Pragmatic functions of publicistic headlines

3.1 Pragmatic functions of publicistic headlines

This research paper is based on studying 100 headlines, 50 of publicistic headlines analyzing in pragmatic functions and 50 headlines difficulties of their translation from English into Russian.

The selected headlines have been divided according to pragmatic functions. Here is given the analysis of Russian and English headlines on the syntactical levels.

Metaphor. transference of names based on the associated likeness between two objects, on the similarity of one feature common to two different entities, on possessing one common characteristic, on linguistic semantic nearness, on a common component in their semantic structures.

Examples:

·  “COSMIC DANCE”

(Daily Nation, 01.02.10, p.12)

The metaphor “Cosmic Dance” implies unusual dances. The redactor compares “cosmic” and “dance”, because in “Lime club” the dances were unusual, like a cosmic movement.

·  “BLANKET OF DARKNESS FROM VOLCANO”

(Daily Nation, 05.04.10, p.25)

Blanket of Darkness” is a genuine metaphor, quite unexpected and rather effective. “Blanket of Darkness” implies a present from volcano or volcano eruption in Iceland.

·  “THE STORM CLOUDS THICKENED OVER UKRAINE”

(КОММЕРСАНТЪ, 09.08.09, p.15)

The storm clouds thickened” implies tense struggle between elections. In order to demonstrate the hot atmosphere in Ukraine, the redactor uses the metaphor The storm clouds thickened

·  “A BRIDGE TO THE PAST”

(Daily Nation, 14.01.10, p.5)

A bridge to the past” is a symbol of connection between present and the past time. The redactor uses “A bridge to the past”, to show that the old fashion from the past comes back in the present.

·  “A TURBULENT PAST LEONARDO”

(Daily Nation, 08.02.10, p.43)

“A turbulent past” implies active life in the past. Leonardo de Capri tells in interview about his “turbulent” life at teenage age.

Metonymy. transference of names based on nearness, on axtralinguistic, actually existing relations between the objects, denoted by the words, on common grounds of existence in reality but different semantic. It is based on a different type of relation between the dictionary and contextual meanings, a relation based not on identification, but on some kind of association connecting the two concepts which these meanings represent.

Examples:

·  “SPORT IN NASA MISSION CONTROL”

·  (Daily Nation, 23.03.10, p.32)

“NASA Mission control” is a metonymy and it symbolizes Texas, for which the call sign is "Houston". The author implies that the spot was in Houston, largest city in the state of Texas.

·  “THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH BEGIN TALKS ON NEW LAWS” (Daily Nation, 12.03.10, p.21)

“The Roman Catholic Church” is metonymy which author uses. He implies the pope and Catholic bishops, which met in Nakuru to discuss the draft constitution, among other things.

·  “NEW FILM IN AMERICAN FILM & TELEVISION INDUSTRY”

(Daily Nation, 12.03.10, p.45)

The American film and television industry” is metonymy which symbolizes a section of Los Angeles. It is Hollywood which makes a new film.

·  “GENEVA EIGHT RED CROSS STAFF KIDNAPPED IN DRC”

(Daily Nation, 13.03.10, p.26)

“Eight red cross staff” is eight person, who symbolizes the doctors from Switzerland. They were kidnapped in DRC. “DRC” is Democratic Republic of Congo, which is also abbreviation.

·  "The White House said: `Yes' FOCUS ON CONSTITUTION "

(Daily Nation, 13.03.10, p.9)

"The White House said" is a metonym for the president and his staff, because the White House is not part of the president or his staff but is closely associated with them.

Irony. - is a stylistic device in which the contextual evaluative meaning of a word is directly opposite to its dictionary meaning - is the contradiction between the said and implied. It must not be confused with humour.

Examples:

Hard Times Café’ close down

(Daily Nation, 16.03.10, p.08)

"Hard Times Cafe" is irony and implies something bad and sad. The restaurant called "Hard Times Cafe" has closed down because of the recession productions.

3.2 Difficulties in translation of publicistic headlines

Usually headings share on three categories:

1) headlines in Present simple. They say that someone has made any action.

Examples:

·  “Unemployed Man Wins £ 1M” - Безработный выиграл миллион фунтов.

