EZCNN 易英网

Tribe: Tradition Meets Modernity 化外之民

課文朗讀

課文中英文講解

繁體中文譯本

Across our vast planet, there are tribes who embody the values and traditions of their long-departed ancestors. They try to maintain the values of the past, though they are influenced by modern life. This month, Discovery Channel takes a look at a few tribes from across the globe and examines their struggle between the old and new in Tribe.

在广大地球各地，有些部落仍谨守老祖先留下来的价值观及传统。即使受到现代生活的影响，他们依旧试着保有过去的价值观。这个月，Discovery频道的《化外之民》将带领观众探看地球上一些部族，并检视他们在过去与现代间的挣扎。

The Adi people call the foothills of the Himalayas between India and Tibet their home. Unsurprisingly, given their isolation, they have very little contact with the outside world. The Adi men are skilled carpenters. All they need for building a house is a long, sharp knife. It’s the men’s job to cultivate the land, and to hunt and trap animals. Living off the land is a way of life that has sustained them for generations.

艾帝族人（Adi）居住于印度及西藏间的喜马拉雅山山麓。因为离群索居，他们理所当然很少与外界互动。艾帝男人是技艺精巧的木匠，只需要一把锐利长刀便可建造一栋房子。耕田、打猎、捕捉动物是男人的工作。生活所需皆取诸于大地是他们世代相传的生存方式。

The belief that all nature is controlled by spirits rules over the lives of the Adi. A ritual sacrifice is performed to keep the spirits happy. The shamans, who act as guides to the spirit world, were once well-respected in the Adi village. But today, these beliefs are being replaced by Christian ideas. Also modern homes are taking the place of traditional ones. These innovations may ease the daily burden on the Adi people, but at what cost to their traditional way of life?

自然万物皆受神灵掌控的这种信念，主宰着艾帝人的生活。艾帝人举行祭典来取悦神灵。扮演通往神灵世界向导的巫师，曾在艾帝人村落中深受尊重。但今日，这些信仰已被基督教取代，现代住家也取代了传统住所。这些创新事物或许可减轻艾帝人的日常生活负担，但对于他们的传统生活方式来说，又要付出哪些代价？

Vocabulary

cultivate [ˋkʌltə͵vet] v. 耕种，耕作

sustain [səˋsten] n. 维持，供养

innovation [͵ɪnəˋveʃən] n. 革新

More Information

modernity [mɑˋdɝnətɪ] n. 现代性,现代作风

embody [ɪmˋbɑdɪ] v. 体现，使具体化

departed [dɪˋpɑrtɪd] adj. 死去的

foothill [ˋfʊt͵hɪl] n. 山麓小丘

Himalayas [hɪˋmɑljəz] n. 喜马拉雅山脉

isolation [͵aɪs!ˋeʃən] n. 孤立

skilled [skɪld] adj. 熟练的

trap [træp] v. 设陷阱捕捉

live off 以…为食,靠…为生 to obtain one's living or means of survival from something

generation [͵dʒɛnəˋreʃən] n. 世代

sacrifice [ˋsækrə͵faɪs] n.（供奉神的）牲礼，祭品；献祭

shaman [ˋʃɑmən] n. 萨满（教巫师）

take the place of 代替

ease [iz] v. 减轻，缓和

課文中英文講解

In the Darhad Valley in Outer Mongolia, some of the last nomadic people still consider traveling a way of life. In these regions, horse riding is akin to walking. If you can’t ride, you can’t do anything. As the seasons change, moving camps and bringing animal herds to new pastures are all done on horseback.

在外蒙古的达哈山谷，一些仅存的游牧民族依然认为旅行是生活的方式。在这些地区，骑马就像走路一样。如果你不会骑马，便无法做任何事。季节转换时，迁徙营账及驱赶牧群到新牧场都是在马背上完成。

Each family is responsible for their own well-being. Their livelihood depends on their herd of horses, sheep, yaks and goats. All must be kept track of, and kept safe. Wolves are a constant threat, eating two-thirds of all newborn horses. It is a tough way of life, broken only by brief movement of relief. The autumn Naadam festival is a chance for the nomadic families to gather for an entire day of contests. It is like their version of the Olympics. It is also a time for them to socialize and do business.

每一个家庭自行张罗所需，生计全仰赖其马匹、绵羊、牦牛及山羊。所有的牧群皆需被留意看照，以策安全。狼群是这些牧群的头号威胁，牠们会吃掉三分之二的新生小马。这是艰困的生存方式，仅有短暂片刻可稍事休息。秋季的纳达慕节则提供游牧家庭相聚以进行整日比赛的机会。纳达慕节是蒙古版奥运，也让这些游牧民族进行社交活动与做生意。

Today, however, as herding becomes less profitable compared to urban jobs, more and more nomads are being drawn away from their traditional way of life. Will they keep their independence, or will their last migration be a mass exit from the country to the city? Only time will tell.

然而，与都市工作相比，如今游牧利润越来越少，越来越多的游牧民族受到吸引，离开传统的生活方式。这些游牧民族是否仍能保有独立性，抑或其最后一次迁徙是大规模从乡村搬往城市呢？时间会证明一切。

−by Joe Henley

Vocabulary

be akin to 类似于…

version [ˋvɝʒən] n. 版本

socialize [ˋsoʃə͵laɪz] v. 交际; 参与社交

More Information

nomadic [noˋmædɪk] adj. 游牧的

pasture [ˋpæstʃɚ] n. 牧草地

well-being [ˋwɛlˋbiɪŋ] n. 舒适; 健康; 幸福

livelihood [ˋlaɪvlɪ͵hʊd] n. 生活；生计

yak [jæk] n. 牦牛

keep track of: 记录…掌握…的线索 to continue to be informed or know about someone or something

threat [θrɛt] n. 威胁，恐吓

tough [tʌf] adj. 艰困的

relief [rɪˋlif] n.（痛苦，负担等的）缓和

profitable [ˋprɑfɪtəb!] adj. 有利润的,有利益的,赚钱的

nomad [ˋnomæd] n. 游牧民族

migration [maɪˋgreʃən] n. 迁移；（候鸟等的）迁徙

exit [ˋɛksɪt] n. 离去

Reading Questions

1.   What changes have happened in the religious beliefs of the Adi?

A.  They perform more ritual sacrifices.

B.  Christianity is taking the place of old beliefs.

C.  They think the ruling spirit has left them.

D.  The shamans are now looked upon with respect.

2.   What is true about the Adi people and the nomads of the Darhad Valley?

A.  They both get together in the autumn for the Naadam festival.

B.  They both raise crops and hunt animals with special knives.

C.  Their traditional ways of life are both being affected by modernity.

D.  They both find it easier to herd animals using powered vehicles.

3.   Based on the article, which of the following statements is true?

A.  The nomads of the Darhad Valley are converting to Christianity

B.  The Adi men ride horses to go hunt for wolves.

C.  The Adi women are responsible for farming the land.

D.  Two-thirds of newborn horses fall prey to wolves in the Darhad valley.

4.   What saying best suits what is happening to the tribes?

A.  More haste, less speed.

B.  No time like the present.

C.  Out with the old, in with the new.

D.  Run before you can walk.

Answer