英语听力—环球英语 1158 Signs of Love: Reaching Rural Deaf Communities

 　　Voice 1

 

　　Welcome to Spotlight¹, I'm Liz Waid.

 

　　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 3

 

　　If my hands can make a difference,

 

　　If my hands can make a friend,

 

　　Let my fingers do the talking,

 

　　And help make the silence end.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　This is a poem by Stefanie Drown. This poem is about using your hands to talk. The poem says that hands can make a difference. It says hands can help people become friends. It says that people can use their hands to end silence. What does it mean?

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　Stephanie is talking about Sign Language. Sign Language is a method of communicating. A person using Sign Language does not need to speak or hear. Instead, Sign Language uses particular body movements to send a message. For example, a person using Sign Language moves his hand in a particular way. This movement, or sign, has a special meaning. It represents a word or an idea. Many people around the world use Sign Language to communicate.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　When a baby is born his parents care for him. As he grows older his parents teach him their language. They teach him how to communicate with other people. In time, a healthy child learns how to communicate well. He tells others what he thinks. He uses his language to tell others what he needs and wants. He shares stories. He forms friendships. A person who can communicate well with others becomes part of a community.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　But what about babies who cannot learn to speak? What about babies who cannot hear? Learning² a language often depends a lot on what a person is able to hear. The World Federation³ for the Deaf estimates⁴ that there are 70,000,000 deaf people all around the world. They live in every country and city. But most of these deaf people live in developing countries.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　Authorities⁵ in developing countries often do not know how to help these deaf people. They do not know what deaf people need or desire. Even people in their own communities often do not know how to treat deaf people. Many of these developing countries are poor. They do not have the resources to deal with the needs and desires of deaf people. This means that many times, deaf people are alone. They feel as if governments, authorities, friends, and even family have left them. Many families do not even know how to communicate with their own deaf family members. This may make the deaf person feel lonely. She may feel as if she has no worth. She has no way to communicate. She may feel as if she has no hope. Many organizations are working to fix these problems. One of these organizations is called "Signs of Love."

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　Robin⁶ Harter began Signs of Love. Her interest in Sign Language started when she was at university in 1990. The University required Robin to take a foreign language class. So, she attended a class about Sign Language. As she learned⁷ the language, she learned that she enjoyed signing very much. She also learned a lot about Deaf Culture. She began to work with the deaf in many different areas and groups. She worked with deaf people at her church. And she also interpreted⁸, or translated, speech into Sign Language for deaf people.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　In 1994, Robin went to Mexico with a group to teach people about Jesus Christ⁹. In Mexico she saw that many deaf people there could not communicate - through any language. She wanted to do something, but she did not yet know what she could do.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　The next year, in 1995, Robin went to work in Honduras. She was only supposed to be there for a short time. But again, she saw a great need. She felt God was calling her to do something. Deaf people in developing countries were not receiving help. No one was working with deaf people living in country areas. These people had no hope. They could not communicate with anyone. Robin knew she could do something to help these people. So, in 1999, she started a group called Signs of Love. She moved to Honduras and set up a group there.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　Signs of Love says that many deaf people in many developing countries cannot read or write. They may only be able to communicate with a few people. Many cannot even write their own name. And most of them only know about 25 words. People in situations like this often have no hope of going to school, driving a car, voting, or even marrying who they want to marry! They are often physically¹⁰ or sexually¹¹ abused¹². They are victims because they cannot communicate or tell authorities about the attack.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　Signs of Love brings language to deaf people living in places like this. They teach Sign Language classes to deaf people. They train people who are hearing and people who are deaf. The people that Signs of Love train can teach other people Sign Language.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　Sometimes communities are afraid of deaf people. So, Signs of Love also works¹³ with the community around deaf people. They teach the community what it means to be deaf. They teach the community that deaf people have value. They hope the community will accept deaf people and show them love and respect.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　Signs of Love does all this work for one reason. They believe it is important to share the love of Jesus. They believe that part of showing love is being able to communicate. Signs of Love SHOWS people what the love of Jesus means. Signs of Love began in Honduras. But today, they work in many places around the world. And they hope to expand to even more places.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　Communication is important for all people. Sometimes we can be afraid of people who are different than we are. Or it seems too difficult to learn a new way to communicate with them. But it is still important to try and communicate. You could even learn Sign Language to help communicate with deaf people in need in YOUR community. We close this program with the same poem we read in the beginning. As it is read, think about what YOUR hands can do.

