盘点已经拥有2000年历史的十大职业(上)

 　　Ever stayed at a hotel and felt you got ripped off? This is nothing new.

　　你有过这种经历吧--曾经入住某个旅馆，然后深深地觉得自己被老板宰了，这已经不是什么稀奇事了。

　　Ancient innkeepers had such an unsavory reputation that Babylon's Code of Hamurabi from 1754 B.C.E. specified¹ that the punishment for cheating a patron who ordered a drink was death (by being thrown into the water).

　　古代客栈老板的名声一直不好，公元前1754年，古巴比伦的《汉谟拉比法典》中就详细记载着一位老板所受的刑罚，因为他隐瞒了一位顾客的死亡实情，并将其抛尸河中。

　　Perhaps you didn't know that innkeeping had been around so long. We often talk about the occupations that become obsolete², but many others have survived for centuries.

　　也许你并不知道客栈老板这个职业已经有这么长的存在历史了。我们常常会讨论那些已经消亡的职业，但是有很多职业已经存在了几个世纪，

　　Pretty much any occupation that serves a basic function – like garbage collectors, clergymen and bureaucrats³ — will likely never go away.

　　一些基础职业似乎会永远存在，比如清洁员、神职人员以及官员。

　　Curious about which occupations have stood the test of time? Here are 10 that have been in existence for at least 2,000 years, and some for much longer.

　　想知道哪些职业承受住了时间的考验？下面是十个存在时间超过了两千年的职业，其中一部分存在的时间甚至更长。

　　10.Baker⁴

　　10.烘焙师

　　Professional bakers⁶ have been around at least as far back as 3000 B.C.E., when the ancient Egyptian empire was flourishing.

　　职业烘焙师这个职业至少可追溯到公元前3000年，那时古埃及王国还处于繁盛时期。

　　Artwork on ancient tombs, statuettes and other Egyptian artifacts depict⁷ scenes of large numbers of people kneading dough⁸ or baking loaves.

　　古代陵墓、小雕像上的艺术作品，以及别的埃及艺术绘画上描绘了很多人在揉面团、烘烤一些块状面包的场景。

　　An excavation⁹ of a Giza bakery, circa 3000 B.C.E., shows that at that time, bakers used heavy pottery¹⁰ molds to make their breads; the molds were then placed on embers to bake.

　　吉萨烘焙店的出土文物显示，约公元3000年以前，烘焙师们会用很重的陶器模具制作面包，然后会把这些模具放在灰烬上烤。

　　By about 1500 B.C.E., bakers were preparing bread in clay ovens.

　　到了公元前1500年的时候开始使用粘土做的烤炉制作面包。

　　烘焙师

　　The process involved slapping a doughy¹¹ disk onto a heated oven wall, then peeling it off when it was fully¹² baked (and before it fell into the embers below).

　　制作的过程是：把面饼贴在热炉的炉壁上烘烤，烤熟之后，在面包掉到下面的灰烬上之前把它弄下来。

　　During the Middle Ages, European bakers were governed by craft guilds¹³, which determined¹⁴ the price of a loaf of bread, fines for cheating and quality standards.

　　中世纪时，欧洲的烘焙师由手工业行会统一管理，行会统一制定每块面包的单价、规定质量标准，以及处罚欺诈行为。

　　At this point in time, people were typically eating unleavened bread. Since it was hard to chew and digest, bakers crafted these breads in thin disks that people used as plates.

　　那个时候，人们通常吃的都是未发酵面包，都很难咀嚼、消化，所以烘焙师们就把面包切成薄片当成装食物的小盘子。

　　As they ate, their bread "plates" absorbed the juices from their foods so that eventually the "plate" could be easily downed.

　　这样，人们吃东西时，这些“面包盘子”就会吸收食物中的汁液，最终也让面包更容易下咽。

　　Today, bakers still flourish, whether it's at a small cupcake shop or as part of a large chain of supermarkets.

