2006年VOA标准英语-Comanche Nation Keeps its Traditional Life Aliv

By Joseph Mok
Washington, DC
12 September 2006
 
watch Native American Comanche

Comanche is a Native American people known as the "Lords of the Plains" in the Great Plains in the Central United States.  From this tribe rose the famous Code Talkers of World War II who played an instrumental role in secret battlefield communications.  For VOA Producer Joseph Mok, Elaine Lu takes a look at one Comanche family that continues to embrace the tribe's ancient traditions.

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Comanches are believed to have been the first native people on the plains to utilize¹ the horse extensively, and their horseriding skills are the standard by which other tribes are judged.   In the past, their exceptional horsemanship helped to drive their foes² away. Today, it continues to be an essential part of their day-to-day life.

During World War II, Comanche Indians were part of the 1944 Allied³ D-Day invasion of Europe. As code talkers, they frustrated⁴ enemy code breakers by translating Army messages into their native language. Verbal messages were relayed over field telephones between the battlefield and divisional headquarters. 

A statue honoring the code breakers and messengers  
  
In the decades since, the Comanche people have continued to live on the plains. Farming and husbandry are the mainstays of their economy.

 
Sandra Nevaquaya 
  
Sandra Nevaquaya is preparing dinner for her family. "I am making fry bread. It is traditional bread and it is made with flour, sugar and water. You cook it in hot grease.   It is a traditional food we eat with healthy soup and meat."

Families are greatly valued among Comanches.  Relatives are gathering⁵ tonight at Edmund and Sandra Nevaquaya's house. Edmund, a musician, explains.

Comanches in traditional attire  
  
"We Comanches, we have adjusted and adapted to two ways of lives. To this day, the Comanche nation, we are one of the most educated tribes in North America. Also we are the keepers of a great religion that has really swept throughout the Indian country and that is the Native American church we filmed yesterday. We also kept our customs and our horses and livestock⁶ and things we used to enjoy.

We do co-exist within what you would say the 'white-man's world.' Or you would say the existing world, the educational world. Our children are still inside of education. They still know our traditional customs. We get along with it real good. We know how to adapt to it. There is no bitterness about it. It is the way we progress into the future and life. We continue on and on and on (for) generations to come."

Gathering as a family to enjoy cool air and music  
  
After dinner, the Nevaquaya family gathers under the shed for some cool air and music. 

The water drum is a traditional musical instrument of the Comanches.  It is made from cowhide, water, bucket, ropes and seven pebbles⁷. The accompanying gourd⁸ rattle⁹ reinforces the rhythm.  And the staff is made from a bow without its string.  It is decorated with colorful beads¹⁰ and bristle¹¹, symbolizing¹² war turning into peace, and joy on earth.

Comanche traditional music and songs are passed along from generation to generation.

1 utilize   

vt.使用，利用

参考例句：

• The cook will utilize the leftover ham bone to make soup.厨师要用吃剩的猪腿骨做汤。
• You must utilize all available resources.你必须利用一切可以得到的资源。

2 foes   

敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They steadily pushed their foes before them. 他们不停地追击敌人。
• She had fought many battles, vanquished many foes. 她身经百战，挫败过很多对手。

3 allied   

adj.协约国的；同盟国的

参考例句：

• Britain was allied with the United States many times in history.历史上英国曾多次与美国结盟。
• Allied forces sustained heavy losses in the first few weeks of the campaign.同盟国在最初几周内遭受了巨大的损失。

4 frustrated   

adj.挫败的，失意的，泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的过去式和过去分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧

参考例句：

• It's very easy to get frustrated in this job. 这个工作很容易令人懊恼。
• The bad weather frustrated all our hopes of going out. 恶劣的天气破坏了我们出行的愿望。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

6 livestock   

n.家畜，牲畜

参考例句：

• Both men and livestock are flourishing.人畜两旺。
• The heavy rains and flooding killed scores of livestock.暴雨和大水淹死了许多牲口。

7 pebbles   

[复数]鹅卵石； 沙砾； 卵石，小圆石( pebble的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The pebbles of the drive crunched under his feet. 汽车道上的小石子在他脚底下喀嚓作响。
• Line the pots with pebbles to ensure good drainage. 在罐子里铺一层鹅卵石，以确保排水良好。

8 gourd   

n.葫芦

参考例句：

• Are you going with him? You must be out of your gourd.你和他一块去？你一定是疯了。
• Give me a gourd so I can bail.把葫芦瓢给我，我好把水舀出去。

9 rattle   

v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓

参考例句：

• The baby only shook the rattle and laughed and crowed.孩子只是摇着拨浪鼓，笑着叫着。
• She could hear the rattle of the teacups.她听见茶具叮当响。

10 beads   

n.（空心）小珠子( bead的名词复数 )；水珠；珠子项链

参考例句：

• a necklace of wooden beads 一条木珠项链
• Beads of perspiration stood out on his forehead. 他的前额上挂着汗珠。

11 bristle   

v.（毛发）直立，气势汹汹，发怒；n.硬毛发

参考例句：

• It has a short stumpy tail covered with bristles.它粗短的尾巴上鬃毛浓密。
• He bristled with indignation at the suggestion that he was racist.有人暗示他是个种族主义者，他对此十分恼火。

12 symbolizing   

v.象征，作为…的象征( symbolize的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• This symbol later evolved into a common hieroglyphic symbolizing victory. 这幕场景后来逐渐演化为象征胜利的普通象形文字。 来自时文部分
• Mooncakes reunion, is symbolizing the Mid-Autumn festival will feed. 月饼象征着团圆，是中秋佳节必食之品。 来自互联网