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Tribal Life Bunlap 邦莱族的部落生活

課文朗讀

課文中英文講解

繁體中文譯本

In the South Pacific lives an isolated tribe. The people follow what their ancestors have done for thousands of years. The Bunlap people of the tiny island nation of Vanuatu know all about the outside world and its advances. However, they have chosen their own way of life, free of deadlines, rush hours, and complications. This month, Discovery Channel’s Tribal Life Bunlap will give you a close look at these amazing people.

南太平洋有一与世隔绝的部落。这里的人数千年来过着祖先遗留下的生活方式。万那杜小岛国上的邦莱人了解外头的世界与外界的进步，但他们选择了自己的生活方式：没有截稿期限、交通颠峰时间种种复杂情况。这个月Discovery频道的《邦莱族的部落生活》将会让你更贴近这些令人惊奇的民族。

The Bunlap live in close association with the land. They grow yams and taro to sustain them, and get what else they need from the jungle around them and the sea. Each May, the yams are harvested. Growing the biggest ones is a matter of great pride, and much boasting goes on about who is the best farmer. After digging up the yams, the men divide up the biggest ones, while the women take the rest.

邦莱人与土地关系密切。他们种植甘薯和芋头作为主食，并从周遭丛林和大海取得其他生活所需。每年五月是甘薯收成时期，种出最大的甘薯是件无比荣耀的事，大家以成为最棒的农夫为荣。挖出甘薯后，男性均分最大的甘薯，而女性只能拿剩下的。

The Bunlap society is patriarchal. A man may take up to as many as five wives, depending on his rank in the tribe. However, everything is informal. If there is cause for a divorce, the woman may simply leave. There are neither courts nor lawyers. It is a simple way of life that reminds us of simpler times.

邦莱社会为父权制，男性最多可娶五位妻子，视他在部落的地位而定。但这里所有事都不须太拘泥。如果有任何离婚理由，妻子只要离开即可构成离婚。不用法庭，也不用律师。这是种简单的生活方式，使我们想起过去较淳朴的年代。

Vocabulary

complication [͵kɑmpləˋkeʃən] n. 纠纷；混乱；复杂（化）

sustain [səˋsten] v. 维持，供养

divorce [dəˋvors] n. 离婚

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isolated [ˋaɪs!͵etɪd] adj. 孤立的

ancestor [ˋænsɛstɚ] n. 祖宗，祖先

advance [ədˋvæns] n. 进步；进展

deadline [ˋdɛd͵laɪn] n. 截止期限，最后限期

association [ə͵sosɪˋeʃən] n. 结合

yam [jæm] n. 甘薯﹐番薯

taro [ˋtɑro] n. 芋头

harvest [ˋhɑrvɪst] v. 收割；收获

boast [bost] v. 自吹自擂；夸耀

divide up 分配,瓜分

patriarchal [͵petrɪˋɑrk!] adj. 由男性控制[统治]的

rank [ræŋk] n. 等级；地位

informal [ɪnˋfɔrm!] adj. 非正式的，非正规的

neither ... nor .. 既不...也不...

remind [rɪˋmaɪnd] v. 使想起，使记起[（+of）]

課文中英文講解

The Bunlap men spend their days cultivating and harvesting their crops, or fishing out at sea.Meanwhile, the women tend to the children and to matters of the village. At night, the men relax and drink a potent drink made from kava, while the women cook the day’s spoils. They all look forwards to one time of the year, when the normal routine is interrupted by a very important festival. More than that, it’s also a death-defying display of courage.

邦莱男性白天时种植、收成谷物，或者到海里捕鱼。同时，女性照料孩童和村里的事务。夜间，男性休息，饮用着卡瓦植物做成的强烈饮品；女性则烹煮男性白天的收获。他们都引颈期盼每年的某个时节，届时正常作息都暂时停摆，展开一个非常重要的节庆。不只如此，这节庆也是种挑战死亡的勇气象征。

They call it land diving. Every year, the men spend a week skillfully constructing a hundred-foot tower with platforms on top. Whichever man jumps from the highest platform will be a hero to everyone in the village, and all the women will be attracted to him. It is like low-tech bungee jumping. The men plunge toward the ground with only jungle vines tied to their ankles, hopefully preventing them from crashing head-first into the forest floor.

他们称之为「陆上弹跳」。每年，男性会花一星期时间，熟练地建筑一个高约100英呎的塔，塔上有一些平台。只要从最高的平台跳下，这男人将成为全村的英雄，并受全村女性的爱慕。这就像是简陋的高空弹跳。男人只在脚踝绑上藤蔓，就纵身往地面跳，但愿藤蔓能让他们的头不要先撞上地面。

Before the jump, the contenders all have to be away from their wives, for the jump is to pay tribute to the women. It is a joyous time for the whole village. They could easily change their ways and follow the pace and customs of the modern world. Nevertheless, they don’t, because this is their way, and the only way for the Bunlap.

参加这项活动之前，所有参赛者必须暂别妻子，因为这弹跳活动是为了向女性致敬。这节庆是全村欢乐的时光。邦莱村民可轻易改变他们的生活方式，追随现代社会的步调及风俗。但他们没有，因为这是邦莱村民的生活方式，也是唯一的生活方式。

−by Joe Henley

Vocabulary

cultivate [ˋkʌltə͵vet] v. 耕种，耕作

plunge [plʌndʒ] v. 跳（入）；冲

joyous [ˋdʒɔɪəs] adj. 快乐的；高兴的; 令人愉快的

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meanwhile [ˋmin͵hwaɪl] adv. 其间；同时

tend [tɛnd] to: 【口】注意，关心[（+to）]to have the care of; watch over; look after

potent [ˋpotnt] adj.（药等）有效力的，有效能的

spoil [spɔɪl] n. 战掠物

defy [dɪˋfaɪ] v. 公然反抗

bungee jumping  绑紧跳﹐笨猪跳﹐蹦极跳

vine [vaɪn] n. 藤，藤蔓

crash [kræʃ] v.（发出猛烈声音地）碰撞

contender [kənˋtɛndɚ] n. 争夺者；竞争者

pay tribute to:  对...表示赞赏或敬意  to salute

Reading Questions

1. What can be said about the Bunlap legal system?

A. That it is very structured.

B. That religious beliefs are used to deal with criminals.

C. That it is an informal affair.

D. That all problems are decided by the tribal chief.

2. The Bunlap tribe lives off of _____.

A. goods imported from other countries

B. foods they catch in the sea, find in the jungle, or cultivate

C. potent drink made from kava

D. yams and taro only

3. Which of the following statements about the Bunlap tribe is true?

A. The women are responsible for dividing up the yams.

B. The men take care of matters of the village during the day.

C. The men jump from platforms as a tribute to the women.

D. The Bunlap have very little idea about what’s going on in the outside world.

4. What can be inferred from this article?

A. The Bunlap need to change their ways and join the world.

B. For the Bunlap, modern conveniences are not necessary to lead a happy life.

C. The majority of the Bunlap men die when they go land diving.

D. Divorce is a very rare thing in the Bunlap society.

live off: 以…為食,靠…為生 to obtain one's living or means of survival from someone or something

Land-Diving in Vanuatu

Answer