Abstract

With the spreading of the non-stopping trend of globalization, large amount of information is needed for a better understanding of the ever-changing world. Newspapers, as one of the mainstream information media, now have a large number of readers across the whole world. The Economist, a famous British newspaper with over 170-year history, is highly complimented by its writing style. 

Correspondents and editors of The Economist elaborate each of the news reports and establish and keep polishing their own characteristics. This magazine is known for its humorous and clever use of language, precise and skillful expressions. Its precise wording and phrasing make it not only a good resource of timely information, but also an English learning material of high quality. Not long ago, The Economist launched its mobile phone app named “The Economist Espresso”, news reports on which contain no more than 10 sentences. Most of these short reports are the essence of their original texts in the publication. Since the short news has to summarize the core of the original article, not only words, phrases, sentence structures and rhetorical devices, but also length and information have to be taken into consideration. Thus, the translation work is doubtlessly a hard task. 

Through existing research and theory and the author’s translation practice, the author first sorts out language features of The Economist. They are frequent use of puns in headlines, a large number of unexplained technical terms and the expanded sentences. After that, this thesis uses applicable translation methods to analyze some cases. As for puns, translators can use punoid or omit form but preserve meaning; for unexplained technical terms, linear translation, using word-formation knowledge and adding explanatory notes; for expanded simple sentences, linear translation, division and rearranging sequences of words and phrases.

Key words: News Magazine, The Economist, Translation Strategy 

Contents

Abstract

中文摘要

Chapter 1 Introduction-1

1.1 Introduction to The Economist-1

Chapter 2 Literature Review-3

2.1 Previous Studies of Language Characteristics of The Economist-4

2.2 Previous Studies of Translation Methods of The Economist-6

Chapter 3 Language Style of The Economist-7

3.1 Introduction to News Journal-8

3.1.1 News Varieties-8

3.1.2 Characteristics of News Journal-9

3.2 Language style of The Economist-10

3.2.1 Puns in Headlines-10

3.2.2 Technical Terms-13

3.2.3 The Expanded Sentences-14

Chapter 4 Application of the Translation Strategies-17

4.1 The Translation of Puns in Headlines-17

4.1.1 Translate Puns into Punoid-18

4.1.2 Omitting Form but Preserve Meaning-19

4.2 The Translation of Technical Terms-21

4.2.1 Linear Translation-21

4.2.2 Applying Word-formation Knowledge-22

4.2.3 Adding Explanatory Notes-23

4.3 The Translation of the expanded sentence-24

4.3.1 Linear Translation-24

4.3.2 Division.-25

4.3.3 Rearranging Sequences of Words and Phrases-26

Chapter 5 Conclusion-28

References-29

Appendix-31