英语听力—环球英语 1360 Traditional Japanese Clothing
时间:2018-12-19 作者:英语课 分类:环球英语 Spotlight
英语课
Voice 1
Welcome to Spotlight 1. I'm Christy VanArragon.
Voice 2
And I'm Joshua Leo. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 1
In Tokyo Japan, a group of men and women walk down a city street. People stop and look at them. They are all wearing beautiful clothing. Long sleeves 2 cover their arms. On some wearers, the sleeves are very long – they go to the ground. Some of the clothing is covered in pictures – flowers, mountains and birds. Some are patterned with geometric shapes. Others are simply coloured. The clothing wraps 4 around the wearers' bodies. So what is happening? What makes these clothes so special? Today's Spotlight is on the history of this special clothing – Japanese kimono.
Voice 2
These people are part of a celebration 5 of traditional Japanese clothing - Tokyo Kimono Week! Each year, this two week festival shows people the history and future of kimono clothing. It celebrates kimono through the parade 6 that we just described. There is also a clothing show, a musical concert, and events that show people how to wear the kimono.
Voice 1
The kimono is the traditional clothing for both men and women in Japan. It is a simple, straight sided piece of clothing. It is shaped like a T. Wearers wrap 3 the kimono left side over right. Then, they tie it closed with an obi – a long, thin piece of cloth. Kimono may be covered with beautiful pictures, or simply coloured or patterned. Kimono can have many layers, or just one or two. This depends on the event and person wearing it.
Voice 2
For example, at an important event, young, unmarried 7 women wear the most detailed 8 kimono. Their kimono are covered in pictures, and have very bright colours. Unmarried women also wear kimono with very long sleeves. These sleeves are much longer and bigger than the wearer's arms. After a woman is married, her kimono sleeves are much shorter.
Voice 1
The pictures and colours on a kimono also have special meaning. Pictures from nature are very popular. A crane 9 bird means 10 a long life and good luck. Pictures of cherry fruit flowers are only worn 11 in spring. Bamboo and pine trees are for winter. Purple is a colour for love. And white is a traditional colour for funerals 12.
Voice 2
People have worn kimono in Japan since the sixteenth century. This was a time of great peace and wealth in Japan. Before this time, kimono were a kind of underwear 13 - worn under trousers and a coat. Over time, the kimono became the outside clothing. At first, samurai were the main wearers of kimono. But as the middle class grew richer, they began to wear kimono too. And as they had more money, the kimono became more beautiful. Through their clothing, people were expressing themselves, and showing their wealth.
Voice 1
This troubled the ruling class. They were worried that the social order would fall. So they made strong rules about the kimono - about the cloth, colours and designs permitted 14. People found ways to avoid these rules - for example, by wearing the banned colour red under their clothing. During this time, the style and kind of kimono changed and developed.
Voice 2
Silk cloth was especially important. It was only permitted for some people. Silk cloth is made from silk worms 15. These insects produce very fine, thin ropes or threads. People gather the threads and make them into cloth. They dye 16 the threads with rich colours. Cloth produced this way costs a lot of money and is very beautiful.
Voice 1
Then, in 1853, the social order did change. There was pressure from the United 17 States for more trade. And there was pressure in the country too. A new government pushed for modernization 18. And some men started to wear western style clothes, especially for business. However, most people still wore kimono at home. And it was still the usual choice for women. Before this, the word kimono simply meant "the thing worn" - it was a word for all clothes, because everyone wore kimono. But now, kimono meant traditional clothes.
Voice 2
During this time, there were two other important changes. New technology made silk-making easier and less costly 19. Different kinds of patterns were possible. And because of the government changes, anyone was permitted to wear silk kimono. This made silk kimono very popular among women. Every woman could wear beautiful, patterned kimono!
Voice 1
Finally, new trade shared kimono, and Japan, with the world. Kimono became popular in London and New York. And people everywhere connected kimono with Japan. Kimono became a symbol of Japan. But just as kimono influenced the west, in Japan kimono colours and pictures were influenced by western designs.
Voice 2
However, since that time, people have stopped wearing the kimono very much in Japan. This was particularly true after World War Two. More and more people chose western style clothes. Collectors began to save old kimono for their beauty and history. Some people believed that the kimono would disappear completely 20.
Voice 1
But this has not happened! People still wear kimono for formal events - like marriage ceremonies and funerals. They also wear them for traditional activities, like the tea ceremony. These traditional kimono also cost a lot of money. Trained experts show men and women how to wrap and tie these kimono. Some women even attend special classes to learn the skill. Because of this, people see kimono as an important part of culture. They are worn less, but they have more meaning!
Voice 2
Events like Tokyo Kimono Week celebrate this cultural history. But some people also hope to bring kimono back as normal clothing - not just for special events. These "everyday" kimono are still most popular for women. It is still common to see old women wearing them. And for young women, simple cotton kimono are easier to wear, and cost less money. Kimono also continue to influence fashion clothing designers 21. The designs show the continuing beauty of the kimono shape and cloth.
Voice 1
Kimono began as a way to express self and ideas. Today, the same thing is true. Kimono still express ideas of tradition and cultural identity 22. They are an important part of Japan's history and culture. Will they continue to be an important part of Japan's future?
Voice 2
To share your comments, and to see pictures of kimono, please visit our website at http://www.radio.english.net
.
