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II. An Overview of Public Signs
2.1 Definition of Public Signs
When people discuss the public signs, it is necessary to illustrate the definition of sign. According to the dictionary, a sign is “a board, notice etc that directs sb towards sth, gives a warning, advertise, a business, etc.” (Oxford Advanced Learner’s English-Chinese Dictionary 2000). According to Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English (1997), a sign is “a piece of paper, metal, or wood with words or a picture that gives information, warnings, or instructions.”
In Chinese, the phrase “public signs” is translated into “公示语” which is also called “标示语”, “标识语” and “标志语” and so on. Lv Hefa states that any kind of basic and public written messages, serving for those people like tourists, guests from abroad, foreign delegates at China, and Chinese citizens who are touring abroad, and for their activities concerning meal, lodging, transportation, travel, entertainment, and shopping, can be categorized into the study of public signs(22). International Graphic Signs Committee defined “signs” as “signs are the written language for the public to see in public places”. (Lv & Shan 97). Ding Hengqi proposes that public sign is a kind of language that exists in public places to show, including identification, indicator drop, billboard, notice and so on. Dai Zongxian＆Lv Hefa state that public signs are projected to the people and things, such as notice, instructions, signs, warnings and symbols, related with life, production, zoology and industry(38).
2.2 Features of Public Signs
The language of public signs has several features: conciseness, simple words and combination of letters with pictures.
Conciseness is to help people understand signs in short time. Public signs are mostly written on small places, such as billboards, posters. And people may have short time to read it when passing by. Therefore public signs must be concise, simple, brief and direct.
“Simple words” is the most outstanding features of all, and can be found everywhere. The function of public signs aims to offer some information, advice and arouse people’s attention to some rules, regulations and security. In order to let people understand the public signs and achieve the purpose of them, simple and short words are usually used in the expression of public signs. For example, “闲人免进” is translated into “Staff Only”. The version has two words, but it achieves the purpose of making people understand.
Public signs combining letters with pictures can also be seen in many places, such as road signs, warning boards. Because by adding the pictures, public signs are more vivid, interesting and attractive, and leave a deep impression on people.