　　如今，烘焙师依然是个热门行业，无论是在小纸杯蛋糕店，还是在大型超市的供应链上，都会有他们的身影。

　　9.Butcher

　　9.屠夫

　　It's hard to say for sure when the first professional butcher opened shop.

　　很难确定第一位职业屠夫是何时开始开店做生意的。

　　But scientists and underwater archaeologists with the University of Miami found the butchered remains¹⁵ of a giant sloth¹⁶ dating back about 12,000 years in a Florida sinkhole.

　　但是迈阿密大学的科学家以及水下建筑师们在弗罗里达的一个落水洞中发现了一只巨大的树懒于12000年前被屠宰之后的残留物。

　　Whether or not this was the work of a pro⁵, we do know butchers were in business in the ancient Roman Empire by 100 C.E.

　　无论这是不是出自一个职业屠夫之手，我们现今已知，屠夫这个职业最早始于公元100年的古罗马时代。

　　A relief sculpture from that period shows a butcher in his shop, cleaver¹⁷ in hand, hooks hanging overhead and a meat-dressing table nearby.

　　一个古罗马时期的浮雕就描绘了这样的情景：一个屠夫在他自己的店中，手中拿着剁肉刀，头顶上悬挂着钩子，附近有一个堆满了肉的桌子。

　　屠夫

　　The profession became more popular over the centuries until its apex¹⁸ in the 19th and 20th centuries, when meatpacking behemoths like those working out of Chicago's Union Stock Yards reigned¹⁹ over the industry and skilled meat cutters were in great demand.

　　这个职业在19世纪以及20世纪达到了巅峰，非常受欢迎，那时候芝加哥联合牲畜饲养场的肉类加工业巨头们垄断了这个产业，而这个行业需要大量熟练的切肉工人。

　　But as the 20th century wound down, supermarkets muscled out butcher shops and meat consumption began to be viewed as not so great for one's health, causing the number of butcher jobs to tumble.

　　但是在20世纪，这个职业慢慢在衰落，超市代替了肉店，并且人们意识到肉类对人体并非有百益而无一害，这让许多屠夫遭遇了职业滑铁卢。

　　However, in the early 21st century, quality products from small producers became fashionable, like craft beer, artisan cheese and locally grown specialty²⁰ meats.

　　然而，在21世纪初期，小生产商生产的高品质食品开始流行起来，比如精酿啤酒、手工奶酪以及当地特有的肉类。

　　Today, industry consultants²¹ say butchers are in demand, and higher-end butcher shops are on the rise.

　　如今，产业咨询师们说，屠夫在未来有很多选择，并且高档肉店正迎来新的发展机会。

　　8.Carpenter

　　8.木匠

　　Carpentry was another profession that flourished in ancient Egypt. Some carpenters were permanent employees of the pharaoh, while others labored²² in workshops.

　　木匠行业是兴盛于古埃及的一个行业。一部分木匠长期被法老雇佣，另一些则在车间工作。

　　Most of their business was in building tomb-related items, but they also crafted doors, window fretwork, beds and tables.

　　他们的主要工作是建造陵墓以及附属项目，同时他们也制作木质的门、细工浮雕的窗户，以及木床和木桌子等。

　　Egyptian drawings from 2,000 years ago show wood furniture, and the same has been found in tombs.

　　两千年前的古埃及绘画中就有木制家具，陵墓中出土的文物也有木制家具的身影。

　　The ancient Egyptians also invented veneering (gluing thin strips of wood together) and were the first to varnish²³ their woodwork.

　　古埃及人也发明了薄木片（用胶条黏合木条），并且首次给木材上漆。

　　木匠

　　The ancient Greeks, Romans, Chinese and Middle Easterners also had professional carpenters in their midst, constructing ships, intricately carved paneling, aqueducts and even weapons such as catapults and battering²⁴ rams²⁵.

