英語新聞標(biāo)題中的修辭特點及其功能【畢業(yè)論文】

1、<p><b>　　本科畢業(yè)論文</b></p><p><b>　?。?0 屆）</b></p><p><b>　　英語</b></p><p>　　英語新聞標(biāo)題中的修辭特點及其功能</p><p>　　A Study on Features and Funct

2、ions of Rhetorical Devices in English News Headlines</p><p><b>　　誠 信 聲 明</b></p><p>　　我聲明，所呈交的論文(設(shè)計)是本人在老師指導(dǎo)下進(jìn)行的研究工作及取得的研究成果。據(jù)我查證，除了文中特別加以標(biāo)注和致謝的地方外，論文(設(shè)計)中不包含其他人已經(jīng)發(fā)表或撰寫過的研究成果，也不包含為獲得

3、＿＿＿＿＿＿或其他教育機構(gòu)的學(xué)位或證書而使用過的材料。我承諾，論文(設(shè)計)中的所有內(nèi)容均真實、可信。</p><p>　　論文(設(shè)計)作者簽名： 簽名日期： 年 月 日</p><p><b>　　授 權(quán) 聲 明</b></p><p>　　學(xué)校有權(quán)保留送交論文（設(shè)計）的原件，允許論文（設(shè)計）被查閱和借閱，學(xué)?？梢怨?/p>

4、論文（設(shè)計）的全部或部分內(nèi)容，可以影印、縮印或其他復(fù)制手段保存論文（設(shè)計），學(xué)校必須嚴(yán)格按照授權(quán)對論文(設(shè)計)進(jìn)行處理，不得超越授權(quán)對論文（設(shè)計）進(jìn)行任意處置。</p><p>　　論文(設(shè)計)作者簽名： 簽名日期： 年 月 日</p><p><b>　　摘要</b></p><p>　　新聞標(biāo)題是新聞的重要組成部分

5、，對新聞起引導(dǎo)、概括和提示的作用，而修辭的運用更使其增色不少。本文從語義修辭格、結(jié)構(gòu)修辭格和音韻修辭格三方面入手，分析修辭手法在英語新聞標(biāo)題中起到的作用。語義修辭格把事物用為人熟知的或者有趣的又或者意味深長的表達(dá)方式表現(xiàn)出來，符合人們思維習(xí)慣；結(jié)構(gòu)修辭格和音韻修辭格分別在特殊的結(jié)構(gòu)和優(yōu)美的旋律上抓住讀者眼球?？偠灾?，除了歸納新聞，標(biāo)題中修辭的運用起到了引起讀者的興趣，進(jìn)而讀完整篇新聞報道的作用。</p><p>

6、;　　關(guān)鍵詞： 新聞標(biāo)題；修辭格；功能</p><p><b>　　Abstract</b></p><p>　　A headline, which plays a role of guidance and summary, is a very important part of a piece of news，and the application of rheto

7、rical devices polishes it. This study analyzed the effects of the rhetoric on the whole piece of news from three categories: semantic devices, structural devices and phonological devices. Semantic devices comply with peo

8、ple’s behavior of expressing things in familiar，interesting or understandable ways; structural devices and phonological devices arouse readers’ attentio</p><p>　　Key words: news headlines; rhetorical devices

9、；functions</p><p><b>　　Contents</b></p><p>　　Abstract.................................................................................................................Ⅱ</p><

10、;p>　　Introduction......................................................................................................1</p><p>　　Research background.......................................................

11、............................1</p><p>　　Significance of the study..............................................................................1</p><p>　　2 Brief Introduction of News Headlines a

12、nd Rhetoric.....................................1</p><p>　　2.1 Basic knowledge of news headlines.............................................................1</p><p>　　2.1.1 Definition of news h

13、eadlines...............................................................1</p><p>　　2.1.2 The features of English news headlines...............................................2</p><p>　　2.1.3 The

14、functions of English news headlines.............................................2</p><p>　　2.2 The Study of Rhetoric...................................................................................2</p&

15、gt;<p>　　2.2.1 Definition of rhetoric...........................................................................2</p><p>　　2.2.2 Classification of rhetorical devices...................................

