1、 淺談英語新聞標(biāo)題的翻譯來源：歲月聯(lián)盟 作者：李清 時(shí)間：2010-10-06【Abstract】 this dissertation focuses on introducing some translating skills according to the features of English news headline. First, it is about translation of lexical items in English news headline, including translation of acronym, new words and midget word

2、s. As for the limitation of newspaper space, lexical items are commonly used in headline so this part is regarded to be essential and critical for the dissertation. Second, the paper discusses translation of proper punctuations not all punctuations aroused in news headline. This part mainly introduc

3、es some translating techniques of frequently used ones such as comma, colon, and dash and so on. Third, the translation of rhetorical devices is the highlight of this paper. News headline is quite likely to produce striking effect by means of figure of speech. It could be translated literally at the

4、 most of time and sometimes it should be translated flexibly for the different culture backgrounds between china and English-speaking countries. Finally, this part focuses on the translation in terms of the grammar features of news headline which often differ from ones we usually accept, such as the

5、 omission of articles, auxiliary verbs, conjunctions and flexible use of tense, voice and non-predicate verbs.【Key Words】 translation; News headline; English【摘 要】 本文結(jié)合新聞標(biāo)題的主要特點(diǎn),通過具體的例子,介紹了英語新聞標(biāo)題的翻譯技巧.首先是英語新聞標(biāo)題中詞語(包括首字母縮略語、新詞、小詞)的譯法.報(bào)紙有限的空間使得新聞標(biāo)題常用詞語來表達(dá),因此詞語的譯法是的一個(gè)重要組成部分,其次是關(guān)于某些在新聞標(biāo)題中常用的標(biāo)點(diǎn)符號所代表的意思的翻譯

6、.再者,新聞標(biāo)題中修辭手法的翻譯是論文的重點(diǎn),新聞標(biāo)題經(jīng)常借助各種修辭來增強(qiáng)其表達(dá)效果,大多數(shù)情況下可采用直譯,但由于中英國家不同的文化背景,必要事需要采取靈活的翻譯技巧.最后,值得注意的是,英語新聞標(biāo)題的一些語法特征不同于我們平常所接受的語法特點(diǎn),新聞標(biāo)題經(jīng)常省略冠詞、連詞、助動詞等一些虛詞,其時(shí)態(tài)、語法及非謂語動詞的使用也十分靈活.【關(guān)鍵詞】 翻譯；新聞標(biāo)題；英語1. Introduction At a time when the pace of life is getting faster and faster, everything seems to be bidding for pe

7、oples attention, and newspaper is no exception. As the eye of the news, headline sits in a position to capture the essence of the event, demonstrate the readability of the news and attract readers attention. A good headline, generally speaking, should include such features as accuracy, brevity and c

8、larity which are generally developed by lexical items, punctuation, rhetorical devices, and grammar. Put it in detail, first, as for words selection, such items as acronym, new words and midget words are commonly chosen for the headline. Second, not all punctuations could appear in headline, and the

9、 frequently used ones like comma, colon, and dash also indicate specific meaning of the headline. Third, in order to lead force to an idea, to heighten effect, or to create atmosphere, headline is usually written figuratively. Finally, the limited space of newspaper demands that headline be concise

10、and brief, and therefore it has developed its own grammatical style. The major difference of the grammar rules used for daily English and news headlines lies in the frequent omission of function words(article, auxiliary verbs, conjunctions and so on), and unique practice of tense, voice and non-pred

11、icate verbs. Such features of English news headline as mentioned above are essential and critical for readers to understand the connotation of news headline, and also are the difficulties and problems needed settling in translating English news headline. This essay focuses on introducing some corres

12、pondent translating techniques with these features of English news headline.2. Translation of lexical items in English news headline2.1. Translation of acronymAcronym (word formed from the initial letters of a group of words) is one main form of English news titles glossary variation. Since newspape

