Beijing's plan to wipe out mistranslated English-language signs
is just one part of a broader effort to prepare the city to welcome
everyone here for the 2008 Olympic Games.
For example, signs reading "Eye Hospital" will be replaced by
"Ophthalmology Hospital" along with dozens of others at tourist
spots and public parks.
In addition, 5 million Beijing residents, about 35 percent of
the population, will be required to know some English or other
foreign languages.
Liu Yang, deputy head in charge of the Beijing Speaks Foreign
Language Program and the Standardizing Beijing Public English
Signage Program, offered an update on the efforts at a news
conference yesterday.
A think-tank composed of linguists, medical service and public
transportation linguists from the United States, Great Britain,
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Singapore have been
working with some Chinese English professors since December 2005 to
correct public signs.
They recently issued standards for English signs on Beijing's
roads, public transports, scenic spots, museums, commercial
centers, public cultural facilities, health centers, sports venues
and sanitation facilities.
"Throughout the past five years, we have been polishing,
polishing and polishing (till we get the final version). Our work
is a broad consensus of specialists from many fields and many
countries and also the heads of English departments in Beijing's
universities," said David Tool, a professor from Beijing
International Studies University who is also from the
think-tank.
The standards are supposed to be distributed throughout Beijing
including at family-owned convenience stores.
In addition, the city will encourage everyone, including foreign
expatriates living in Beijing and arriving tourists, to report
mistakes on public signs. The most devoted "fault-finders" will be
rewarded.
Last year, 6,530 public signs with awkward English were replaced
on Beijng's roads and 129 museums in Beijing were also free of bad
translations.
(China Daily April 12, 2007)