【一起听英语】猴子
猴子和人类有着密切的联系，他们的很多行为习惯都和人类有着相似的地方，今天的演播室来了一位特殊的嘉宾——猴子
Finn: Hello, I’m Finn. This is 6 Minute English and I’m joined this week by Neil. Hello Neil.
(Monkey sounds)
(Monkey sounds)
Finn: Neil, are you OK?
(Monkey sounds)
Finn: Actually that wasn't Neil, you'll be glad to know, he is safe and sound here in the
studio with me.
Neil: Hello. Yes, that wonderful sound you just heard was in fact a gelada – a kind of
monkey – which we'll be hearing more from later in the programme.
Finn: Yes. Could the gelada monkey provide an important clue about the development of
human language? But first, as always, we have a question. Neil – could you please
tell me what geladas eat?
a) fish
b) grass
c) ice-cream
Neil: Well, I can see you're trying to trap me with ice-cream here, because the name of
the monkey sounds like the Italian word for ice-cream. So, I'm not that stupid, I'm
going to go for 'b', grass.
Finn: Wonderful knowledge of Italian there Neil. Don't worry I'm not trying to make a
monkey out of you – I'm not trying to make you look stupid. Now let's listen to the
gelada monkey again. How would we describe that sound?
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2013
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(Gelada monkey gurgling)
Neil: Well, it sounds a bit like a gargle – a gargling noise.
Finn: Yes, it does. Gargle is a great word because it's an example of what we call
onomatopoeia – a word which sounds like its meaning. Neil, gargle is the word,
could you please demonstrate a gargle?
Neil: (Neil gargles)
Finn: Very good. Neil is gargling – and the sound it makes is a gargle. That's lovely!
Neil: Can I stop now?
Finn: Yes, you can stop now. Thank you very much. How about another quick example of
onomatopoeia:
(Clicks mouse)
A click. Listen again. Click.
Neil: Or this, oops:
(Crash sound)
A crash.
Finn: Now, anyway, let's get back to the gargling monkey. Behind the fun sound is some
serious science - about the origins, or beginnings, of human speech.
Neil: Scientists from the University of Michigan believe that these gelada calls might be
similar to the primitive 2 noises – early and simple sounds – that our evolutionary 3
ancestors made, that is – what we, humans, were before we developed into modern
humans.
Finn: Dr Thore Bergman, who was the main author of the study, said that geladas make
sounds which have "speech-like properties" – they have qualities which are like…
speech.
Neil: And the interesting thing is – most monkeys and apes can only make the most basic
noises because they don't have the vocal 4 anatomy 5 required – that is they don't
have the physical mouth and throat parts needed – to make more complex sounds.
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2013
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Finn: All other monkeys and apes can do is called lip smacking 6 – rapidly moving their
jaws 7, lips and their tongues. And I think, Neil, it's time for another demonstration 8
please.
Neil: (Neil making lip smacking noises)
Finn: Lip smacking, very nice.
Neil: The gelada, on the other hand, is the only one that can produce vocalisations – or
sounds from the vocal chords 9 in the throat while doing this.
Finn: That’s it! So – lip smacking and vocalisations – together are maybe a possible step
between the sounds of other monkeys – and human speech.
Neil: Though there is a question – the scientists don't know yet what the noises mean
exactly. They believe the noises might be used the way humans use small talk –
chatting about things that are not really important – to help the monkey societies
feel more closely bonded 10 or connected.
Finn: That’s right, so, small talk, things like saying: "Fine day, isn't it?"
Neil: "Not bad, not bad. How are the kids, Finn?"
Finn: "Oh yeah, keeping me awake all night."
Neil: "Oh yes, I know the feeling."
Finn: Or as you would say in gelada:
(Gelada gargle)
Finn: I think that's quite enough monkey business for one day – quite enough of us
being silly, wouldn't you say? Neil, earlier I asked you what geladas eat. Was it:
a) fish
b) grass
c) ice-cream
Neil: And I am not stupid so I'm going to go for 'b' grass.
Finn: And you're right, they are herbivores, they eat grass. Anyway, before we go let's run
through the words and phrases one more time.
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2013
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Neil: gargle
onomatopoeia
origins
primitive noises
evolutionary ancestors
vocal anatomy
lip smacking
vocalisations
small talk
monkey business
Finn: Thanks Neil. Sadly, it's time to go. So please join us again soon for more 6 Minute
English from BBC Learning English.
Both: (Gargle)
- He did not err by a hair's breadth in his calculation.他的计算结果一丝不差。
- The arrows err not from their aim.箭无虚发。
- It is a primitive instinct to flee a place of danger.逃离危险的地方是一种原始本能。
- His book describes the march of the civilization of a primitive society.他的著作描述了一个原始社会的开化过程。
- Life has its own evolutionary process.生命有其自身的进化过程。
- These are fascinating questions to be resolved by the evolutionary studies of plants.这些十分吸引人的问题将在研究植物进化过程中得以解决。
- The tongue is a vocal organ.舌头是一个发音器官。
- Public opinion at last became vocal.终于舆论哗然。
- He found out a great deal about the anatomy of animals.在动物解剖学方面，他有过许多发现。
- The hurricane's anatomy was powerful and complex.对飓风的剖析是一项庞大而复杂的工作。
- He gave both of the children a good smacking. 他把两个孩子都狠揍了一顿。
- She inclined her cheek,and John gave it a smacking kiss. 她把头低下，约翰在她的脸上响亮的一吻。
- The antelope could not escape the crocodile's gaping jaws. 那只羚羊无法从鱷鱼张开的大口中逃脱。
- The scored jaws of a vise help it bite the work. 台钳上有刻痕的虎钳牙帮助它紧咬住工件。
- His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
- He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。
- These are the opening chords of a sonata. 这些是奏鸣曲的起始和弦。
- I could play a few chords on the guitar and sing a song. 我能弹着一些击他和弦唱一首歌。