Taiwanese Design: “Very Well-made in Taiwan” 台湾设计亮起来
- 详细资料
- 创建于 2007年8月03日
- 最后更新于 2024年5月25日
- 发布于 2012年1月14日
- 作者：Mike Lee
- 点击数：233
课文朗读
课文讲解
In the 1960s, the phrase “Made in Taiwan” was often associated with cheap goods, but a lot has changed since then. Today, Taiwan has built a new reputation for designing stylish products that have a unique Taiwanese flavor. In the past five years, Taiwanese designers have won over 100 awards at trade shows around the world.
1960年代，「台湾制造」常和廉价商品联想在一起，但情况已大为改观。如今，台湾以制造独特、富台湾味的时髦商品而建立起新名声。这五年来，台湾设计师在全球各地的贸易展已赢得一百多项奖。
The process of design goes beyond creating imitation products and simple manufacturing. It means coming up with original or novel ideas and creating a stylish look or feel that consumers will enjoy. For example, Taiwanese company Kiddie’s Paradise combined creative modern design with ancient Chinese cultural ideas to develop the Tai Chi ball. The cleverly-designed toy features a curved track with a smaller ball inside. Children must keep the smaller ball inside rolling along the track. It is entertaining, and it improves both balance and hand-eye coordination.
设计的过程并非仅是创作模仿性商品和简单制造，而是指发想出独创或新颖的点子，并创造出消费者会喜爱的时髦外型和感觉。例如，台湾的「童心园」公司结合创新的现代设计和古老中国文化概念，发明了「太极球」。此款设计精巧的玩具内有曲形轨道和一颗小球，儿童必须让里面的小球在轨道上持续滚动。这不但好玩，还能增进平衡感及手眼协调。
Other designs are influenced by everyday life. During hot Taiwanese summers, night markets are visited not only by hordes of people, but also by pesky flies and mosquitoes. Some stall owners suspend plastic bags filled with water on strings or attach old CDs to the wall to scare off bugs by using reflected light. Inspired by this, a designer created a light suspended in a plastic bag filled with water. The bag is specially designed so as not to let the water cause an electrical problem. The product serves as an elegant light for your dinner table.
其他设计则受日常生活影响。在炎热的台湾夏季，夜市里不但人潮众多，还有许多讨厌的蚊蝇。一些摊贩们用绳子绑上水袋后将其悬吊，或在墙上黏贴旧光盘片，运用「光反射」来驱赶蚊虫。一名设计师因此获得灵感，创发了一种吊在塑料水袋里的灯。这种袋子经过特殊设计，让里面的水不会引起漏电。该产品可当作餐桌上的典雅照明。
Vocabulary
单词发音
stylish [ˋstaɪlɪʃ] adj. 时髦的，流行的
come up with (针对问题等)想出; 提供
entertaining [͵ɛntɚˋtenɪŋ] adj. 有趣的
suspend [səˋspɛnd] v. 悬挂
More Information
单词发音
coordination [koˋɔrdn͵eʃən] n. 协调
horde [hord] n. 群；一大群（人或动物）
pesky [ˋpɛskɪ] adj.【美】【口】麻烦的；讨厌的
stall [stɔl] n. 货摊，摊位
课文朗读
课文讲解
Another Taiwanese company, Kedo has solved a minor annoyance for tea drinkers. Quite often, a teabag’s paper tag falls in the water and is difficult to fish out. Kedo eliminated this frustration by adding a button-shaped hook to the side of its cups. It keeps the tag in place, allowing tea drinkers to finally enjoy their morning tea in peace.