　　在古希腊、古罗马、中国以及中东都有职业木匠的存在，他们能构建船只、镶板、引水渠以及弹弓和攻城铁槌等武器。

　　Archaeologists found a furniture shop in Pompeii while excavating²⁶ the famous site buried under volcanic²⁷ ash.

　　考古学家在发掘被火山灰掩埋的著名遗址庞贝古城时也发现了家具店存在的痕迹。

　　Today, carpentry remains a popular profession, with people learning the craft through apprenticeships, much as in the past.

　　如今，木匠行业依旧是一个受大众欢迎的职业，人们也仍似从前一般依照学徒制度学习木工。

　　Carpenters work on everything from buildings and bridges to furniture and artwork. The job market for carpenters in the U.S. is supposed to increase 24 percent from 2012 to 2022, a much higher rate than most other occupations.

　　木匠的工作领域十分广泛，从建造建筑、桥梁，到家具和艺术品制作。2012至2022年，美国木匠行业的就业率有望提高24个百分点，超出其他行业增长比率。

1 specified   

adj.特定的

参考例句：

• The architect specified oak for the wood trim. 那位建筑师指定用橡木做木饰条。
• It is generated by some specified means. 这是由某些未加说明的方法产生的。

2 obsolete   

adj.已废弃的，过时的

参考例句：

• These goods are obsolete and will not fetch much on the market.这些货品过时了，在市场上卖不了高价。
• They tried to hammer obsolete ideas into the young people's heads.他们竭力把陈旧思想灌输给青年。

3 bureaucrats   

n.官僚( bureaucrat的名词复数 )；官僚主义；官僚主义者；官僚语言

参考例句：

• That is the fate of the bureaucrats, not the inspiration of statesmen. 那是官僚主义者的命运，而不是政治家的灵感。 来自辞典例句
• Big business and dozens of anonymous bureaucrats have as much power as Japan's top elected leaders. 大企业和许多不知名的官僚同日本选举出来的最高层领导者们的权力一样大。 来自辞典例句

4 baker   

n.面包师

参考例句：

• The baker bakes his bread in the bakery.面包师在面包房内烤面包。
• The baker frosted the cake with a mixture of sugar and whites of eggs.面包师在蛋糕上撒了一层白糖和蛋清的混合料。

5 pro   

n.赞成，赞成的意见，赞成者

参考例句：

• The two debating teams argued the question pro and con.辩论的两组从赞成与反对两方面辩这一问题。
• Are you pro or con nuclear disarmament?你是赞成还是反对核裁军？

6 bakers   

n.面包师( baker的名词复数 )；面包店；面包店店主；十三

参考例句：

• The Bakers have invited us out for a meal tonight. 贝克一家今晚请我们到外面去吃饭。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The bakers specialize in catering for large parties. 那些面包师专门负责为大型宴会提供食品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 depict   

vt.描画，描绘；描写，描述

参考例句：

• I don't care to see plays or films that depict murders or violence.我不喜欢看描写谋杀或暴力的戏剧或电影。
• Children's books often depict farmyard animals as gentle,lovable creatures.儿童图书常常把农场的动物描写得温和而可爱。

8 dough   

n.生面团；钱，现款

参考例句：

• She formed the dough into squares.她把生面团捏成四方块。
• The baker is kneading dough.那位面包师在揉面。

9 excavation   

n.挖掘，发掘；被挖掘之地

参考例句：

• The bad weather has hung up the work of excavation.天气不好耽误了挖掘工作。
• The excavation exposed some ancient ruins.这次挖掘暴露出一些古遗迹。

10 pottery   

n.陶器，陶器场

参考例句：

• My sister likes to learn art pottery in her spare time.我妹妹喜欢在空余时间学习陶艺。
• The pottery was left to bake in the hot sun.陶器放在外面让炎热的太阳烘晒焙干。

