新闻英语的标题专题之三:标点符号
英语新闻标题一贯注重结构精练,并不使用所有的标点符号。即便使用某个标点符号,其主要目的不外乎两种,一是区分表示各句子成分意群之间的关系;二是旨在进一步节省标题字数。现简要介绍一下标题中常见的几种标点符号的用法:
1、逗号常被用来代替连词“and”例如:
Belgium Supports Francs, Denies It Will Quit 'Snake'.(Belgium Supports The Francs And Denies It Will Quit The 'Snake'.)
比利时支持法郎并否认将退出“蛇形浮动”。
Guangzhou Fair Closes, Trade Booms.(The Guangzhou Fair Closes And The Trade Booms.)
广交会闭幕交易兴旺。
2、冒号除了用在引语之前表示“说”外,还经常被用来代替联系动词“Be”。例如:
Yeltsin: Muslim Nati0ns Call For End To Tensi0n In Bosnia Hergezervena.(Yeltsin Says That Muslim Nations Call For An End To The Tensi0n In Bosnia Hergezervena.)
叶利钦说:穆斯林国家呼吁尽早结束波黑紧张局势。
Shanghai: Resplendent Pearl Of New China.(Shangha Is A Resplendent Pearl Of New China.)
上海:新中国的璀璨明珠。
3、破折号常被放置在不用引号的引言前后,以引出说话者。例如:
Economy Grows Slowly As Unemployment, Inflation Rise-Economists.(Economists Say That The Economy Grows Slowly As The Unemployment And Inflation Rise.)
经济学家认为:失业率及通货膨胀加剧使得经济增长缓慢。
Malaria Still Menaces Quarter Of Humanity-French Professor.(A French Professor Says That Malaria Still Menaces A Quarter Of The Humanity.)
法国一教授称:疟疾仍威胁着四分之一的人类。