16、...................3</p><p>　　3 Analysis of the Figures of Speech in Headlines..............................................4</p><p>　　3.1 Semantic rhetorical devices...........................

17、................................................4</p><p>　　3.1.1 Simile....................................................................................................4</p><p>　　3.1.2 Metaph

18、or...............................................................................................5</p><p>　　3.1.3 Personification..............................................................................

19、........6</p><p>　　3.1.4 Metonymy.............................................................................................7</p><p>　　3.1.5 Pun................................................

20、........................................................8</p><p>　　3.1.6 Parody...................................................................................................8</p><p>　　3.2 S

21、tructural rhetorical devices..........................................................................9</p><p>　　3.2.1 Antithesis..............................................................................

22、................9</p><p>　　3.2.2 Rhetorical questions.............................................................................10</p><p>　　3.3 Phonological rhetorical devices.................

23、...................................................10</p><p>　　3.3.1 Alliteration...........................................................................................10</p><p>　　3.3.2 Asso

24、nance/Consonance.......................................................................11</p><p>　　4 Conclusion...............................................................................................

25、..........11</p><p>　　Bibliography...........................................................................................................13</p><p>　　Acknowledgements.........................

26、.......................................................................14</p><p>　　1 Introduction </p><p>　　1.1 Research Background</p><p>　　A headline, which plays the role of guid

27、ance and summary, is a very important part of a piece of news. Many experts and scholars have done significant research on this aspect because, to some extent，they believe the success of a news story depends on the qual

28、ity of its headline. To satisfy the “ABC Principles” (accuracy, brevity and clarity), a headline has its own features such as the features of wording, grammar, discourse and rhetoric. On a basis of rhetorical devices, th

29、e writer analyses ho</p><p>　　1.2 Significance of the Study</p><p>　　Many scholars are studying on rhetoric in news headlines, but there are still some problems to be figured out: no systemic th

30、eory has been found; some scholars just talk in generalities, etc. This study analyzes the effects of the rhetoric on the whole piece of news from three categories: semantic devices, structural devices and phonological d

31、evices, and elucidates related concepts and systemizes the function of the rhetoric in English headlines. By using the figures of speech, headlines attract</p><p>　　2 The Study of News Headlines and Rhetoric

32、</p><p>　　2.1 Basic knowledge of news headlines</p><p>　　Headlines, being a part of news and standing outside of the body with larger letters, are simple explanation and judgment of the main bod

33、y of news story. </p><p>　　2.1.1 Definition of news headlines</p><p>　　In Webster’s Third New International Dictionary(unabridged,1961:1042), it is defined as “a head of a newspaper story or ar

34、ticle usu. printed in large type and devised to summarize, give essential information about, or interest readers in reading the story or article that follows”. Another definition in Cambridge International Dictionary of

35、English (1995:654) is “a line of words printed in large letters as the title of a story in a newspaper, or the main points of the news that are broadcast on t</p><p>　　To sum up, a headline is the title, or

36、in other words, main idea of a newspaper story or article. Being a part of news, a news headline should theoretically take on news qualities such as timeliness and truthfulness. Printed in large type and devised to summa

37、rize, a headline gives essential information about, or interest readers in reading the story or article that follows. No matter what form it takes, its main function is to appeal readers. This paper focuses on its employ

38、ment of rhetorical de</p><p>　　2.1.2 The features of English news headlines </p><p>　　The language of news follows “ABC principles” which refers to accuracy, brevity and clarity, and so do headl

39、ines. A good headline is a piece of news itself whose intension and subject can be grasped in very little time. So, headlines must have their own features.In aspect of vocabulary, simple words and clipped words or acrony

