Exploring Tourism Translation Strategies in B City: A Skopos Theory Analysis

The tourism sector is currently asserting itself as a pivotal industry in the 21st century, assuming a central role in the realm of soft power. Given the diverse cultural backgrounds of these travelers, translation efforts must not only capture literal meanings but also account for nuanced cultural nuances. The purpose of this study is to provide an extensive exploration of translation practices within the realm of tourist attractions in Busan City, drawing from the contextual framework. Employing Skopos theory as a guiding framework, the study scrutinized various translation issues such as grammatical inaccuracies, semantic ambiguities, inappropriate lexical choices, and inconsistencies. Through this analysis, significant inadequacies in tourism translation emerged, particularly concerning semantic and pragmatic equivalence for a global audience of tourists. Consequently, the study advocates for a more streamlined and coherent approach to translation in Busan's tourism materials, emphasizing the importance of incorporating universally understood symbols, signage, and informational displays. Conclusively, this study suggests that it is essential to visually distinguish and reconfigure the fundamental components of tourism, encompassing gastronomic offerings, sightseeing opportunities, and recreational activities.