Wordplay in Headlines of Media Texts as a Media Presentation Means: Teaching Aspect

The paper is devoted to a very important aspect of media literacy in training students of English as future translators. Teaching how to translate such means of media presentation of a media article as a headline based on wordplay proves to be relevant. The authors ground their point of view by considering linguocultural, stylistic, translation, and teaching aspects of media texts. In this connection a sequence of exercises reflecting the process of creating wordplay in headlines was elaborated. Future translators should be aware that the choice of a translation method depends on the features of a headline, its structure, background information, and the author's purport. These components determine the four stages of teaching interpretation and translation of wordplay in headlines for media articles featuring social and political issues. A translation algorithm based on the sequence of analysis and synthesis procedure is worked out to enable both students and teachers to develop necessary skills for translating headlines under consideration. The emphasis is laid on types of connotations revealed in the selected types of media articles which requires certain background knowledge to provide an adequate translation and, consequently, accurate spreading of information by means of translated media texts. The authors draw the conclusion about the role of teaching translation of media texts headlines for enhancing media literacy.