标题除偏爱使用短小动词外,还常常选用简短、字母数少的名词或名词词组。如accord与agreement, aide与assistant,aim与purpose,rally与amass assembly,drive与campaign,talk与negotiation 等。例如:
QUAKE DEATH TOLL MAY TOP 2000(=THE DEATH TOLL IN THE EARTHQUAKE MAY EXCEED 2000)地震死亡人数估计已逾两干
NEW GROUPS BOOST HI―TECH RESEARCH(=NEW GROUPS PROMOTE HIGH TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH)新兴集团推动高新技术研究
BAKER,JAPAN VISIT OFF,ARMS ISSUE HOT(=BAKER''s JAPAN VISIT IS OFF AND THE MILITARY WEAPONS ISSUE IS HOT)军备问题争论激烈贝克取消访日之行
以上这类简短名词在英语新闻标题乃至消息报道中屡见不鲜,俯拾即是。读者平时阅读时不妨多加留意,这对于提高英语水平,尤其是熟悉英语同义名词,无疑是大有裨益的。为便于读者更好地理解英语所闻标题,现再列举一些这类常见诸报端的标题小词,以备不时之需:
ace=champion(得胜者)aid=assistance(帮助)blast=explosion(爆炸)body=committee/commission (委员会)clash=controversy(机构)crash=collision(碰撞;坠毁)deal=agreement/transaction (协议/交易)dems=democrats[民主主义者;民主人士; (美国)民主党党员]envoy=ambassador(大使)fake=counterfeit(赝品;骗局)fete=celebration[庆祝(活动)]feud=strongdispute(严重分歧)flop=failure(失败)freeze=stabilization [(物价、工资等)冻结;平抑]glut=oversuPply(供过于求)GOP=Grand 0ld Party[(美国)共和党]nod=approval(许可;批准)pact=agreement/treaty (条约/协议)poll=election/publicopinion poll (投票选举/民意测验)probe=investigation(调查)pullout=withdrawal(撤退;撤离)rift=separation(隔离;分离)row=quarrel(争论;争议)set=ready(准备)snag=unexpecteddifficulty (意外障碍;意外困难)statement=dispute that cannot be settled(僵持;僵局)stance=attitude(态度)step=progress(进程;进步)strife=conflict(冲突;矛盾)ties=(diplomatic)relations [(外交)关系]