11 doughy   

adj.面团的，苍白的，半熟的；软弱无力

参考例句：

• The cake fell; it's a doughy mess. 蛋糕掉在地上，粘糊糊的一团。 来自互联网
• Soon the mixture was doughy. 很快，混合物成了面团状。 来自互联网

12 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

13 guilds   

行会，同业公会，协会( guild的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• View list of the guilds that Small has war on. 看目前有哪些公会是我们公会开战的对象及对我们开战的对象。
• Guilds and kingdoms fit more with the Middle Age fantasy genre. （裴）:公会和王国更适合中世纪奇幻类型。

14 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

15 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

16 sloth   

n.[动]树懒；懒惰，懒散

参考例句：

• Absence of competition makes for sloth.没有竞争会导致懒惰。
• The sloth spends most of its time hanging upside down from the branches.大部分时间里树懒都是倒挂在树枝上。

17 cleaver   

n.切肉刀

参考例句：

• In fact,a cleaver is a class of ax.实际上，切肉刀也是斧子的一种。
• The cleaver is ground to a very sharp edge.刀磨得飞快。

18 apex   

n.顶点，最高点

参考例句：

• He reached the apex of power in the early 1930s.他在三十年代初达到了权力的顶峰。
• His election to the presidency was the apex of his career.当选总统是他一生事业的顶峰。

19 reigned   

vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式）

参考例句：

• Silence reigned in the hall. 全场肃静。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Night was deep and dead silence reigned everywhere. 夜深人静，一片死寂。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

20 specialty   

n.(speciality)特性，特质；专业，专长

参考例句：

• Shell carvings are a specialty of the town.贝雕是该城的特产。
• His specialty is English literature.他的专业是英国文学。

21 consultants   

顾问( consultant的名词复数 )； 高级顾问医生，会诊医生

参考例句：

• a firm of management consultants 管理咨询公司
• There're many consultants in hospital. 医院里有很多会诊医生。

22 labored   

adj.吃力的，谨慎的v.努力争取(for)( labor的过去式和过去分词 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转

参考例句：

• I was close enough to the elk to hear its labored breathing. 我离那头麋鹿非常近，能听见它吃力的呼吸声。 来自辞典例句
• They have labored to complete the job. 他们努力完成这一工作。 来自辞典例句

23 varnish   

n.清漆；v.上清漆；粉饰

参考例句：

• He tried to varnish over the facts,but it was useless.他想粉饰事实，但那是徒劳的。
• He applied varnish to the table.他给那张桌子涂上清漆。

24 battering   

n.用坏，损坏v.连续猛击( batter的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The film took a battering from critics in the US. 该影片在美国遭遇到批评家的猛烈抨击。
• He kept battering away at the door. 他接连不断地砸门。 来自《简明英汉词典》

25 rams   

n.公羊( ram的名词复数 )；(R-)白羊（星）座；夯；攻城槌v.夯实（土等）( ram的第三人称单数 )；猛撞；猛压；反复灌输

参考例句：

• A couple of rams are butting at each other. 两只羊正在用角互相抵触。 来自辞典例句
• More than anything the rams helped to break what should have been on interminable marriage. 那些牡羊比任何东西都更严重地加速了他们那本该天长地久的婚姻的破裂。 来自辞典例句

26 excavating   

v.挖掘( excavate的现在分词 )；开凿；挖出；发掘

参考例句：

• A bulldozer was employed for excavating the foundations of the building. 推土机用来给楼房挖地基。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• A new Danish expedition is again excavating the site in annual summer digs. 一支新的丹麦探险队又在那个遗址上进行一年一度的夏季挖掘。 来自辞典例句

27 volcanic   

adj.火山的；象火山的；由火山引起的

参考例句：

• There have been several volcanic eruptions this year.今年火山爆发了好几次。
• Volcanic activity has created thermal springs and boiling mud pools.火山活动产生了温泉和沸腾的泥浆池。