News Translation

1. News Translation

2. I. The Structure of News • Headline （标题） • Lead （导语） • Body （主体）

3. Official: Saddam's trial to begin in October —— Headline(AP) Updated: 2005-09-02 08:59 [1]Iraqi authorities plan to put Saddam Hussein on trial within five days after the Oct. 15 referendum on the new constitution, an official close to the proceedings said Thursday, AP reported. ----Lead [2]The official spoke after government spokesman Laith Kubba announced that Iraq had carried out its first executions since Saddam was ousted in 2003. Three men were hanged at 10 a.m. in a Baghdad prison for murdering three policemen. [3]U.S. officials scrapped the death penalty in 2003 but Iraqi authorities reinstated it after the transfer of sovereignty so they would have the option of executing Saddam if he is convicted of crimes committed during his regime.

4. [4]"Saddam's trial will start right after the October referendum between Oct. 16 and at the latest Oct. 20," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to make the official announcement. [5]European Union countries have distanced themselves from legal proceedings against Saddam, refusing to provide forensic and other assistance, because of the prospect that Saddam may be put to death. [6]Iraqi authorities plan a series of trials for specific alleged offenses rather than lumping them together. The first trial will focus on the alleged massacre of hundreds of Shiites in Dujail in 1982 following a failed assassination attempt on Saddam. [7]Separate trials are expected for the gassing of Kurds at Halabja and the 1991 suppression of the Shiite uprising in the south, officials said.

5. [8]The government announced Aug. 17 that the three men hanged Thursday had been sentenced to death by a court in Kut last May. The government statement said they also were convicted of kidnapping and rape. [9]"It was a difficult decision because we are living in a democratic atmosphere," the government spokesman said. "This is the highest punishment taken against people who have conducted assassinations, and it aims at deterring criminals from going too far in their crimes." [10]Iraqi officials say about seven other people, including one woman, have been sentenced to death. Their cases are under review or appeal. [11]Death sentences must be approved by the three-member presidential council headed by President Jalal Talabani, who opposes capital punishment. Talabani refused to sign the authorization himself but his office said he let one of his vice presidents, Adil Abdul-Mahdi, do so for him.

6. II. Translation of the Headline of News • The characteristics of the headline of news • Some skills in the translation of the headline of news

7. 1. Characteristics of sentence structure of English news headlines (1) Omission Examples: 2008 Olympic security budget ready for approval 2008 Olympic security budget is ready for approval 译文：2008奥运会安全预算正待审批 Hungry dog saves abandoned baby A hungry dog saves an abandoned baby 译文：饿狗救弃婴 U.S., Vietnam resume talks U.S. and Vietnam resume talks 译文：美越恢复会谈

8. (2) Tense • Present tense is often used for something that happened in the past • Examples: Car bombs kill 7, wound 19 • Car bombs killed 7, wounded 19 • 译文：汽车连环爆炸，7死19伤 • Comeback gives China a sensational Thomas cup win • The comeback gave China a sensational Thomas cup win • 译文：中国队反败为胜，荣获汤姆斯杯 • B. The infinitive or will is often used for something that will happen. • Examples: Wheat harvest to enhance food security • 译文：小麦丰收将加强食品安全 • US$3M fund to aid poor college students • 译文： 300万美元将用于资助贫困大学生

9. C. The present participle is often used for something that is happening, while the past participle is mostly used for the passive voice rather than the past tense. Examples: Across US residents opening homes to Katrina refugees 译文： 全美居民为“卡特里娜” 飓风灾民敞开家园 US congress sending $ 10.5B in relief aid 译文：美国国会送出105亿美元救济金 Examples: New concepts wanted to solve water shortage New concepts are wanted to solve water shortage 译文：解决水资源匮乏所需的新观念 U.S. attacked U.S. was attacked 译文： 美国遭袭

10. 2）characteristics of vocabulary • Short and simple words are preferred • Examples: World eyes mid-East peace talks (eyes=watches) • 译文：世界关注中东和平会谈 • Beijing: Tokyo must back words with actions (back=support) • 译文：中国认为：日本必须拿出行动来支持自己的言论 • Suspects held (held=arrested) • 译文：嫌疑犯被捕 • More examples: • cut=reduction blast = explosion • top = exceed tie = relation • probe = investigation aid = assistance