13、rs are limited in time and space, acronym meets the need, saving the space of newspaper. This chapter attempts to discuss some skills in translating acronym.2.1.1. Translate according to its pronunciationFor example:(1) OPEC 22nd Session Ends(OPEC =Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries 石油輸出國

14、組織，即歐佩克)- 歐佩克第二屆會議結(jié)束(2) AIDS-The Risk to Heterosexual(AIDS=Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome 艾滋病,即后天免疫缺損綜合癥)-艾滋病危及異性戀愛者2.1.2. Translating and shortening the full nameFor example:(1) NATO to Seek New Secretary General(NATO=North Atlantic Treaty Organization 北大西洋公約組織,簡稱北約)-北約尋求新任秘書長(2) USSR Dissolve

15、s, Mikhail Corbachev Resigns: Boris Yeltsin Takes over(USSR=Union of Soviet Socialist Republics 蘇維埃社會主義共和國聯(lián)盟,簡稱蘇聯(lián))-蘇聯(lián)解體,戈?duì)柊蛦谭蜣o職,葉利欽上臺2.1.3. Explaining all letters In view of the fact that not all acronyms can be translated according to the pronunciation; otherwise readers would be confused. The tran

16、slator had better point out the meaning of all letters.It can be clearly seen in the below examples:(1) BBC Considering Starting Global Television Service(BBC=British Broadcasting Corporation)-英國廣播公司擬開通全球電視服務(wù)(2) PLO Says Israeli Drive ahead(PLO=Palestine Liberation Organization)-巴勒斯坦解放組織說以色列即將大舉進(jìn)攻(3

17、) START Announced to Begin June29(START=Strategic Arms Reductions Talks)-裁減戰(zhàn)略武器會談于六月而十九日開始(4) 36th WTTC triumphantly closes in Yugoslavia.(WTTC=World Table Tennis Championships) -第三十六屆世界乒乓球錦標(biāo)賽在南斯拉夫勝利閉幕(5) Government Is Covering up UFO Evidence?(UFO=Unidentified Flying Object) -美政府一直隱瞞不明飛行物真相？(6) Hol

18、lywood Helps CIA Come in From the Cold(CIA=Central Intelligence Agency) -好萊塢為中央情報(bào)局重塑形象2.2. Translation of new words in English news headlineAs science and technology of the world swiftly develop, the contact among countries increasingly expands, more and more new English words are born to the world.

19、 In order to draw close to the social life, grasp the times pulse, news report need to create massive new words to reflect the worlds new things, new thoughts, new phenomenon and new prevailing customs to attract readers attention. “This kind of words may be divided into two types: one is to give ol

20、d words new meaning. For example, clone means 無性系繁殖 and then it is exuded to be 復(fù)制； Bug means 機(jī)器的毛病 now refers in particular to 機(jī)千年蟲問題；Sept.11 or 9/11 has the special meaning because the terrorists attacked the US world trade building. The other is completely new words, namely, coin age, mainly in t

21、he fields of science technology, such as Internetese(因特網(wǎng)語言），com, e-mail, e-commerce（商務(wù)）， cyberspace（電腦空間）, bio-chips (生物芯片）， techno-millionaire （高科技百萬富翁） and so on. ”1P108For example：(1) Year 2000 Bug Unstoppable for Some Corporations- 計(jì)算機(jī)千年蟲問題迫在眉睫(2) American Online: Often Down, Never Out- 美國在線公司:屢

22、挫不倒(3) What Is Dateline?- 何為征婚熱線？(4) The Sandbaggers- 用沙袋治沙的人們(5) Cold-Fighting Drug May Be Used Against SARS -千呼萬喚始出來抗非典藥物有望面世(6) Asia Pledge Action on Bird flu -亞洲國家表示采取一致措施控制禽流感(7) Yahoo Awards Worlds Best Cyber cafs-雅虎評選全球最佳網(wǎng)吧2.3. Translation of midget words “Midget words are verbs or nouns that

