Abstract: This thesis is aimed at analyzing translation strategies of rhetorical devices in English news headlines. The thesis presents a literature review, mainly on the definition, features and functions of news headlines and the significance of rhetorical devices in them, and discusses major rhetorical devices employed in the titles, elaborating on their value and effects. The author probes into the translation strategies of rhetorical devices including literal translation, free translation, addition and omission, and reaches a conclusion that rhetorical devices play an important role in enhancement of language expressiveness of the headlines and the strategies should be applied flexibly. Due to enormous linguistic and cultural differences, whether to maintain the original rhetorical devices should depend on the conventions of Chinese journalistic language and the acceptance of the target readers.

Key words: news headline; rhetorical device; translation strategy

CONTENTS

Abstract

摘要

1. Introduction.1

2. Literature Review1

2.1 Definitions of News Headlines 

2.2 Features and Functions of News Headlines

2.3 Significance of Rhetorical Devices in News Headlines

3. Major Rhetorical Devices in English News Headlines 3

 3.1 Metaphors

3.2 Puns

3.3 Alliterations

3.4 Allusions

3.5 Antitheses

4. Translation Strategies of Rhetorical Devices.6

4.1 Literal Translation

4.2 Free Translation

4.3 Addition

4.4 Omission

5. Conclusion . 8

Bibliography .10

Acknowledgements11