(1) The simple present tense adopted to indicate past and present
In order to stretch the immediacy and to give news readers sense of being up-to-the-date, the present tense is usually used, no matter the events take place in the past or at present. For example:
US Journalism suffers rough year in credibility
一年来，美国新闻界信誉下降
Obviously, this sentence is about a thing which happened in the past. But here, the Present Tense is used. When it is translated into Chinese, the past tense should be expressed clearly, otherwise, Chinese readers may be confused.
(2) The infinitives employed to indicate future
Future actions can be expressed by the pattern “be+infinitive”, among which “be” is frequently omitted to save space. When this pattern is translated into Chinese, the Chinese characters such as “将”, “要” and “会” that can indicate future should be used. For instance:
U.S. to ease technology sale to China
美将简化对华科技销售
2.3 Rhetorical Features and Translation
In order to make the language vivid, eye-catching and easy to understand, journalistic English often uses rhetorical devices. But they also put translators into a kind of dilemma that information should be truthfully transmitted to TL readers whereas the rhetorical features of news texts should also be reserved. Translators should use the communicative method and the semantic method alternately in dealing with the news texts characterized by figures of speech.
Communicative translation provides readers with the precise information embedded in news texts. Translators are supposed to associate the connotations of figures of speech with relevant news reports. Furthermore, translators need likewise polish their language to protect the original information from being distorted by readers.
Semantic translation helps retain the original style. Translators need first to conduct an in-depth study on the figures of speech, figuring out their connotations in the news context and comparing them with Chinese rhetoric. In specific procedures, translators may consider possible substitution by the same type of Chinese figures of speech. If it is far from likely to achieve, translators need resort to other rhetoric means in Chinese. In a word, translators should bring Chinese readers similar or even the same experience as English readers have had while appreciating the news texts. Of course, this kind of work must be conducted under the premise that the significance of accurate information should not be diminished.
(1) Metaphor is a rhetorical device that is often used in journalistic English. The news events can be made more vivid, concrete and distinctive. For example:
(1) “Congressional Democrats remain slightly puzzled about how to react to Bush’s strategy of proffering a velvet glove clutching a closed wallet.”
“国会中民主党人关于如何对布什的这种态度做出反应仍然带几分疑惑：他戴着一副天鹅绒手套，但却紧紧抓住钱包，不愿将它打开。”