Noun Phrases Analysis

Alton Towers victim learns to walk again (BBC) 

Alton Towers - Pre modifier

victim - Header

learns to walk again - Post Modifier

This first noun phrase describes how a victim (the header and subject of the article) learns to walk again. The post modifier ‘learns to walk again enlightens the reader to what has happened to the subject. The pre modifier ‘Alton Towers’ also gives information about what the subject has been victimised by. 

The Bengali film that influenced world cinema (BBC)

The Bengali - Pre modifier

film - Header

that - Determiner 

influenced world cinema - Post modifier

The title of this article contains a lot of information about the subject and header (the film). The pre modifier notifies the reader that the film originated in Bengal (which intrigues the reader because Bengal would not normally be associated with film as, for example, Hollywood would). The determiner connects the post modifier to the header and helps the reader to determine what significance the film has.

Battle of Britain historic flypast due (BBC)

Battle of Britain historic - Header

flypast - Header

due - Post Modifier

The pre modifier in this noun phrase gives extra information about the header in that it is for the Battle of Britain and that it is historic. The header is also described as being scheduled to happen soon by the post modifier. 

On the front line in Damascus (BBC)

On- Pre modifier

the front line - Header

in - Determiner

Damascus - Post modifier

The pre modifier ‘on’ gives the reader extra information about the article (in the fact that it is from the perspective of someone on the front line). The determiner ‘in’ is used to make the link between the subject and the subject’s location.  

International Skype outage likened to plague (Popular Science)

International Skype- Pre modifier

outage - Header

likened to plague - Post modifier

This article uses two different words to describe the head word. Each word gives different information about the header. The post modifier also gives information (in this case an opinion) about the header. 

New look for birthday boy Prince Harry (Hello!)

New - Pre modifier

Look - Header

for - Determiner

birthday boy Prince Harry- Post Modifier

The header is accompanied by the pre modifier ‘new’ which gives information about the header. The determiner connects the fact that the ‘look’ belongs to ‘Prince Harry’ who is also the ‘birthday boy’. The post modifier gives two different pieces of information to the reader about the subject. 

‘Cuddling up’ Charlotte and George in first official pictures (Hello!)

‘Cuddling up’ - Pre modifier

Charlotte and George - Header

in - determiner

first official pictures - Post modifier

In this noun phrase, three words make up the header; two nouns and a connective. They are complimented by the pre modifier which shows the action that the subject has taken. The post modifier is joined by the determiner ‘in’ to show what relevance the header has to the ‘first official pictures’

M25 road rage killer a step closer to freedom (The Telegraph)

M25 road rage - Pre modifier

killer - Header

a - Determiner

step closer to freedom - Post Modifier

The pre modifier contains two different elements of information. They are about where the incident took place and the nature of the incident. The post modifier is adjoined to the header with the determiner ‘a’ in order to show how the killer is linked to being a ‘step closer to freedom’.

One point I have noticed is that the BBC utilise more fact based headlines to convey an accurate, straight to the point summary of the article to the reader before they have read the article (as you would expect the header to do).

However the less formal websites such as ‘Hello!’ and ‘The Telegraph’ use a surplus of nouns and verbs to give an exaggerated description of the basic subject of the article; prioritising drawing the reader in, over informing the reader of the article’s subject.