11. (2) Abbreviation （缩写词） • Acronym: a word formed from the first letters of the words that make up the name of sth. • Examples: EU may free Chinese goods next month (EU=European Union) • 译文：欧盟下月可能放宽中国纺织品出口 • PLO says big Israeli drove ahead (PLO=Palestine Liberation Organization:巴勒斯坦解放组织） • More examples: • UN for the United Nations 联合国 • WTO for the World Trade Organization 世界贸易组织 • WHO for the World Health Organization 世界卫生组织 • FAO for Food and Agriculture Organization 联合国粮农组织 • CPC for the Communist Party of China 中国共产党

12. B. Clipped Words: Examples: Lib= liberation cric==critic pro=professional ad=advertisement grad= graduate Nuke = Nuclear ped = pedestrian auto = automobile flu = influenza copter = helicopter sec = secretary cig = cigarette New Groups boost Hi-Tech Research (Hi-Tech = High-Technology) 译文：新兴集团推动高新技术

13. 2. Some skills in translating the headline of a piece of English news • Literal translation and Free translation（直译与意译） • Examples: Astronauts cheered in Houston • 译文：宇航员在休斯敦欢庆胜利 ( literal translation) • Korean scientists clone first dog • 译文：韩国科学家首次克隆出狗 ( literal translation) • Baby geniuses save the world?! • 译文： 神童拯救世界？！( literal translation) • New Potter book breaks sales records • 译文：《哈利·波特》打破销售记录 (literal translation) • 《哈利·波特》再创销售神话 (free translation) • By their colors you should know them • 译文： 欧洲色彩时尚 (free translation)

14. 2) Amplification and Omission（增词法与省略法/减词法） Examples: Sharapova jumps to No.1 in WTA rankings 译文：俄罗斯名将莎拉波娃登上世界女子职业网球协会头号女单宝座 China demands for bombing probe and apology 译文：中国要求北约就轰炸中国驻南使馆进行全面调查和道歉 (Amplification) the real James Bond? 译文：谁是真正的帮德？(Amplification) Quake death toll tops 5000 译文：日本阪神地震死亡人数已逾五千 Animal world captured in movies 译文：电影中的动物世界 (Omission) the battle of human versus computers at chess 译文：人机象棋大战 My husband is a man in a woman’s world 译文：泡在女人堆里的男人

15. 3）Changing the language style Examples: Fly me to the moon? That’ll be $100 million 译文：你想到月球旅行吗？一亿美元让你梦想成真 Where to find red treasure 译文：寻找红色珍宝 Harry Potter bewitches Guantanamo Bay prisoners 译文：哈利•波特施魔法 迷倒关塔那摩监狱犯人 When the boss is a woman 译文：上司是女的！ Is “globalization” helping or hurting? 译文：全球化：幸耶不幸？

16. 4）Making good use of the grace and beauty of the Chinese language Examples: NASA sends shuttle to space, debris fears arise 译文： “发现”号顺利升空 碎片脱落引悬疑 Daughter praises “Papy” Chirac 译文：希拉克政坛失意 干女儿赞誉有加 Women getting rich faster than men in UK 译文：巾国不让须眉 英国女人比男人富得快 Saving labor for a Rainy day 译文：储蓄劳务 未雨绸缪 Stepping up to the Firing line 译文：裁人难，难于上青天

17. Exercises: Put the following titles into Chinese: • Discovery to take another try at landing • 译文：“发现”号再次踏上回家之路 • 2. Man recalls being first Disneyland visitor • 译文:迪斯尼乐园第一位游客忆往昔时光 • 3. Schroeder “nominated for Nobel peace price” • 译文:对伊战说“不”,施罗德获诺贝尔和平奖提名 • Melting ice pace displace Alaska walrus • 译文: 全球变暖 海象“搬家” • Singles are happy– poll • 译文: 调查: 单身也快乐!

18. Mooncakes acquire networking flavor • 译文: 月饼“变味”了? • Student unearths Einstein paper • 译文: 荷兰大学生无意中发现爱因斯坦手稿 • 8. Maradona owns up to “Hand of God” • 译文: 马拉多纳首次承认“上帝之手”