Investigating Complexities Caused by Journalistic Style When Translating British Newspapers' Headlines and News into Arabic Language

Abstract

This study aimed at identifying the difficulties which face translation students‘ when translating British headlines and news into Arabic language (Guardian newspaper as a model).The usage of some journalistic strategies and techniques such as lexical (deletion, etc.), syntax and transitivity (modality, etc.), in addition to rhetorical tropes as )metaphor, etc.) which has been termed as the ‘variables‘ of the study contribute to the occurrence of journalistic jargon which result in the text‘ ambiguity. News samples has been categorized into four categories (political, economic, social and sport) and has been subjected to three levels of analysis according to the mentioned variables.Analytical descriptive method of data collection has been followed which comprises tools, sample, procedures.The main findings of the study consider the usage of these ‗variables‘ is the main factor of the journalistic jargon, that results in the text‘ ambiguity.The findings of the study prove that the term jargon can be used as (specialized language concerned with a particular subject, profession, etc.), or can be defined as (a language characterized by pretentious syntax, vocabulary,etc.) which will be the focus of the study.Statistics and quantitative analysis which reflects the empirical part of the study have proved that the most problematic area of the study is economical category due to its highest usage of the journalistic jargon which indicates highest texts' complexity, while social category represents the least category regarding the usage of the jargon as journalistic style therefore it includes the easiest texts, and on the level of the variables, deletion represents the main factor that causes the journalistic jargon, while neologism the least one. The findings were not only useful to students, but also have some pedagogical implications and consequently of some values to language teachers and linguists. Based on the previously stated findings the researcher recommends that British newspapers should be considered as a good basis for language studies due to their wide variety of text- types and language styles, so they help students to use many different communicative skills and to be familiarized with important cultural knowledge of the target language which is relevant to translation.The aforesaid journalistic strategies and techniques should be included as essential part of English and translation syllabus to overcome difficulties of translating British headlines and news.