(Daily Nation, 14.03.10, p.16)

The tendency to laconic and brevity in headlines has led to that unnecessary, insignificant words from them simply throw out. In particular, it concerns definite and indefinite articles, in headlines very seldom can to meet such words, as “a”, “an” and “the”. Also the auxiliary verbs fall out from headlines. The usual sentence is - unemployed man has won a million pounds.

·  “Forgotten Brother Appears” - Забытый брат вернулся

(Daily Nation, 14.03.10, p.19)

As the usual offer: A forgotten brother has appeared. In headline we have not the article “a” and

the auxiliary verb “has”.

·  “Violent protests in Jakarta over Islamic tomb” - Сильные протесты в Джакарте на Исламские могилы

(Daily Nation, 15.03.10, p.26)

As the usual offer: The violent has protested in Jakarta over Islamic tomb. In headline we have not the article “the” and the auxiliary verb “has”.

·  “Woman locks up utility worker over unpaid bill” - Женщина запирает сервисного рабочего по неоплаченному счету.

(Daily Nation, 15.03.10, p.31)

As the usual offer: A women has locked up the utility worker over of the unpaid bill.

·  “Villagers build on glory of school they burnt 57 years ago” - Сельские жители основываются на славе школы, которую они сожгли 57 лет назад

(Daily Nation, 14.03.10, p.33)

As the usual offer: The villagers have built on the glory of school, which they burnt 57 years ago.

·  “Revenue triples after return of displaced families” - Доход утраивается после возвращения перемещенных семей

(Daily Nation, 14.03.10, p.48)

As the usual offer: The revenue has tripled after return of the displaced families.

·  “Adebayor says bye-bye to international soccer” - Адебайор говорит пока международному футболу.

(Daily Nation, 14.03.10, p.51)

As the usual offer: Adebayor has said bye-bye to the international soccer.

·  “Champion seeks to set new record in London” - Чэмпайон стремится установить новый рекорд в Лондоне

(Daily Nation, 16.03.10, p.9)

As the usual offer: The champion has sought to set a new record in London.

·  “Amend new laws first, say elders” - Исправьте новые законы сначала, говорят старшие

(Daily Nation, 02.03.10, p.10)

As the usual offer: Amend the new laws, have said the elders.

·  “Large team of runners battle for qualification” - Большая команда бегунов борются за квалификацию

(Daily Nation, 16.03.10, p.16)

As the usual offer: Large team of the runners have battled for the qualification.

·  “Nuclear Weapons Obama presses for Iran action” - Ядерное оружие Обамы требует действия Ирана

(Daily Nation, 07.03.10, p.34)

As the usual offer: The Nuclear Weapons Obama has pressed for Iran action

·  “Chelsea closer to Premier League crown” - Челси приближается к Главной короне Лиги

(Daily Nation, 01.03.10, p.11)

As the usual offer: Chelsea has closered to the Premier League.

·  “Kaunya leaves for Germany” - Kониа уезжает в Германию

(Daily Nation, 07.03.10, p.22)

As the usual offer: Kaunya has left for Germany.

·  “Ford Kenya launches pro-draft campaign” – Форд Киниа начинает кампанию проекта

(Daily Nation, 05.03.10, p.8)

As the usual offer: Ford Kenya has launched the pro-draft campaign.

·  “Councillors vow to block proposed laws” - Члены совета клянутся заблокировать предложенные законы

(Daily Nation, 14.02.10, p.21)

As the usual offer: The councilors have vowed to block the proposed laws.

·  “Uhuru pushes for consensus ahead of vote to avert chaos” - Ухюру стремится к согласиям перед голосованием, чтобы предотвратить хаос

(Daily Nation, 14.02.10, p.24)

As the usual offer: Uhuru has pushed for consensus ahead of the vote, that to avert chaos.

·  “CBK sue over seized papers” - CBK предъявляют иск по конфискованным бумагам

(Daily Nation, 18.02.10, p.55)

As the usual offer: CBK have sued over seized papers.

2) headlines with use of a participle of last time. The”y say that something has been made in passive voice.

Examples:

·  “Six killed in rail accident” - В железнодорожной аварии погибло шестеро

(Daily Nation, 22.01.10, p.15)

As the usual offer: Six people have been killed in a rail accident. In headline we have not “have been” the auxiliary verb, which indicates in the participle of last time and the article “a”.