40、ms are largely adopted. New words are chosen according to the style of the news. As for grammar, non-predicate verbs are used widely while function words are usually omitte</p><p>　　2.1.3 The function of Eng

41、lish news headlines</p><p>　　Being an important part of a news story, a good headline is a piece of news itself. A well-designed headline not only beautifies the page layout, but also summarizes the main ide

42、a of the news story. Attracting their attention, headlines help readers choose, understand news stories. Without a brief, outstanding and interesting headline, readers can hardly find what they really want to read. So a

43、news headline must be different and gorgeous, and make readers fall in love with it at first sight. In</p><p>　　2.2 The study of rhetoric</p><p>　　2.2.1 Definition of rhetoric</p><p&g

44、t;　　Rhetorical devices are not rare phenomenon. Polishing words or sentences, they make the article more expressive. </p><p>　　In Advanced Learner’s English-Chinese Dictionary (6th edition: 1492), its defini

45、tion is “the skill of using language in speech or writing in a special way that influences or entertains people”. Another version in Merriam-Webster’s Advantage Learner’s English Dictionary (2009:1398) is “the art or ski

46、ll of speaking or writing formally and effectively, especially as a way to persuade or influence people”. </p><p>　　According to the definitions above, rhetoric is an art of using language skills to make the

47、 speech or writing more effective to reach certain purposes. So the study of how to express oneself effectively, generally speaking, is the main concern of rhetoric. </p><p>　　2.2.2 Classification of rhetori

48、cal devices</p><p>　　Scholars try to classify rhetorical devices and there are different versions of classifications at home and abroad.</p><p>　　In Advanced English Teacher’s Book 2, there are

49、4 groups of figures of speech: figures of resemblance or relationship, figures of emphasis or understatement, figures of sound and verbal games and gymnastics. (quoted in 從萊庭，徐魯亞，467, 2007)</p><p>　　Xiumei G

50、uo sorts rhetorical devices based on resemblance in image, similarities in sound or association in Pragmatic English Rhetoric. (quoted in 從萊庭，徐魯亞，2007:468)</p><p>　　There exist two categories of rhetorical d

51、evices in Encyclopedia Britannic,. The first is textual classification and structural classification, and the other one consists of 5 parts: figures of resemblance or relationship, figures of emphasis or understatement,

52、figures of sound, verbal games and gymnastics, and figures of error. (quoted in 從萊庭，徐魯亞，2007:480)</p><p>　　E.P.J.Corbett and Robert J.Connors classify rhetorical devices into two general categories in Classi

53、cal Rhetoric for the Modern Student: the schemes including schemes of words and schemes of constructions，and the tropes. (quoted in 從萊庭，徐魯亞，2007:482,)</p><p>　　According to Mr. Chen Wangdao, the master of mo

54、dern rhetoric, English rhetoric can be divided into passive rhetorical techniques which have no relatively fixed patterns and active rhetorical techniques which have relatively fixed mode. (quoted in 王玉龍，張煜，張德玉，2006:4)&l

55、t;/p><p>　　All these classifications have their own merits and demerits. This paper classifies rhetorical devices into semantic rhetorical devices, structural rhetorical devices and phonetic rhetorical devices

56、, which is simple and easy to understand. </p><p>　　Our thoughts have a habit of drifting upward to increasingly general and abstract levels. So writers use figurative language which is connotative, suggesti

57、ve and colorful to express concrete ideas. There are many kinds of semantic rhetorical devices, such as metaphor, personification, and pun.</p><p>　　Structural rhetorical devices, involving repetition, rheto

58、rical questions, and antithesis, rely on the layout of the structure to emphasize the points.</p><p>　　As the name suggests, phonological rhetorical devices use phonetic character to make reading enjoyable.

