【正文】 is to have a good knowledge of their features. Every writing style has its own language features, so do public signs. Lexical Feature Extensive Use of Nouns (or gerunds)English public signs sometimes use a lot of nouns or gerunds, which can show the specific information directly and often use concise representations to fully demonstrate their meanings. However, the corresponding public signs in Chinese always use verbs to express themselves.4 No+ Nouns (or Gerunds)No Food or Beverage 禁止攜帶食物飲料No Laying Inflammable Thing 禁止堆放易燃物No Thoroughfare 禁止通行4 Nouns(or Gerunds)+ Past Participle Smoking Strictly Prohibited 嚴(yán)禁吸煙 Road Closed 此路封閉 Beverage Not Included 飲料另付 Toilet Engaged 廁所有人5 Noun(or Gerunds)+ AdverbsStaff Only 閑人免進(jìn)Stairs Up 上樓樓梯Working Overhead 上面施工. Extensive Use of VerbsPubic signs also use verbs or verb phrases widely, and their aim is to draw people’s attention to the actions that the public signs need. For examples:Bomb Detectors:Your alertness can save others. If you catch a sight of any questionable objects, please do not lay a finger on. Warn others. Move away quickly.爆炸物發(fā)現(xiàn)者：您的警覺可以拯救他人。如果您看到任何有問題的物體，請千萬不要碰觸。警示他人，快速離開。 Extensive Use of Phrases and Expressions The phrases and expressions used in public signs usually have simple structure and colorful binations, which can convey the signs’ central meaning effectively. For examples:Check in Zone 此處辦理登機(jī)手續(xù)Departure Times on Reverse 出發(fā)時(shí)間（見背面）Thank you for keeping off the grass. 勿踐踏草坪。 Use of AbbreviationsThe most monly public signs people get in touch with in public facilities and services use abbreviations, which are easy for people to spot. 停車場P 。 餐飲服務(wù)Famp。B 。 青年旅舍YHA 。 廣場SQ 。 中心CNTR 。 花園 GDNS；VIP lounge 貴賓候機(jī)室ENT DEPATRMENT 耳鼻喉科 Syntactic Feature Using omissionThe public sign is clear and accurate. If the notional words and keys words can express the pubic sign’s function and meaning, as well as its accuracy, then we can omit other unimportant elements. For examples:Open Now 現(xiàn)在營業(yè)Fasten Seat Belt While Seated 坐定后系好安全帶 Using of Present TenseThe public signs show to the public the directive, prompting, pelling and restrictive messages. So, it usually uses present tense. For example:If the elevator does not work, please make a telephone call 03118925989 for help. We are sorry for the inconvenience.（碧水清源小區(qū)）如果這座電梯不工作，請撥打031189259890尋求幫助。我們對您的不便表示深切歉意。ATTENTION：The modities in our shop have hidden equipment upon. Buy it will be invalid.（家家悅超市）本店貨品內(nèi)含警報(bào)設(shè)備，顧客付款后失效。 using of Imperative SentencePublic sign is written or painted on bills or posters, and it is usually limited in time and space, which means its language should be highly concise. Tourists can have a very quick glimpse when they go through, and they should understand in a short time. So, imperative sentence is a used widely in the public signs. For example:Lower window for ventilation 通風(fēng)開窗Please do not take books from the shelf.請不要從架子上取書。2. Common Errors in Translation of Public SignsNow we can see public signs in everywhere, and it is important to all the people especially the tourists, and any ambiguities and misunderstandings will lead bad consequences. Errors of writingNostandard writing was usually caused by the carelessness of the translators or the signs ’makers. This kind error exists widely in public signs.Example1走路不能觀景，觀景不能走路In one scenic spot,“走路不能觀景，觀景不能走路”was translated into “Watch your steep, the road is steep. ” The first “steep” should be “step”. The wrong translation will confuse the foreign travelers.Example2 新華人壽保險(xiǎn)One translator translated “新華人壽保險(xiǎn)”to “New China Life Insurance Co. Ltd”, but it is inappropriate. One famous translator pointed out that when translating this kind of name, we should use Chinese Pinyin. For Instance, “新華通訊社”is“ Xinhua News Agency”,“新華字典”is “Xinhua Dictionary”. Therefore, the original translation may cause unnecessary misunderstanding. At present, judging this translation is right or wrong should follow the principle of “Using the standard pronunciation of the Chinese character. Errors of grammarThere are many public signs having grammar errors, which may confuse the foreign tourists.Example1 “嚴(yán)禁滑道外玩耍拍照”There is a public sign on the hillside says: “Jumping out of the slide to take photos or play is not allowed too.” How terrible this public sign is! It may be give foreigners bad impression that Chinese have low language quality.Example2 “小心碰頭”In one station, it was translated to “attention your head”. “Attention” is just a noun, but in this public sign, it was used as a verb, which is certainly wrong. “Pay attention to” means“注意……”, but the literal meaning of “Pay attention to your head” is “注意/留意你的頭部/腦袋”。In this way, the translation is inconsistent with the source language. Though foreigners can understand this sign, according to the international mon practices, some warning words like“小心” should be translated to “mind/ beware/ caution”. Therefore, the right public sign is “Mind/ Lower Your Head”. Errors of interpreting without real understandingWhen some translators translate, they catch the meaning of words literally from the context, which may puzzle the foreign tourists.Example1 社會(huì)保險(xiǎn)局Someone translated“社會(huì)保險(xiǎn)” to “Social Insurance”, and this was a misunderstanding of the source text. There, “社會(huì)保險(xiǎn)” means “社會(huì)保障”，which is “Social Insurance”. Therefore, this public sign should be translated to “Social Security Department/ Bureau”.Example2 祝您一路平安There is a public sign on the side of the road. This road is mon, and it is not near the airport. In this case, someone translated into “Wish You Best Landing!” This translation is not appropriate, and it gives people an impression that all the people going through this road are going to the airport. However, in an airport we can use “Wish You a Good Journey!” When translatin