另外一家名为「桔思」的台湾公司替饮茶者解决了一个小问题。茶包的纸标签常会掉进茶水里，很难捞出来。「桔思」在杯侧加上一个钮扣形状的钩扣，去除了这个困扰。这个钩扣能固定卷标的位置，让饮茶者终于可以在早上起床后好好喝茶。
Researching customers’ needs has helped Taiwanese manufacturer BenQ improve its designs. When developing new devices for the Chinese market, BenQ researchers rode trains from Guangzhou to Beijing and studied people using MP3 players. They discovered that many people complained about the short battery life of their players. BenQ wasted no time designing an MP3 player that featured on-the-fly charging and a swappable battery, and sales went through the roof!
研究顾客需求已帮助台湾制造商「明基」改进其设计。「明基」在中国市场开发新产品时，其研究人员从广州搭火车到北京，一路上研究MP3播放器的使用者。他们发现许多人抱怨播放器的电池寿命太短。于是「明基」立刻设计了一款充电快速又可换装电池的MP3播放器，销售量于是扶摇直上。
The focus on design has also greatly increased Taiwan’s exports to foreign markets. In the past decade, high-tech companies like Acer have created elegant laptops and made a name for themselves. They now compete with giants such as Sony and Samsung.
专注于设计还大大提升台湾的外销。这十年来，「宏碁」等高科技公司已制造出外型雅致的笔记本电脑，扬名国际。他们现在可与「新力」和「三星」等科技大厂一争长短。
Better designs have boosted sales, improved customer satisfaction, and built brand recognition for many Taiwanese companies. The new emphasis on quality has served them well. Consumers these days are willing to pay a pretty penny for practical, attractive and well-known brands. By purchasing Taiwanese designs, they’re sure to get their money’s worth.
更佳的设计提升了销售量，增进顾客满意度，也替许多台湾公司建立品牌知名度。近来对质量的注重为这些公司带来好处。现今的消费者愿意花大钱购买实用、吸引人的名牌产品。购买台湾厂商设计的产品，一定会觉得物超所值！
−by Jamie Blackler
Vocabulary
单词发音
eliminate [ɪˋlɪmə͵net] v. 排除; 消除
research [rɪˋsɝtʃ] v. 研究
device [dɪˋvaɪs] n. 装置
boost [bust] v. 提高；增加
recognition [͵rɛkəgˋnɪʃən] n. 知名度; 识别
More Information
单词发音
annoyance [əˋnɔɪəns] n. 使人烦恼的事
fish out 掏出; 拖出 to pull something out of some place
button [ˋbʌtn] n. 钮扣，扣子
hook [hʊk] n. 钩，挂钩
waste no time 不会浪费时间; 赶紧.. to immediately begin an activity
on-the-fly 飞快地进行的 on the run; in a hurry
swappable [ˋswɑpəb!] adj. 可插拔的; 可交换的
go through the roof 扶摇直上 to increase to a very high level
serve [sɝv] v. 对……有用 promote, benefit, or be useful or beneficial to
a pretty penny 许多钱，相当多的钱 a lot of money
get one’s money’s worth 花钱合算 to receive good value for the amount you have paid
Reading Questions
1. The word “novel” in the second paragraph is the closest in meaning to _____.
A. central
B. new
C. basic
D. odd
2. What is the difference between modern Taiwanese products and those from the past?
A. Taiwanese products used to cost more, but now they are a little bit cheaper.
B. People used to like Taiwanese products, but now they don’t.
C. Taiwanese products were cheap, but now they are designed very well.
D. Taiwanese products were sold around the world, but now are only available in Taiwan.
3. According to the article, which is NOT a Taiwanese product?
A. The Tai Chi ball – a children’s toy.
B. A light in a bag full of water that can decorate your dinner table.
C. A cup that can keep a teabag’s paper tag in place.
D. An MP3 player that can work without electricity.
4. What is the main purpose of this article?
A. To point out why people should purchase Taiwanese products.
B. To explain why Taiwanese products are inexpensive.
C. To illustrate the excellence of Taiwanese designs.
D. To show why Taiwan is a great place for designers.
Answer
|
1. ( B ) |
2. ( C ) |
3. ( D ) |
4. ( C ) |