Voice 1
The writer of today's program was Christy VanArragon. The producer was Joshua Leo. The voices you heard were from the United States. All quotes 23 were adapted for this program and voiced by Spotlight. This program is called "Traditional Japanese Clothing."
Voice 2
If you have questions or comments for Spotlight, you can email us at radio@english.net. You can also find Spotlight on Facebook. Just search for Spotlight Radio.
We hope you can join us again for the next Spotlight program. Goodbye.
1 spotlight
n.公众注意的中心,聚光灯,探照灯,视听,注意,醒目
- This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
- The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。
2 sleeves
n.衣服袖子( sleeve的名词复数 );套管;套筒;唱片套
- The long sleeves of her dress embarrassed her movements. 她衣服的长袖子妨碍她的行动。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Girls nowadays don't wear their heart on their sleeves. 如今女孩子不轻易流露自己的感情。 来自《简明英汉词典》
3 wrap
n.外套,围巾,包裹,限制,约束,秘密;vt.包装,卷,缠绕,包,裹,覆盖,遮蔽,隐藏
- You'd better wrap it with a piece of clean cloth.你最好用一块干净的布把它包起来。
- You can wrap the skirt around your waist.你可以把裙子围在腰间。
4 wraps
n.[通常为复数]外衣( wrap的名词复数 );(拍摄电影时)完成拍摄;[电影、电视]拍摄(或录音)完成;毯子v.包( wrap的第三人称单数 );覆盖;用…包裹(或包扎、覆盖等);卷起
- Tom wraps a book in a newspaper. 汤姆把书包在报纸里。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The car is being returned by truck, under wraps. 汽车正在秘密地用卡车运回。 来自辞典例句
5 celebration
n.庆祝,庆祝会;典礼
- The celebration passed off successfully.庆祝活动圆满结束。
- The celebration of Christmas is a custom.庆祝圣诞节是一种习俗。
6 parade
n.游行,炫耀,阅兵,检阅,阅兵场;v.游行,炫耀,夸耀,(使)列队行进
- She is on parade in her new dress in the street.她穿着新衣服在大街上走来走去。
- The boys loved watching the soldiers on parade.男孩子们爱看士兵们列队行进。
7 unmarried
adj.未婚的,单身的
- Though he is forty,he is still unmarried.尽管他已经40岁了,但还是独身。
- I was still unmarried then.当时我还没有结婚。
8 detailed
adj.详细的,详尽的,极注意细节的,完全的
- He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
- A detailed list of our publications is available on request.我们的出版物有一份详细的目录备索。
9 crane
v.伸长(脖子);n.起重机,吊车
- We used a crane to lift the piano into the theatre.我们使用起重机将钢琴搬进剧场。
- Must we wait till the crane arrives before we start loading?非要等起重机来了才能装运吗?
10 means
n.方法,手段,折中点,物质财富
- That man used artful means to find out secrets.那人使用狡猾的手段获取机密。
- We must get it done by some means or other.我们总得想办法把它干完。
11 worn
adj.用旧的,疲倦的;vbl.wear的过去分词
- The child's trousers have worn through at the knees.孩子裤子的膝盖处磨破了。
- My shoes are worn out.我的鞋子穿坏了。
12 funerals
葬礼,丧礼( funeral的名词复数 )
- Dad, nominally a Methodist, entered Churches only for weddings and funerals. 爸名义上是卫理公会教徒,可只去教堂参加婚礼和葬礼。
- They danced at weddings and wailed at funerals. 他们在办喜事的时候跳舞,在办丧事的时候哭泣。
13 underwear
n.衫衣,内衣,贴身衣
- He had removed his underwear.他已脱去了内衣。
- They left off their woollen underwear when the weather got warm.天气转暖的时候,他们不再穿羊毛内衣。
14 permitted
允许( permit的过去式和过去分词 ); 许可; 许用
- Radios are not permitted in the library. 图书馆内不许使用收音机。
- Entrance is permitted only on production of a ticket. 出示门票才可进入。
15 worms
计算机网络"蠕虫"(可自我复制但无危害)
- Worms have a lifespan of a few months. 蠕虫的寿命为几个月。
- birds looking for worms 觅食蠕虫的鸟
16 dye
n.染料,染色;v.染,染色
- Black will dye over other colours.黑色能把大多数其他颜色盖住。
- This material does not dye well.这料子染不好。
17 united
adj.和谐的;团结的;联合的,统一的
- The whole nation is closely united.全国人民紧密团结。
- The two men were united by community of interests.共同的利益使两个人结合在一起。
18 modernization
n.现代化,现代化的事物
- This will help us achieve modernization.这有助于我们实现现代化。
- The Chinese people are sure to realize the modernization of their country.中国人民必将实现国家现代化。
19 costly
adj.昂贵的,价值高的,豪华的
- It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
- This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用,左不过贵了些。
20 completely
adv.完全地,十分地,全然
- She never completely gave up hope.她从不完全放弃希望。
- I feel completely in the dark on this question.这件事使我感到茫然。
21 designers
n.设计师( designer的名词复数 );图案设计师;打样师;制图员
- Have you seen that article about young fashion designers? 你见到了关于年轻时装设计师的那篇文章没有?
- Every moment of the fashion industry's misery is richly deserved by the designers and magazine poltroons who perpetuate this absurd creation. 时装工业每一个痛苦的时刻都是完全应该被时装设计师们…和那些使这种荒诞创造永久化的杂志懦夫领受。 来自《简明英汉词典》