VOA慢速英语 2007 0921b

HOST:

Welcome to AMERICAN MOSAIC¹ in VOA Special English.

(MUSIC)

I'm Doug Johnson. On our show this week:

We listen to some hip-hop music from Talib Kweli ‿/P>

Answer a question about American slang² ‿/P>

And report about a famous parrot.

Alex

HOST:

A talking parrot named Alex died earlier this month at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. For thirty years, Alex helped scientists learn about the brains of avians, or birds. He changed the idea that parrots can only repeat words without understanding them. Faith Lapidus has more. 

FAITH LAPIDUS:

 
Irene Pepperberg
In nineteen seventy-three, Irene Pepperberg was studying at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.  She was working to get a doctoral degree in chemistry.  Then a television program changed her plans.

The program told about how birds sing.  Miz Pepperberg completed her requirements in chemistry.  But she decided³ she would study bird recognition⁴ and communication instead.

She bought an African Grey parrot at a pet store in nineteen seventy-seven.  Miz Pepperberg called the parrot Alex.

 
Alex

She spent the next thirty years teaching⁵ Alex. The parrot learned⁶ more than one hundred words.  He could identify fifty different objects by name.  He could recognize seven colors and five shapes.

For example, when shown a group of objects, Alex could identify which ones were blue, metal or round. He could count objects to six, and was working on seven and eight when he died.  His abilities changed the way many scientists understand the avian brain.

IRENE PEPPERBERG: “What color’s smaller?‿/P>

ALEX: “Orange.‿/P>

IRENE PEPPERBERG: “Orange is right. Good boy!‿/P>

Alex seemed pleased with his abilities. Sometimes he appeared to criticize⁷ two other parrots that Miz Pepperberg was studying.  “Talk better," he would tell Arthur and Griffin.  Reseachers in Miz Pepperberg’s laboratory⁸, however, say the parrot might just have been repeating words he had heard.

Experts say Alex had the intelligence of a five-year-old child and the emotions of a two-year- old.  Miz Pepperberg said he would sometimes get angry and throw things on the floor.

Alex and Miz Pepperberg did their research at a number of America’s finest universities. They often appeared on television science programs worldwide. Irene Pepperberg published a book called “The Alex Studies‿in nineteen ninety-nine.  She says she will continue her research with Arthur and Griffin.

What Alex taught Miz Pepperberg about learning⁹ and communication has been used to help children with learning disabilities.

Slang

HOST:

Today we answer a question from a listener in Argentina.  Viktor Martinez wants to know about slang. Slang is a popular, less official and often very current form of language. It is an important part of a living language and is constantly changing as language changes. Slang is often playful, direct and sometimes less respectful¹⁰ than the more official and traditional version¹¹ of language. So now I'm going to lay it on you! To “lay it on‿is American slang for “to tell‿or “to explain.‿

Slang can take many forms. For example, slang can be local to one city or area. In Washington, D.C. there is a whole set of slang to describe politics and business in the city. For example, the term POTUS stands for President of the United States. POTUS can often be found with his wife, FLOTUS, the first lady of the United States.  “Inside the Beltway‿is a popular expression that describes the area of Washington, D.C. The beltway is the large highway that circles the city.

The Internet has helped create a whole new kind of computer-related slang. An “angry fruit salad‿is an expression that describes a Web site with too many bright colors. “Netiquette‿is slang for correct behavior when using the Internet.

Young people often develop the latest slang. For example, to say Special English “rocks‿or is “phat‿means Special English is really great. A “kegger‿ is a party where beer is served.  If something is “wack‿it is wild and crazy.

Different professions often have their own slang as well. For example, medical workers might refer to a complaining patient as a “gomer."  A “tough stick‿is someone whose veins¹² are difficult to find when he or she needs to have blood taken.

No matter how well you speak English, there are always new and interesting slang words to discover. There are entire dictionaries for describing slang. Many experts do not even agree on what is and what is not slang. Often slang words later become a part of officially accepted language. Official or not, slang is an energetic and exciting part of the American language that continues to change.

Talib Kweli

(MUSIC)

HOST:

 
Talib Kweli
That was “Get By‿ from Talib Kweli’s two thousand two album, “Quality.‿nbsp; Kweli is often called a thoughtful¹³ rapper.  Critics say his work has deeper, more intelligent messages than most rap¹⁴ songs.  The Blacksmith¹⁵ music agency¹⁶ that represents Talib Kweli says he is able to “educate and entertain‿at the same time. Katherine Cole plays more of his music.

KATHERINE COLE:

Talib Kweli has said he does not want to make what he calls “candy music‿-- music that tastes good but is not good for you. But his new album “Eardrum‿is proving popular.  Immediately after its release¹⁷ last month "Eardrum" went to the number two spot on Billboard¹⁸ magazine’s hip-hop chart. This single, “Hot Thing,‿helped put it there.

(MUSIC)

Talib Kweli has worked in the music industry for ten years.  At thirty-two, the Brooklyn, New York, native has released¹⁹ five albums. His mother, a college professor of black literature, influenced Kweli’s work greatly.  He told one reporter that she made sure he understood the power of language and of his community.

