Uncovering intention behind the translation of headlines: a thematic structure analysis

Abstract

News headlines play a prominent role in both linguistic and extra-linguistic factors of news translation. This study aims at describing how thematic structure of news headlines represents news writer’s intention, and how this intention is transferred into the target text by the translator journalists. The data consists of news headlines from an Indonesian online news site, translated from English language news from international news wires. Using a qualitative method, the data was analyzed using Hallidayan concept of Thematic Structure, and Stiles’ Levels of Intention, and applied Spradley model of data analysis. The study highlights actors as an important element, proven by the frequent use of proper nouns, S + V clause patterns, and the very limited use of passivation. This intention was conveyed differently in the translation, as shown by changes in the thematic structure of some headline clauses, including different representations of the subject in some clauses, and changes from unmarked to marked topical themes, or vice versa, in other clauses. These indicate that the translator adapted certain intentions of the source text.

Keywords

• Headline
• intention
• news
• thematic structure
• translation
• Media & Communications