 

　　Voice 3

 

　　If my hands can make a difference,

 

　　If my hands can make a friend,

 

　　Let my fingers do the talking,

 

　　And help make the silence end.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　The writer and producer of this program was Liz Waid. The voices you heard were from the United States. All quotes have been adapted for this program and voiced by Spotlight. You can hear this program again, and read it, on the internet at http://www.RadioEnglish.net This .program is called "Signs of Love: Reaching Rural¹⁴ Deaf Communities."

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　You can also leave your comments on our website. Or you can email us at Radio @ radio English . net. You can also find us 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

参考例句：

• 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 learning   

n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词

参考例句：

• When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
• Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。

3 federation   

n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会

参考例句：

• It is a federation of 10 regional unions.它是由十个地方工会结合成的联合会。
• Mr.Putin was inaugurated as the President of the Russian Federation.普京正式就任俄罗斯联邦总统。

4 estimates   

估计

参考例句：

• Unofficial estimates put the figure at over two million. 非官方的估计数字为200万以上。
• We got estimates from three different contractors before accepting the lowest. 我们得到3个承包商的报价后，接受了最低的报价。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 authorities   

n.当局，权力，权威；权威( authority的名词复数 )；权力；学术权威；[复数]当权者

参考例句：

• They interceded with the authorities on behalf of the detainees. 他们为被拘留者向当局求情。
• At his instigation we conceal the fact from the authorities. 我们受他的怂恿向当局隐瞒了事实。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 robin   

n.知更鸟，红襟鸟

参考例句：

• The robin is the messenger of spring.知更鸟是报春的使者。
• We knew spring was coming as we had seen a robin.我们看见了一只知更鸟，知道春天要到了。

7 learned   

adj.有学问的，博学的；learn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He went into a rage when he learned about it.他听到这事后勃然大怒。
• In this little village,he passed for a learned man.在这个小村子里，他被视为有学问的人。

8 interpreted   

v.解释( interpret的过去式和过去分词 )；理解；把…理解为；演绎（按自己的感觉演奏音乐或表现角色）

参考例句：

• He quickly interpreted to us what the Russian was saying. 他很快把那个俄国人所说的话翻译给我们听。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The figure of the Ancient Mariner has been variously interpreted. 对于《古舟子咏》中的人物，一直有着各种各样的理解。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 Christ   

n.基督，救世主，耶稣

参考例句：

• I regarded him as the Christ.我把他当作救世主。
• Christ preached that we should love each other.基督在布道中说人们应该互爱。

10 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。

11 sexually   

adv.性别上地；按性别地；性欲地；两性之间地

参考例句：

• to be sexually promiscuous 性生活淫乱
• I was depressed,withdrawn and sexually frigid. 我郁郁寡欢，离群索居，没有什么性要求。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 abused   

v.妄用( abuse的过去式和过去分词 )；虐待；辱骂

参考例句：

• All the children had been physically and emotionally abused. 所有这些儿童的身心都受到了摧残。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• This rule was brought into being because the old law was abused. 由于旧的法律遭到滥用，这条规则便应运而生。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 works   

n.作品，著作；工厂，活动部件，机件

参考例句：

• We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。

14 rural   

adj.乡下的，田园的，乡村风味的

参考例句：

• He lived a rural life.他过着田园生活。
• We left the city for a rural home.我们离开城市，去农村安家。