The headline:

·  “New Shakespeare play discovered”- Найдена новая пьеса Шекспира

(Daily Nation, 14.12.08, p.77)

As the usual offer would sound so: A new Shakespeare play has been discovered. Also in it we have not articles and auxiliary verbs. In the same way the ordinary offer “The White House has been damaged by a bomb” turns to laconic headline:

·  “White House damaged by bomb”- Здание правительства пострадало от взрыва бомбы.

(Daily Nation, 22.11.08, p.55)

·  “Four die in crashes on highway” - В аварии на шоссе четверо погибло

(Daily Nation, 24.11.08, p.17)

As the usual offer: Four people have been dead in the crashes on highway.

·  “Hawker held after killing of trader” – Уличного торговца задержали после убийства торговца

(Daily Nation, 14.09.09, p.67)

As the usual offer: The hawker has been held after killing of trader.

·  “Stadium handed over to Zimbabwe after repairs” - Стадион передали Зимбабве после ремонта

(Daily Nation, 01.10.09, p.41)

As the usual offer: The stadium has been handed over to Zimbabwe after the repairs.

·  “Hundreds evacuated as volcano erupts in Iceland” - Сотни людей эвакуированы так как вулкан извергся в Исландии

(Daily Nation, 23.08.09, p.19)

As the usual offer: Hundreds people have been evacuated as the volcano erupts in Iceland.

·  “Draft Church has made mistakes in past” - Церковный проект сделал ошибки в прошлом

(Daily Nation, 17.02.10, p.67)

As the usual offer: The Draft of Church has been made mistakes in the past.

·  “Peacekeepers in Darfur kidnapped” - Похищены силы по поддержанию мира в Дарфуре

(Daily Nation, 15.02.10, p.90)

As the usual offer: The peacekeepers in Darfur have been kidnapped.

·  “Fifteen killed in bomb attacks in Philippines” - Пятнадцать убитых в нападениях с применением взрывных устройств в Филиппинах

(Daily Nation, 24.01.10, p.86)

As the usual offer: Fifteen peoples have been killed in the bomb attacks in Philippines.

·  “PNU activist summoned over complaint on Raila” - Активист ПОН вызван по жалобе к Рэйлу

(Daily Nation, 28.02.10, p.33)

As the usual offer: PNU activist has been summoned over the complaint on Raila.

·  “Couple killed in night raid” - Пара убита в вечернем набеге

(Daily Nation, 17.01.10, p.109)

As the usual offer: The couple man and woman have been killed in night raid.

·  “ISIOLO Voter listing official shot dead by bandits” - Избиратель ISIOLO, перечисляющий чиновникам, застрелен бандитами.

(Daily Nation, 19.12.09, p.113)

As the usual offer: ISIOLO Voter listing official has been shoot by bandits.

·  “The days of double voting numbered under new system” - Дни двойного голосования пронумерованы под новой системой

(Daily Nation, 29.07.09, p.49)

As the usual offer: The days of double voting has been numbered under a new system.

3) headlines with an infinitive. They say about the future event, which yet does not happen, but should occur.

Examples:

·  “Queen to visit India” - Королева собирается посетить Индию.

(Daily Nation, 24.03.07, p.124)

As the usual offer: the Queen is going to visit India. In headline we have not the article ”the” and the auxiliary verb to be –“is” plus irregular verb to go – “going”.

·  ”Mayor to Open Shopping Mall” - Мэр откроет новый торговый комплекс

(Daily Nation, 30.06.09, p.53)

As the usual offer: The mayor is going to open a new shopping mall.

·  “US to assist Angolan returnees from Congo” - США соберается помочь ангольцам вернувшимся из Конго

(Daily Nation, 27.03.10, p.51)

As the usual offer: The USA is going to assist Angolan returnees from Congo.

·  “Bashir's party to offer opposition posts” - Сторона Бэшира предложит должности оппозиции

(Daily Nation, 27.02.10, p.87)

As the usual offer: Bashir's party is going to offer opposition posts.

·  “Goodluck yet to see Yar'Adua” - Гудлак все же, соберается увидеть Ярадуа.

(Daily Nation, 25.03.10, p.71)

As the usual offer: Goodluck yet is going to see Yar'Adua

·  “EU to monitor Ethiopia elections” - ЕС, наблюдет за проведением выборов Эфиопии

(Daily Nation, 02.04.10, p.15)

As the usual offer: EU is going to monitor Ethiopia elections.

