Chapter Four
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occasions. Example 8 rests on the interplay between the literal and
figurative meaning: the verb form squeezed out has been deliberately
selected here to follow the subject Oranje, a Dutch word which means
“orange”, and is a popular nickname of the Dutch national football team.
In the discourse of British FMRs, there are frequent references to the
football knowledge of target readers. For example, the sportswriters make
use of allusions and comparisons to the styles of play of retired footballers,
assuming, perhaps rightly, that such references will be properly
understood.
- Neymar opened the scoring in the 18th minute with a Thierry Henry-
esque finish from close range before Thiago Silva limped off with an
injury, being replaced by ex-Chelsea man David Luiz. (EXP) - There has been plenty said about the lack of fantasy in Scolari’s teams but
the free-kick delivered from 25 yards that curled and dipped beneath
Ospina’s crossbar was the equal of anything Rivellino produced in the
immortal World Cup of 1970. (IND)
Thierry Henry is a retired French footballer, who, at the turn of the
millennium, played for several years for Arsenal, a top English club. His
style of play or, more precisely, his goalscoring technique is probably well
remembered by British fans of football. The other extract is more difficult
to decode as it refers to a former Brazilian player, Roberto Rivellino,
whose team won the 1970 World Cup. This comparison will not
necessarily be appealing to many contemporary readers, perhaps with the
exception of older fans. What remains implicit here is the background
information about the player himself, his style of play and his team’s
performance in the 1970 World Cup.
Such historical references and allusions are non-existent in the
American reports under investigation. The US sportswriters, by contrast,
often feel obliged to provide basic facts about contemporary players, such
as their club affiliation or position on the field of play. This information is
conveyed through appositive noun phrases, which, according to Biber
(1988: 36), are frequently employed in texts that are marked by a small
degree of shared knowledge. Below are two examples of extracts
including appositives.
14.22-year-old Juventus star Paul Pogba clashed with Barcelona Dani
Alves and appealed for a penalty, but referee Cuneyt Cakir did not point to
the spot. (USA)- Ronaldo, the Portuguese superstar, had just set a record for most goals
scored by a player during a Champions League season. (NYT)