欢乐美语:The Ways of the Navojos 印第安民俗

　　INTRODUCTION TO ACT I
Today on TUNING¹ IN THE U.S.A., Robbie, Richard, and Grandpa Stewart are traveling across Arizona. Richard is looking for people and places to photograph for his book. And Robbie wants to find a topic to write about. Today they are looking for the home of the Navajo Indians, the Navajo reservation². They stop for gas and meet a young Navajo, John Begay. Robbie and John begin to talk. And then John invites the Stewarts to his house.
ACT I
John: Hello. Shall I fill it up?
Richard: [He is outside the car.] Yes, Please.
John: It’s a long way between gas stations around here. You want me to check the oil?
Richard：That will be great. Thanks. [He puts his head into the car.] Can I get you a cold soda³, Grandpa?
Grandpa: Oh, now that sounds good. I am hot and thirsty. I’ll come with you, Richard.
Richard：Robbie, do you want one?
Robbie: Sure. How about an orange soda?
Ri: Ok. [He leaves.]
John: You’ve come a long way. You have a New York State license⁴ plate on your car.
Ro: It’s my brother’s car. He’s traveling around the country. He’s taking photographs for a book about the United States.
Jo: What is he going to photograph here in northeast Arizona?
Ro: He wants to photograph the American Indians on the Navajo Indian reservation. Is it far from here?
Jo: Nope. You’re standing⁵ on it.
Ro: This is it?
Jo: All around you.
Ro: Are you an Indian?
Jo: Yes, I am. I’m a Navajo. But we don’t say just “Indian,” We now Say “Native American” or “American Indian.”
Ro: Well, hi. I’m Robbie Stewart from New York.
John: I’m John Begay. Hello.
Robbie: I saw the sign “Begay’s General Store.” Your family must own this place.
Jo: Yes, I’m very lucky. I work here every day after school and in the summers. Finding⁶ a job can be very difficult here on the reservation.
Robbie: Will you keep on working here at the store?
Jo: No. Next month I’ll stop work here. Actually, this is a special day for me. We just found out that I have received a full scholarship to the state university.
Ro: Congratulations! That’s terrific⁷! What are you going to study?
Jo: I want to become a doctor. I’d like to come back and help my people here on the reservation.
Ro: I think I want to be a writer, a reporter, maybe.
Jo: Why don’t you write about life here on the reservation?
Ro: Do you think I could understand it?
Jo: You could try. Would you and your family like to come to our house tonight? We’re having a party.
Ri: [he returns to the car.] Here’s your orange soda, Robbie.
Ri: Hi, I’m Richard Stewart.
Ro: He’s from a Navajo family. And he just invited us to his house tonight. Can we go?
Ri: We’d be honored⁸ to. Thank you.
INTRODUCTION TO ACT II
This time on TUNING IN THE U.S.A., Robbie, Richard, and Grandpa Stewart are at a giveaway--- a traditional party at a Navajo Indian home. The Begay family is celebrating its good fortune. One of the Begay children, John, will be going to college soon. He hopes to become a doctor. It is a beautiful night in the Arizona desert. Robbie talks to John Begay’s father, and he learns more about the ways of the Navajos.
ACT II
John: Father, these are the Stewarts from New York.
Mr. Begay: Hello. I’m Ned Beggay. You are welcome at our giveaway.
Grandpa: Hello, I’m Malcolm Stewart, and these are my grandsons, Richard, a photographer…
Richard: Hello.
Grandpa: And Robbie.
Robbie: Hello.
Mr. Begay: Well, please enjoy yourselves. We’ve roasted a sheep. And there’s lots of food. Make yourselves at home.
John: Father, Robbie wants to write about life here on the reservation. So I asked him to come tonight.
Mr. Begay: If you have any question, please ask me. But first, have something to eat.
Robbie: [He listens to the night sounds.] What a night!
Mr. begay: The desert is a special place.
Robbie: I mean, the stars are so bright, and the air is so clear.
Mr. Begay: There are the important things: the land, the sky, the stars, the people.
Robbie: Mr. Begay, you used a word earlier, “giveaway.” What is that?
Mr. Begay: Here among the Navajos, it is the custom to celebrate good fortune by having a party. We call it a giveaway. We give food to our friend. When a baby is born, or, like today, when we know that our son will be going to college, it’s a good time for a giveaway.
Grandpa: Your must be very proud of your son John.
Mr. Begay: We are. He will study medicine, and he will do something good among us. He will not only be a doctor.
John: Father wants me to keep on with the old ways.
Mr. Begay: And he will. John will be the first modern doctor in the family. But people in our family have practiced medicine for thousands of years.
John: There are old ways to heal⁹ a sick person. I am learning¹⁰ about those ways, too.
Mr: John’s older brother is following the old ways. He is an artist. He makes pots. And he also tells stories and makes music. He helps keep us healthy, too. He’s about to play his flute¹¹. Listen. [They listen to the beautiful sound of the flute.]

1 tuning   

n.调谐，调整，调音v.调音( tune的现在分词 )；调整；（给收音机、电视等）调谐；使协调

参考例句：

• They are tuning up a plane on the flight line. 他们正在机场的飞机跑道上调试一架飞机。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The orchestra are tuning up. 管弦乐队在定弦。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

2 reservation   

n.保留条件，限制条件；预订座位

参考例句：

• The instruction should be carried out without any reservation.应当不折不扣地执行这个指示。
• I accept your statement without reservation.我完全相信你的话。

3 soda   

n.苏打水；汽水

参考例句：

• She doesn't enjoy drinking chocolate soda.她不喜欢喝巧克力汽水。
• I will freshen your drink with more soda and ice cubes.我给你的饮料重加一些苏打水和冰块。

4 license   

n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许

参考例句：

• The foreign guest has a license on the person.这个外国客人随身携带执照。
• The driver was arrested for having false license plates on his car.司机由于使用假车牌而被捕。

5 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

6 finding   

n.发现，发现物；调查的结果

参考例句：

• The finding makes some sense.该发现具有一定的意义。
• That's an encouraging finding.这是一个鼓舞人心的发现。

7 terrific   

adj.可怕的，极好的，非常的

参考例句：

• The game was terrific.那场比赛棒极了。
• Darren drove at a terrific speed.达伦以惊人的速度驾车。

8 honored   

adj.光荣的：荣幸的v.尊敬，给以荣誉( honor的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• I hope to be honored with further orders. 如蒙惠顾，不胜荣幸。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• This is a time-honored custom. 这是一个古老的习俗。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 heal   

v.使愈合，治愈，使康复；平息(争吵等)；消除，解决(分支等)

参考例句：

• Time helped heal the old wounds.时间有助于治愈旧创伤。
• This wound will soon heal if yon keep it clean.如果你保持伤口清洁，它很快就会痊愈。

10 learning   

n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词

参考例句：

• When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
• Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。

11 flute   

n.长笛；v.吹笛

参考例句：

• He took out his flute, and blew at it.他拿出笛子吹了起来。
• There is an extensive repertoire of music written for the flute.有很多供长笛演奏的曲目。