Foreign Languages, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, China

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APA Style

Ruan Yunqi. (2023). The Research of Foreign Language Signs in Beijing Road from the Perspective of Spolsky’s Language Policy Theory. International Journal of Language and Linguistics, 11(3), 63-70. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20231103.11

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ACS Style

Ruan Yunqi. The Research of Foreign Language Signs in Beijing Road from the Perspective of Spolsky’s Language Policy Theory. Int. J. Lang. Linguist. 2023, 11(3), 63-70. doi: 10.11648/j.ijll.20231103.11

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AMA Style

Ruan Yunqi. The Research of Foreign Language Signs in Beijing Road from the Perspective of Spolsky’s Language Policy Theory. Int J Lang Linguist. 2023;11(3):63-70. doi: 10.11648/j.ijll.20231103.11

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ijll.20231103.11,
  author = {Ruan Yunqi},
  title = {The Research of Foreign Language Signs in Beijing Road from the Perspective of Spolsky’s Language Policy Theory},
  journal = {International Journal of Language and Linguistics},
  volume = {11},
  number = {3},
  pages = {63-70},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijll.20231103.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20231103.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijll.20231103.11},
  abstract = {Foreign language signs are used in providing message towards foreigners, including information, indication, warning, etc. While traveling in foreign countries, those correct signs play a crucial role in showing direction, introducing spots and keeping people away from danger and so on. However, the Beijing Road Cultural Tourism Zone, which receives a large number of foreign visitors, sets up some foreign language signs with wrong English translations. Moreover, as a tourism card of Guangzhou City, in the study of situation of foreign language sigs translation, the Beijing Road Cultural Tourism Zone have not yet been studied as an example. Therefore, this thesis chooses to research on it. Based on the three dimensions of language practices, language ideology, and language planning of Spolsky’s language policy theory, this thesis adopts questionnaires and field surveys to investigate and analyze the current situation and its reasons of the English translation of foreign language signs on the Beijing Road Cultural Tourism Zone of Guangzhou City. The survey shows that there are many situations with the translation of foreign language signs on Beijing Road, such as translating in pinyin and non-use of the English translation, as well as inconsistent translation, omission of translation, literal translation, and spelling errors. The above situation is a reflection of the completeness of Cantonese pinyin system and the Guangzhou government’s cultural protection, the government’s strong language sovereignty ideology and uneven language service ideology of the people involved, and the inadequate language planning in regulations formulation, translation standard publicity and translators’ management. Finally, this thesis proposes several strategies to provide certain reference proposals for Guangzhou city to formulate and improve relative language policies.},
 year = {2023}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - The Research of Foreign Language Signs in Beijing Road from the Perspective of Spolsky’s Language Policy Theory
AU  - Ruan Yunqi
Y1  - 2023/05/10
PY  - 2023
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20231103.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijll.20231103.11
T2  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
JF  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
JO  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
SP  - 63
EP  - 70
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-0221
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20231103.11
AB  - Foreign language signs are used in providing message towards foreigners, including information, indication, warning, etc. While traveling in foreign countries, those correct signs play a crucial role in showing direction, introducing spots and keeping people away from danger and so on. However, the Beijing Road Cultural Tourism Zone, which receives a large number of foreign visitors, sets up some foreign language signs with wrong English translations. Moreover, as a tourism card of Guangzhou City, in the study of situation of foreign language sigs translation, the Beijing Road Cultural Tourism Zone have not yet been studied as an example. Therefore, this thesis chooses to research on it. Based on the three dimensions of language practices, language ideology, and language planning of Spolsky’s language policy theory, this thesis adopts questionnaires and field surveys to investigate and analyze the current situation and its reasons of the English translation of foreign language signs on the Beijing Road Cultural Tourism Zone of Guangzhou City. The survey shows that there are many situations with the translation of foreign language signs on Beijing Road, such as translating in pinyin and non-use of the English translation, as well as inconsistent translation, omission of translation, literal translation, and spelling errors. The above situation is a reflection of the completeness of Cantonese pinyin system and the Guangzhou government’s cultural protection, the government’s strong language sovereignty ideology and uneven language service ideology of the people involved, and the inadequate language planning in regulations formulation, translation standard publicity and translators’ management. Finally, this thesis proposes several strategies to provide certain reference proposals for Guangzhou city to formulate and improve relative language policies.
VL  - 11
IS  - 3
ER  -

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