59、Alliteration and rhyme are typical ones.</p><p>　　3 Analysis of the Figures of Speech in Headlines</p><p>　　The language of news is succinct and interesting, so readers can acquaint themselves w

60、ith current affairs and enjoy the enchantment of language at the same time. As to headlines which are called the epitome of news, their styles are various and creative. Editors spare no efforts to innovate in words and

61、expressing skills of headlines in order to arouse readers’ attention. Application of rhetorical devices makes headlines more exquisite and eye-catching. In this thesis, the writer summarizes the</p><p>　　3.1

62、 Semantic rhetorical devices</p><p>　　Semantic rhetorical devices come in to being because of the association of meaning and diversification of language. Writers use figurative language to bring ideas down t

63、o earth in an abstract way. A fresh, apt figure of speech appeals to the imagination, creates mental pictures and makes the speech or writing vivid, impressive and interesting.</p><p>　　3.1.1 Simile</p>

64、;<p>　　A simile is a figure of speech in which two quite different things are compared because they appear to be similar in at least one characteristic. Similes are as a rule introduced by “l(fā)ike” or “as”. A simile

65、 consists of three parts: tenor (subject), vehicle (reference), and comparative word (indicator of resemblance). The two things involved are completely different but are similar in one characteristic. The structure is li

66、ke this: </p><p>　　A is like B.</p><p>　　Tenor comparative word vehicle</p><p>　　A simile can explicitly provide the basis of a comparison or leave this b

67、asis implicit. Similes are widely used in many fields to make descriptions more vivid, understandable and interesting. When employed in news headlines, same effects are obtained. Here is an example of implicit simile:<

68、;/p><p>　　Diving Dida acts just like a clown. (21st Century Oct. 10, 2007) (1)</p><p>　　With the help of the big picture besides the headline, readers know Diving Dida is a football goalkeeper.

69、Football fans know he has aroused controversy before, and was called “an embarrassment” by his own teammate Kaka. Here in the headline, the tenor is implicit, and readers can regard Dida’ performance as a tenor. “A clown

70、” is the vehicle. Clowns make people laugh with their funny and ridiculous shows. The editor tries to tell readers that Dida has done something ridiculous. It is also controv</p><p>　　3.1.2 Metaphor </p&g

71、t;<p>　　Metaphor is a figure of speech containing an implied comparison, in which a word or phrase ordinarily and primarily used of one thing is applied to another. It is a simile without using “l(fā)ike” or “as”. It

72、is so widely used that it is called the omnipresent principle of language by I.A.Richards (an English poet and literary critic, 1893-1979). According to their structure, metaphors can be divided into two catalogues: the

73、Visible which shows both tenor and vehicle, and the Invisible which shows v</p><p>　　Trading Skills is an Online Headache (China Daily Dec. 17, 2010) (2)</p><p>　　It is a typical visible metap

74、hor, in which “trading skill” is the tenor and “headache” is the vehicle. Trading skills is new to most of people and it goes on online. You post what you can do to exchange what you want. From this headline, readers kno

75、w this kind of trading gets some problems. However, mutual exchange is really beneficial, why is it so troublesome? With questions, readers may continue to read the whole passage and find answers as a reminder when they

76、trading skills online. Under th</p><p>　　Storage Wars—The Gold Mines behind Padlocks (the New York Times Dec. 1, 2010) (3)</p><p>　　There are two invisible metaphors. “War” and “the gold mines

77、” are two vehicles while there are no tenors. The news describes a phenomenon that an auctioneer auctions off the contents of self-storage lockers when their owners don’t pay their fees. The buyers are not allowed to ins

78、pect the contents of the lockers closely enough to know what they are bidding on. You may get a credit card, or you may get nothing. As a result, many people are going to quit their jobs to join the activity to make easy

79、</p><p>　　3.1.3 Personification</p><p>　　Personification is a figure in which inanimate objects, abstractions and events are compared to human beings, and human qualities and abilities are attri

80、buted to them. With the application of personification, the language becomes more expressive, and the objects described become vivid and vital. </p><p>　　Mother Earth has a fever (21st Dec.19, 2007)

