【英语趣味课堂】陆地长途旅行-Walkabout

Todd: Aaron, sometimes I hear from Australians, the term, have a walk-about, or walk-about!

 

Aaron: A walk-about is an aboriginal¹ word. It basically², means an aboriginal boy, when he is growing up goes for a long walk, maybe for twelve months, and he doesn't see his family and he has to live off the land. He can't, he doesn't have money so he can't buy food, he can't buy anything, and he just hunts for food. It's not so common now, and I've never had to do it, but it's more of an old story from the aborigines who tell you about a walk-about.

 

Todd: Do you know anybody who's ever done it?

 

Aaron: No, I've never know anybody to do it, but I don't know if it's a true story or, I don't think it's common now, but maybe in the old days, maybe a hundred years ago, it was common for them to do it, but now they don't. 

 

Todd: So, there's lots of different aboriginal people in Australia. Where does, which aboriginal tribe³ does this come from, or group?

 

Aaron: OK, I'm not sure what tribe it comes from but the aboriginals⁴ in the Northern Territories, which is all desert are probably the most famous for it, near Darwin and the top end we way, the north of Australia, where it's very mountainous, and you could walk for a year, and never find your way anywhere. 

 

学习内容：

 

Learn Vocabulary from the lesson

walkabout

 

The aborigines tell stories about a walkabout.

 

Typically a 'walkabout' is an informal walking tour which is usually done by important people in the community and is done so that they can be seen by the public. The way that Aaron uses it, however, describes an aboriginal custom for boys to become men.  The boys are sent out on their own with no money or food to survive for one year. Notice the following:

 

Walkabouts are not very common anymore.

This ceremony is the modern-day form of a walkabout.

aboriginal people

 

There are lots of different aboriginal people in Australia.

 

The 'aboriginal people' in Australia are the native or indigenous⁵ people who lived there before the land was taken as a territory of the British. Notice the following:

 

This art was made by the aboriginal people from the southern part of the country.

There are very few aboriginal people that still have the same traditions and customs as in the past.

famous for

 

The aboriginals in the Northern Territories are probably the most famous for the walkabout stories.

 

If a group of people is 'famous for' something many people know that this is something that they do. You can be famous for good or bad things. Notice the following:

 

He is famous for getting angry when things don't go how he planned.

This town is famous for its beer.

tribe

 

Which aboriginal tribe does this come from?

 

A 'tribe' is a group of people or community that has common customs or cultures. This group usually separates themselves from normal society and may have their own leaders and rules. Notice the following:

 

Before the explorers and colonialists came there were many separate tribes⁶ in the United States.

I spent last year in Panama studying the Kuna tribe.

hunt

 

He can't buy anything and he just hunts for food.

 

To 'hunt' literally⁷ means to follow an animal to kill it for food. Nowadays we also use hunt in a less specific way meaning to look for something that you need or want. Notice the following:

 

She is hunting for a new boyfriend.

Since the invention of the supermarket, hunting has become a hobby instead of a need for most people.

1 aboriginal   

adj.（指动植物）土生的，原产地的，土著的

参考例句：

• They managed to wipe out the entire aboriginal population.他们终于把那些土著人全部消灭了。
• The lndians are the aboriginal Americans.印第安人是美国的土著人。

2 basically   

adv.基本上，从根本上说

参考例句：

• His heart is basically sound.他的心脏基本上健康。
• Basically I agree with your plan.我基本上同意你的计划。

3 tribe   

n.部落，种族，一伙人

参考例句：

• This is a subject tribe.这是个受他人统治的部落。
• Many of the tribe's customs and rituals are as old as the hills.这部落的许多风俗、仪式都极其古老。

4 aboriginals   

（某国的）公民( aboriginal的名词复数 )； 土著人特征； 土生动物（或植物）

参考例句：

• He remained fascinated by the Aboriginals' tales. 他一直对澳大利亚土著居民的传说极感兴趣。
• They drove the aboriginals out of their lands at sword point. 他们以武力将土著人赶出他们的家园。

5 indigenous   

adj.土产的，土生土长的，本地的

参考例句：

• Each country has its own indigenous cultural tradition.每个国家都有自己本土的文化传统。
• Indians were the indigenous inhabitants of America.印第安人是美洲的土著居民。

6 tribes   

n.部落( tribe的名词复数 )；（动、植物的）族；（一）帮；大群

参考例句：

• tribes living in remote areas of the Amazonian rainforest 居住在亚马孙河雨林偏远地区的部落
• In Africa the snake is still sacred with many tribes. 非洲许多部落仍认为蛇是不可冒犯的。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 literally   

adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实

参考例句：

• He translated the passage literally.他逐字逐句地翻译这段文字。
• Sometimes she would not sit down till she was literally faint.有时候，她不走到真正要昏厥了，决不肯坐下来。