近日，北京市旅游局公布了《中文菜名英文译法》讨论稿，初步确定了2753条菜单及酒水的英文译法，并征求市民建议。专家们在翻译时把菜名大致分为四类：按原材料翻译、按烹饪方法翻译、按口感翻译和按人名地名翻译。
ChinesedishesgetofficialEnglishnames.
BeijingTourismBureauhasreleasedalistoftranslationsfor2,753dishesanddrinkstosolicitpublicopinions.
Thelist,oncefinallyfixed,willbeusedinrestaurantsacrossthecountry,toreplaceconfusing,evenridiculoustranslations,accordingtothebureau.
Inpreparingforthe2008OlympicGames,thecityhasalsomovedtostandardizeEnglishtranslationsofpublicfacilities,includingroadsigns,andthehotelservice.
BadtranslationsofChinesedishesareheadachesforforeignepicures.Thereusedtobetranslationslike"VirginChicken"and"BurntLion'sHead",whichareactuallydishesbasedonyoungchickenandporkballresemblinglion'shead.ThesetranslationseitherscareorembarrassforeigncustomersandmaycausemisunderstandingonChina'sdiethabits.
AteamsetupbytheBeijingMunicipalForeignAffairsOfficeandBeijingTourismBureauhasbeenworkingontheproblemsinceMarchlastyear,backedbyacommitteeof20languageexpertsandcateringservicemanagers.
"ThenamesofChinesedisheshavelongbeenpartofourculture.Weshouldtranslatetheminawaythatpeopleofotherculturescanunderstandthem,"saidFengDongming,theheadofthistranslationprogramandViceDeanofTourismSchoolofBeijingUnionUniversity.
ThenamesofChinesedisheshavecombinedculturalandartisticelementsinthem,somewithhistorical,geographicalandpoliticalbackground,somewithoriginsfromChinesefairytalesandfolktales.Oftenthedishesarenamedwithstoriesunderstoodonlybypeoplewhoknowtheirculturewell.
Translatorshavedividedthedishnamesintofourcatalogues:namedbymaterials,bycookingmethod,bytastes,bynameofapersonoraplace.
Translationofthefirsttypeisdonesimplybylinkingthethenameofeachmaterialwithahyphen.Forinstance,"Mushroom-Duck'sFoot"and"AmentJuice-BalsamPear",whichhelpsforeigngueststorecognizethematerialsandcontentofthedish.
Thesecondtypeistranslatedaccordingtocookingmethods.SomeChinesecookingmethodsareuniqueanddonotexistinothercountries,likestew,quick-fryorsaute,braise,andchilioil-boil.Thetranslatorsnowputthemethodinthebeginning,followedbythematerial,formingaverb-nounphrase.Forinstance,"StewedDicedPorkandSweetPotatoes"and"FishFiletsinHotChilioil".
Thethirdtypebeginswiththetasteortextureofthefood.Forexample,"CrispyChicken".
Thecommitteealsoplanstolaunchatrainingprogramtoequipwaitersandwaitresseswithknowledgeofthedishnamesincasecustomersdemandexplanations.