81、 (4)</p><p>　　This is an excerpt of Al Gore’s Nobel lecture, delivered in Oslo, Norway on December 10. Protecting the Earth is not a new topic. How to really draw readers’ attention? The editor use

82、s a phrase “has a fever” to describe the situation of the Earth. It is a feeling all people know. When you get a fever, you have a temperature that is higher than normal, which is very uncomfortable. If you don't go

83、to hospital or take some necessary measures, you will end up dead. Now our Earth gets sick. If we don</p><p>　　War has an ugly face (21st Century Dec. 12, 2007) (5)</p><p>　　It is

84、a typical personification. War is an abstraction that people can’t say it clearly or tough it tangibly. The image of war in people’s mind is blood and bodies, smokes of gunpowder, and heart-wrenching screaming. The headl

85、ine “War has an ugly face” transplants a face which is extremely disgusting to abstract wars. Seeing this headline, readers create an image of a face with vicious eyes, sunken nose, and bloody mouth which make people rea

86、lly uncomfortable and want to change it. With a pictur</p><p>　　3.1.4 Metonymy</p><p>　　Metonymy, which is from Greek meaning name change, is a figure in which the name of an attribute or a thin

87、g is used to stand for another thing. The two things involved in a metonymy are not of the same kind but are closely related. Metonymy is employed in many ways, such as by using human organs to stand for behavior or abil

88、ity, a container for content, an author’s name for his work, an animal or a plant for certain characteristics, etc. Here is an interesting headline which employs metonymy:</p><p>　　Less than Nobel (21st Cent

89、ury Oct. 10, 2007) (6)</p><p>　　It is well known that Nobel, who is an inventor, engineer and a manufacturer of army industry, makes great contributions to the progress of society. With h

90、is tremendous wealth, Nobel creates a prize which is named after him in his testament. His achievements make the word “Nobel” dignified, honorable and serious. In this headline, the name “Nobel” stands for all those char

91、acteristics. The name “Nobel” and his characteristics are two related things involved in this metonymy. So the headline “l(fā)ess</p><p><b>　　3.1.5 Pun</b></p><p>　　Pun is a figure of sp

92、eech depending upon a similarity of sound and a disparity of meaning. It is a play on words, which involves an amusing use of expressions with a double meaning or the same sound but different meanings. To be a pun, there

93、 must be double context, which means readers can comprehend it in two ways. There are three types: Homophonic pun (the use of words with same pronunciation but with different spelling and meaning), Antalaclasis (a word u

94、sed twice or more, but each time with a</p><p>　　Breaking boundaries (21st Century Dec. 5, 2007) (7)</p><p>　　At first sight, it is a common phrase which means breaking down barrie

95、rs and broadening boundaries, so readers may have no idea what the news is about exactly. However, with the help of a picture in which two men are dancing, readers know the word “breaking” in the headline has another mea

96、ning: it is a kind of dance. Breaking, popping and free style are three main kinds of street dance. The editor wants to tell readers this news is about breaking dance’s boundaries. Why the boundaries should be </p>

97、<p>　　The headline “Less Than Nobel” discussed above employs pun as well. “Less than” means not enough, but it has another meaning “in no way” or “definitely not”. May be they just do not want to be too honorable

98、or serious. </p><p>　　3.1.6 Parody</p><p>　　In rhetoric, parody refers to a deliberately exaggerated imitation of the characteristic of a writer, or of a literary work, designed to amuse or

99、ridicule. The material it imitates is well-known words, phrases, sentences or passages, such as idioms and aphorisms. An example is shown below:</p><p>　　Where there's muck there's brass (China Daily

100、 Dec. 6, 2010) (8)</p><p>　　What association do you make when seeing this headline? Yes, it is “Where there’s a river, there’s a city” or “Where there’s a will, there’s a way”. At very beginning, it make