23、 are shorter or fewer syllable but more vivid employed in news headline to make it easier for readers to understand.”2P98 At this point, the translator should seek to produce something relatively equivalent to this kind of words in Chinese.For example:(1) War Strains and the Production of Killers.-戰(zhàn)

24、爭壓力與殺戮者的產(chǎn)生(2) The U.S. Proposal and Its Chances. -美國的建議及其機(jī)會(3) The Pressure on Cherbourg and the Enemys Distress -瑟堡吃緊敵軍凄苦(4) A Fertile Valley and Its Scourge -肥沃河谷的災(zāi)難Further examples:(1) Report Backs Methadone for Addicts -報(bào)道支持吸毒者使用鎂沙酮鎮(zhèn)定劑(2) Nuclear Blast Seepage Is Found -核爆炸滲漏物被發(fā)現(xiàn)“The words back

25、and blast are shorter than the words support and explosion, but there are no Chinese words Correspondent with them to express the difference in visually between back and support, blast and explosion, so it is only translated literally to be 支持 and 爆炸， stressing in the significance transmission in sp

26、ite of losing English midget words language characteristic.”3P98(3) British Student Knifed in France-英國學(xué)生在法被刺Here if “knife” is translated to be “刀刺”， it would gild the lily.(4) Chun Axes 37 Judges in Shape-up-全斗煥在改組中撤掉37名法官“If the word axe is translated literally to be 斧砍 in Chinese, it is possible

27、 to cause two penalties: one is to make the divergence -全斗煥在改組中用斧頭砍傷了37名法官；the other is that the scale of formality of Chinese word 斧砍 makes it quite alien to the phrases 改組, 法官 and 全斗煥.”4P98 Under such circumstances, we are concerned with the essential meaning implied in the words. When words or ph

28、ases in the English news headline are meaningless or misleading if translated literally into Chinese, one is obliged to make some adjustments in translation to guarantee the headline pass into Chinese without losing its essence.3. Translation of proper punctuationsNews title is always simplified in

29、structure; accordingly, punctuation plays a very important role in news headline. More often than not, certain punctuation can produce some kind of special result. The translator should pay attention to the concrete meaning of these punctuations while translating them.3.1. Comma (,)“Comma expresses

30、the stop between the compound ingredients in title, and it is also used to replace and in order to save space, generally being translated to be 和 in Chinese.”5P29For example:(1) Australia，U.S. Seek More Ways to Promote Trade(=Australia and U.S .Seek More Ways to Pro-mote Trade)-澳大利亞和美國尋求更多途徑以促進(jìn)兩國貿(mào)易(

31、2) UN, Iraq Talk on Refugee Aid -聯(lián)合國和伊拉克談判援助難民問題(3) China, CIS States May Share Cables -和獨(dú)聯(lián)體國家合作開發(fā)光電通訊(4) Ready, aim, flamb: Army, Marine Cooks Battle Each Other-預(yù)備、瞄準(zhǔn)、開火:海陸兩軍交“火”廚師各顯神通(“The two commas in front of the colon are used to indicate display, and functionas Chinese slight-pause; the last

32、comma then is equal to and. 6P67)3.2. Colon (:)In the English news title, the most eye-catching information is always put in front, and then some supplement information is drawn outdo make up the subject after colon. The similarities in Chinese and English expression provide a series of parallelisms

33、 of content in translation.Look at the examples:(1)The2 billion Makeover: Australias Olympic City Gets Ready for the Games-二十億美元的大改造：澳大利亞的奧林匹克城準(zhǔn)備迎接奧運(yùn)會(2) War Plan: the Wests Military Options -戰(zhàn)爭計(jì)劃：西方的軍事選擇“Colon is also used to take place of relation verbs, and it is always translated to be 說、 宣稱、 是

