【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)

Finn: Err¹, Neil?

(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 primitive² noises – early and simple sounds – that our evolutionary³

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 vocal⁴ anatomy⁵ 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 smacking⁶ – rapidly moving their

jaws⁷, lips and their tongues. And I think, Neil, it's time for another demonstration⁸

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 chords⁹ 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 bonded¹⁰ 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)

1 err   

vi.犯错误，出差错

参考例句：

• 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。

2 primitive   

adj.原始的；简单的；n.原(始)人，原始事物

参考例句：

• 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。

3 evolutionary   

adj.进化的；演化的，演变的；[生]进化论的

参考例句：

• 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。

4 vocal   

adj.直言不讳的；嗓音的；n.[pl.]声乐节目

参考例句：

• 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。

5 anatomy   

n.解剖学，解剖；功能，结构，组织

参考例句：

• 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。

6 smacking   

活泼的，发出响声的，精力充沛的

参考例句：

• 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。

7 jaws   

n.口部；嘴

参考例句：

• 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。

8 demonstration   

n.表明，示范，论证，示威

参考例句：

• 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。

9 chords   

（数学）弦( chord的名词复数 )； （乐器）弦； （音乐）和弦； 心弦

参考例句：

• 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。

10 bonded   

n.有担保的，保税的，粘合的

参考例句：

• The whisky was taken to bonded warehouses at Port Dundee.威士忌酒已送到邓迪港的保稅仓库。
• This adhesive must be applied to both surfaces which are to be bonded together.要粘接的两个面都必须涂上这种黏合剂。