二 句法层面
1 为求得在较小的篇幅内容纳较多的信息量新闻英语多采用扩展的简单句
expanded simple sentences其方法是使用定语、状语、同位语、介词短语、分词短语等语
言成分来扩展简单句。因此英语报刊里经常出现一个句子就是一个段落的情况。而要把众
多的信息包容到里面在确保句式不过于复杂的前提下作者只有大量使用或增加修饰限定
词的数量。试看下列一则报道
LAGOS, Dec. 15(Reuter) - The Nigerian foreign ministry's offices were completely destroyed
by a fire in the center of Lagos Monday night.
Eyewitnesses gave conflicting reports about the number of people injured in the blaze, which
firemen suspect was caused by an electrical fault.
One fireman said four people had been rescued from the ministry, suffering from minor injuries.
About 100 firemen were unable to prevent the blaze spreading to buildings beside the seven-storey
ministry.
The foreign ministry, which lost many valuable records in the blaze, was due to be moved to a
new site shortly.
The building, completely gutted by the blaze, also housed offices of the information ministry
and the ministry of science and technology.
2 广泛使用直接引语间接引语。这既可增添新闻报道的真实性和生动性又可显示
其客观性。
3新闻英语多用主动语态但为了叙事的客观和便利有时也使用一些被动结构。
4正文较多地使用现在时而标题所使用的时态则几乎都是现在时这可对读者产生
一种"某事正在发生"的印象从而增强其真实感和现实感。例如China Starts WAP Service. /
Longevity star dies at 110.
5标题中常使用省略句。像冠词、动词、介词等常在标题中省略这既可节省版面
又可使新闻的风格显得简洁明快。如House and Senate Pursuing Efforts to Reduce Deficit (The
New York Times) = The House of Representatives and the Senate are pursuing the efforts to reduce
the deficit. |