34、in Chinese.”7P29For example:(1) Rimini to Remain Reliable, Strong: Li-李鵬說人民幣保持可靠和堅(jiān)挺When colon is used to show the source of a quotation, that is, equal to the Chinese word“說”, in English it can be put in head of or after the speaker, while in Chinese it can only be placed after the speaker.(2) Healt

35、h Survey: New Yorkers Fitter, Slimmer-健康調(diào)查稱紐約人更加健康和苗條(3) Poll on Trial: Why Werent the Victim Cries Heeded?-籠罩著審訊的疑云是為什么受害者的呼救沒人理睬3.3. Quotation mark ()Generally speaking, single quotation mark is used in English news headline instead of double quotation marks. To be accordant with Chinese natural e

36、xpression, it is better for translator to change it into double quotation marks in Chinese.Look at the following examples:(1) Abadan Oil Refinery Destroyed-阿巴丹煉油廠“被毀”(2) Arafat to Reagan: We Are Still Here-阿拉法特告誡里根：“我們?nèi)匀淮嬖凇?.4. Dash()Dash is used to separate each independent clause in the title, and

37、 also frequently used to draw out the speaker before or after the subscript without the quotation mark. It is often translated to be “說” in Chinese in order to draw out the speaker, and to be “再”in order to emphasize something.For example:(1) Labor Council Face Bankruptcy Officials-官員們說勞動黨委員會面臨崩潰(2)

38、 Our Differences Can Be Overcome Rockefeller -我們的分歧是能夠克服的 洛克菲勒(說)(3) Yeltsin in Hospital Again -葉利欽再次住院(4) World Unity against Terrorism Needed Blair -英國首相布萊爾說：世界各國在反恐問題上需要加強(qiáng)聯(lián)合4. The translation of rhetorical devicesHeadline implies its meaning and is made to produce more striking effect by means of

39、 figure of speech such as alliteration, rhyme, metaphor, pun, allusion, exaggeration and so on. It becomes more difficult for translation because of the different culture backgrounds and the gap between the writers range of knowledge and experience and the readers. In order not to confuse Chinese re

40、aders, the translation of English news titles can “retain the rhetoric characteristics of the original text to achieve the same dissemination effect”8P95. The translator also should pay attention to making the translation “conform to Chinese titles features and cater to Chinese readers reading habit

41、s”9P95.4.1. Alliteration and rhymeAlliteration and rhyme are often used in English news headline to create the demeanor effect, exaggerate the atmosphere, and bring to readers attention and interest. It is hard to get accordance with the original alliteration and rhyme in translation, so certain fig

42、ure patterns must often be substituted for the proper expressions of Chinese.For instance:(1) Protestants Protest (alliteration)-新教教徒示威抗議(2) Soldiers Salaries Soar (alliteration) -士兵薪水劇增(3) Young Wheelers, Big Dealers (rhyme) -駕駛摩托小青年，保險(xiǎn)公司大主顧(4) Whos Near to Reagan ear? (rhyme) -里根耳朵，誰愿聽說？(5) Jazzy

43、in Jeans, Sassy in Sweater (alliteration) -穿上牛仔褲,活潑利索;套上毛線衫,瀟灑俊俏(6) After the Boom, Everything Is Gloom (rhyme) -繁榮好景不在, 蕭條接踵而來Further examples:(1) Desperate Need, Desperate Deed. -燃眉之機(jī),十萬火急 This translation shows the good understanding of original text, and Chinese words “機(jī)”and “急” get up to the rh

44、yme effect.(2) The Sister Vs. World Taunts! Tantrums! Talents!-姐妹對壘全世界 辱罵! 奚落! 天才!“This title with three harmonics is uneasy to understand. On the one hand, it expresses the intensively competitive rhythm of sports; on the other, it indicates the highlight of the subject. It is well known that U.S.