·  “Harare to press on with local control” - Хараре продолжает с местным контролем

(Daily Nation, 14.04.10, p.116)

As the usual offer: Harare is going to press on with local control.

·  “Kenya to play against Ghana in 5-nation tie” - Кения играeт против Ганы в игре с 5 нациями

(Daily Nation, 03.04.10, p.64)

As the usual offer: Kenya is going to play against Ghana in 5-nation tie.

·  “Rains to cut cost of electricity” - Дожди сокращяют расходы электричества.

(Daily Nation, 09.04.10, p.3)

As the usual offer: The rains are going to cut the cost of electricity.

·  “Party in threat to oppose draft” – Угрозы партии выступить против проекта

(Daily Nation, 31.05.09, p.8)

As the usual offer: The party in threat is going to oppose the draft.

·  “NHIF members to contribute more” - Участники NHIF продолжаются более

(Daily Nation, 28.05.09, p.98)

As the usual offer: NHIF members are going to contribute more

·  “Kibaki and Raila to tour projects” – Kэбаки и Рэйл совершают поездку по проектам

(Daily Nation, 12.04.10, p.88)

As the usual offer: Kibaki and Raila is going to tour projects.

IL to launch regional plan to end child labour

·  “IL to launch regional plan to end child labor” - ОРГАНИЗАЦИЯ ТРУДА начнет региональный план закончить детский труд

(Daily Nation, 01.04.10, p.46)

As the usual offer: IL is going to launch the regional plan to end the child labor.

·  “New system to catch cheats at the ballot” - Новая система поймает обманы в избирательном бюллетене

 (Daily Nation, 27.04.09, p.11)

As the usual offer: A new system is going to catch cheats at the ballot.

·  “Starehe votes recount to go on, says judge” - Пересчет голосов Стэйе продолжается, говорит судья

(Daily Nation, 24.08.09, p.34)

As the usual offer: Starehe votes recount is going to go on, says judge.

·  “Kiplagat likely to face tribunal” - Kiplagat вероятно стоит перед трибуналом

(Daily Nation, 14.06.09, p.47)

As the usual offer: Kiplagat likely is going to face tribunal.

·  “Council workers to get a pay increase - Рабочие совета получают увеличение платы

(Daily Nation, 09.06.09, p.61)

As the usual offer: The Council workers are going to get a pay increase.

Conclusion

In this research we analyzed the publicistic headline from difficulties in translation of publicistic headlines and their pragmatic aspect:

- we have defined publicistic headline and their classification and structure.

- we have revealed linguistic peculiarities of publicistic headlines.

- we have explained ways of translation the publicistic headlines and difficulties in translation the publicistic headlines.

- we analyzed the pragmatic functions and difficulties in translation of publicistic headlines.

We have begun with the definition of the publicistic headlines and their classification and structure. It is difficult evidence because of inhomogeneous tasks and conditions of communication and in general of peculiarities of extra linguistic base. Although about language and style of publicistic is written a lot of special functional – stylistic investigation of this style have began not long ago. Publicistic is a literature on actual, social, political themes. Publicistic style has spoken varieties, in particular the oratorical sub-style. The new spoken varieties are the radio commentary, the essay and articles.

Publicistic style is also characterized by brevity of expression. Galperin states that the publicistic style became discernible as a separate style in the middle of the 18^th century. The basic aim of the publicistic style is to exert an influence on public opinion, to convince the reader or the listener that the interpretation given by the writer or speaker is correct and to make them accept his or her views though logical argumentation and emotional appeal. The style of newspaper headlines studied as a restricted language. Headline is the title of a newspaper article printed in letters especially at the top of the front page. The general definition of headline is a short summary of the most important items of news read at the beginning of a news programme on the radio or television. Headlines very often contain emotionally colored words and phrases. The characteristic features of headlines are the most condensed piece of information on minimum of space. Headline is the most basic text – organizing tool used to invite the reader to become involved with the publication. English headlines are short and catching.

Thus, this research has given us the idea of headlines. Headline is a dependent form of news paper writing. It is in fact a part of a larger whole. The specific functional and linguistic features of the headline provide sufficient ground for isolating and analyzing it as a specific “genre” of journalism.