Lexical-Features-of-journalistic-English

TheLexicalFeaturesofJournalisticEnglish新闻英语的用词特点ContentBrevityNewlycreatedwordsNeologismRhetoricaldevicesExoticwordsSlangywordsTheimportanceoflexicalstyleinnewsThemainlexicalfeaturesinnewsLexicalstyleisaveryimportantfeatureofjournalisticEnglish.Thechoiceofdictionisthefirststepintheprocessofnewswriting,whichmaysignalthedegreeofformality,therelationshipbetweenthespeechpartners,theattitudesandtheideology（思想）ofthespeaker.TheimportanceoflexicalstyleMidget（微型的）words1)Shortwordspredominateoverlongerones.2)Singlewordsreplacephrases.1.Brevity（简洁）Compoundwords（合成词）N.+V-ing:cancer-causing,peace-keepingAdj.+V-ing:far-reaching,high-rankingN.+V-ed:crime-ridden,market-orientedEtc…Contraction（缩略词）ExampleMidget（微型的）words:CallforprobeintoUSbankingpractices——FromFinancialTimesMar.21,2010investigationContraction（缩略词）:ButNGOsinManilaworrythatrencenthard-wonimprovementsinworkingconditionsformigrantswillbesacrificedjusttokeepthememployed.——FromTimeApr.27,2009Nongovernmentalorganization(非政府组织）2.NewlycreatedwordsWiththedevelopmentofhumancivilization,journalistsoreditorssometimescreatnewwordstovividlypresentthenewlyemergingproblems,newevents,newsituationsetc.ExampleChinesetaikonauts（中国太空人）LiuBoming,ZhaizhigangandJingHaipengwavetowell-wishersbeforethelaunchofChina’sthirdmannedspacemission.——FromDailyTelegraphSept.28,2008Background：AfterShenzhouVIIcraftlaunched,theword“taikonaut”whichmeansaspacetravelerwasfrequentlymentionedinmediareportsaroundtheworld.Itappearsindictionaries,too.Taikonaut——“taikong”(space)+“naut”(traveler)3.Neologism（旧词新义）1)Wordswithextendedmeanings（引申义）Oldwordscandevelopenewmeaningsbasedontheiroldsenses.Indifferentcontexts,awordcanbeextendeddifferentlytospecificmeanings.2)TermsfromdifferentfieldsManyterminologies（专业术语）indifferentfieldsareabsorbedintonews,whicharegivenspecificmeaningstodescribesth.ExampleExtendedmeanings:Formostlargeforeigncompanies,aChinesepresenceisonlyasmallpartofworldinvestments.——FromFarEasterEconomicReviewinvestmentcourseAlso,confirmthataschooltrulyoffersthefullrangeofcoursesyou’llneedtocompleteyourdegreeatadistance,”Someinstitutionsgrosslyexaggeratetheironlinepresence”,warnsRobertTucker,…——FromU.SNews&WorldNewsThetermsfromdifferentfields：MilitarytermsThesinglemoststrikingchangehasbeentheofficialrecognitionthattheflagship（旗舰）ofthethirdterm,thepolltax,wasanerror.——FromTheTimesExampleCardinaltask（头等大事）ExampleSportstermsSomethingdramaticwasinorder.Mondalespokeupand,usingabasdetballimage,urgeda“fullcourtpress”(全场紧逼，篮球用语）onenergy.——FromTimemakegreatefforttoattractionTechnologytermsForweeksthePresidenthadseemedtodefythelawofgravity（万有引力定律）:Moreandmorevoterssaidtheydisapporvedofhisperformance,…——FromTheNewYorkTimes4.Rhetoricaldevices（修辞手法）1)Euphemism（委婉语）2)MetonymyandSynecdoche（借喻和提喻）3)Citation—literaryallusion（引用文学典故词语）eg.thepoor（1）theneedy：havingverylittlefoodandmoney（2）thedisadvantaged（3）thehave-notsExample1)Euphemism2)MetonymyWordOriginaloneMetaphoricaloneExampleDonkey驴DemocraticPartySynecdocheWordOriginaloneSynecdochewordHandsworkers手Example3)Citation—literaryallusionAchillesheelfromTheIliad(伊里亚特)deadlypointofunseenweaknessExampleInrelationtoforeignaffairsorinordertoexpressmoreclearlytheconnotationofsomewords,exoticwordsfrequentlyappearedinjournalisticwriting,whichusedtostimulatereaders’interestsandnovelty.5.ExoticWords（外来语）ExampleThefainaisahuge,well-protectedvessel,underscoringboththeaudacityandcapabilityofthebuccaneers.——FromTimeSep.26,2008Accusedofbeingaforeign-policydoveduringthe2008presidentialcampaign,Mr.Obamaisestablishinghisbonafidesonnationalsecurity.——FromTheChristianScienceMonitorAug.8,2009Pirates(海盗)KindnessAnotherfeatureInjournalisticwritingistheuseofslangywordsandexpressionsandcommonsayingsthatareconsideredmoreacceptablewhenusedsocially.6.SlangyWords（俚语）ExampleThemountingrealizationthattherealgrowthopportunityinIndialieslowerdownpricecurveisforcingmanycompaniestorejiggertheirstrategies.Retailersusedtoplacehigh-endbrandsclosetotheentranceoftheirmalls,hopingtowoocustomerstochicbrands,buttheyendedupintimidatingthemwithhighprices.…AnalystshavehypedthepotentialoftheIndianmiddleclassforalongtime,buttheyendedupreachedcriticalmass——FromNewsweekAug.31,2009AlterOverstateElegantstylesophisticatedThanks~