45、is society with strong compatibility, betas for the black sisters who may draw little attention in the tennis world almost ruled by the white, this rhyme title in Times actually shows the strong effect caused by the black sisters.”10P674.2. Metaphor“A metaphor always makes a comparison betweens two

46、unlike elements, and this comparison is implied rather than stated.”11P166 The proper use of metaphor in news headline can produce vivid, striking effect and attract more readers.For example:(1) Middle East:：A Cradle of Terror中東-恐怖主義的搖籃(2) Russian Reform:：Old Wine in New Bottle俄羅斯改革-新瓶裝陳酒(3) An Afgh

47、an Joan of Arc-阿富汗的貞德(“Comparing 17 year-old Afghan female soldier to 15 century French nationality heritress Arc”12P29)(4) The Open Barn Door-敞開的糧倉大門(“Implying thatit is easy to get the US scientific and technical information”13P29)(5) Carlo Ponti in Hot Water Again-卡洛,龐蒂再陷困境(in hot water means in

48、trouble )4.3. PunPun is an amusing use of a word or phrase that has two meaning, or of words having the same sound but different meaning. “To pun is to play on words, or rather to play with the form and meaning of words, for a witty or humorous effect.”14P221 When translating these kinds of words or

49、 phrases, the translation must be in accordance with the context of the particular message.For example:(1) Soccer Kicks off with Violence-足球開踢，拳打腳踢(kick off means both“球賽開始”and“拳打腳踢”）(2) Climbers Hold Summit Talks-登山運(yùn)動員會師峰頂“The original meaning of SummitTalks is 首腦會議。But this news report concerned t

50、he situation that China, Japan and the Nepalese three national destinies mobilized to Mount Qomolangma.”15P68 The pun here gives a rise to the expression.(3) No Bellas.-寥寥粉黛諾貝爾“No Bellas and Nobel are homophones, and Bella is a girls name. The title gets two meaning at the same time: for hundred yea

51、rs rare females have got the Nobel Prize and the translator uses Chinese rhetoric metonymy, making the translation more implicit.”16P54(4) Royal Ballet Keeps Fans on Their Toes. -皇家芭蕾，奉獻(xiàn)絕技 “Here the rhetoric of exaggeration and pun not only refers to the fact that the actress dances with toe, but al

52、so refers to dancing fans watch the dance standing on tiptoes ,which kills two birds with one stone.”17P230(5) No Bill, No Bell.-美以首腦會議不歡而散“This report is about Clinton meets Israeli Premier Netanyahu, and both sides havent obtained the anticipated result in some questions. As we know, Bill is Clint

53、ons nickname, while Bell is Netanyahus. They havent called each others nickname during the discussion, and the atmosphere is not harmonious. The editor use No Bill, No Bell to describe that the summits meeting between US and Israel is not completely satisfactory.”18P99 In this point, content is rega

54、rded as much more important than form. The headline is translated free rather than literally.4.4. Allusion Allusions are references to well-known persons, things, or events that writers assume are familiar to their readers. They serve to add clarity and significance to ideas and descriptions. Since

55、these allusions requite familiar to readers, the translation can also copy the original translating form.For example:(1) For Many in Cinema. All Roads Lento Wilder -對許多影迷而言，條條道路通威爾德“It is from the famous saying All roads lead to Rome. Billy Wilder is the outstanding American satire movie director, w

56、ho passed away in Los Angeles in March, 2002 at the age of 95.”19P109(2) A Tale of Two Hearts-雙心記“Under this title tells a story about a patient was replaced with an artificial heart. This title copies mechanically the Dickens famous work A Tale of Cities -雙城記”20P30(3) Liberty Is the True Mother of

57、Invention -自由是發(fā)明之母 (“Copying from the saying Necessity Is the Mother of Invention 需要是發(fā)明之母”21P30）(4) Queen Lear -李爾“皇”今昔“This article describes US nowadays one of the biggest feminine patent monopolies -W.P.Lear, from the Shakespeares works King Lear.”22P30(5) Measure for Measure- 一報(bào)還一報(bào)“It is quoted form Holy Bible. The news is about the Princess Diana whose death is said to b