Talib Kweli released “The Beautiful Struggle‿in two thousand four.  Here is “Black Girl Pain‿from that album.

(MUSIC)                  

Talib Kweli may be feeling a little trapped by his recognition as a thoughtful rapper.  He says his next album will be called “Prisoner of Conscious.‿nbsp; We leave you now with “Country Cousins‿from “Eardrum.‿/P>

(MUSIC)

HOST:

I'm Doug Johnson.  I hope you enjoyed our program today.

It was written by Dana Demange, Jerilyn Watson and Caty Weaver²⁰, who also was our producer.

Join us again next week for AMERICAN MOSAIC, VOA’s radio magazine in Special English.

1 mosaic   

n./adj.镶嵌细工的，镶嵌工艺品的，嵌花式的

参考例句：

• The sky this morning is a mosaic of blue and white.今天早上的天空是幅蓝白相间的画面。
• The image mosaic is a troublesome work.图象镶嵌是个麻烦的工作。

2 slang   

n.俚语，行话；vt.使用俚语，辱骂；vi.辱骂

参考例句：

• The phrase is labelled as slang in the dictionary.这个短语在这本字典里被注为俚语。
• Slang often goes in and out of fashion quickly.俚语往往很快风行起来又很快不再风行了。

3 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

4 recognition   

n.承认，认可，认出，认识

参考例句：

• The place has changed beyond recognition.这地方变得认不出来了。
• A sudden smile of recognition flashed across his face.他脸上掠过一丝笑意，表示认识对方。

5 teaching   

n.教学，执教，任教，讲授；(复数)教诲

参考例句：

• We all agree in adopting the new teaching method. 我们一致同意采取新的教学方法。
• He created a new system of teaching foreign languages.他创造了一种新的外语教学体系。

6 learned   

adj.有学问的，博学的；learn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He went into a rage when he learned about it.他听到这事后勃然大怒。
• In this little village,he passed for a learned man.在这个小村子里，他被视为有学问的人。

7 criticize   

vt.批评；批判，指责；评论，评价

参考例句：

• Whenever you criticize him,he always has an excuse.你批评他，他总有说头儿。
• You are free to criticize my work.你可以随意批评我的工作。

8 laboratory   

n.实验室，化验室

参考例句：

• She has donated money to establish a laboratory.她捐款成立了一个实验室。
• Our laboratory equipment isn't perfect,but we must make do.实验室设备是不够理想，但我们只好因陋就简。

9 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。

10 respectful   

adj.恭敬的，对...表示尊敬的

参考例句：

• He is respectful to his elders.他对长辈很尊敬。
• She received guests with a respectful attitude.她恭恭敬敬地接待了客人。

11 version   

n.版本；型号；叙述，说法

参考例句：

• His version of the events is pure supposition.他对这件事的说法纯属猜测。
• What is your version of this matter?你对这件事情的看法 怎么样？

12 veins   

n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理

参考例句：

• The blood flows from the capillaries back into the veins. 血从毛细血管流回静脉。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I felt a pleasant glow in all my veins from the wine. 喝过酒后我浑身的血都热烘烘的，感到很舒服。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 thoughtful   

adj.思考的，沉思的，体贴的，关心的

参考例句：

• She is thoughtful for her friends.她很体贴她的朋友们。
• This is a thoughtful essay.这是一篇具有思想性的随笔。

14 rap   

n.轻敲，拍击，责骂，厉声说出，说唱音乐，谈话，最少量；vi.轻敲，敲门，表演说唱音乐，畅谈；vt.抓，抢，拍击

参考例句：

• I heard a rap on the door.我听到有轻轻的敲门声。
• Today we are going to rap about relationships.今天我们要聊聊关系的问题。

15 blacksmith   

n.铁匠，锻工

参考例句：

• The blacksmith is hammering the red-hot metal.铁匠正在锤烧红的铁。
• The blacksmith forged a bar of iron into a hook.铁匠把一根铁条锻造成一个钩子。

16 agency   

n.经办；代理；代理处

参考例句：

• This disease is spread through the agency of insects.这种疾病是通过昆虫媒介传播的。
• He spoke in the person of Xinhua News Agency.他代表新华社讲话。

17 release   

vt.发布，发表，发行；释放，放开

参考例句：

• After my examination I had a feeling of release.考完试后我有如释重负之感。
• This medicine will give you release from pain.这药吃后会解除你的疼痛。

18 billboard   

n.布告板，揭示栏，广告牌

参考例句：

• He ploughed his energies into his father's billboard business.他把精力投入到父亲的广告牌业务中。
• Billboard spreads will be simpler and more eye-catching.广告牌广告会比较简单且更引人注目。

19 released   

v.释放( release的过去式和过去分词 )；放开；发布；发行

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
• With hindsight it is easy to say they should not have released him. 事后才说他们本不应该释放他，这倒容易。

20 weaver   

n.织布工；编织者

参考例句：

• She was a fast weaver and the cloth was very good.她织布织得很快，而且布的质量很好。
• The eager weaver did not notice my confusion.热心的纺织工人没有注意到我的狼狈相。