英语听力—环球英语 1224 Nigerian Writer Chinua Achebe

 　　Voice 1

 

　　Welcome to Spotlight¹.  I’m Liz Waid.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　And I’m Ryan Geertsma.  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

 

　　“Art is, and always was, at the service of man.  Our ancestors² created their myths³ and told their stories for a human purpose.  Any good story, any good novel, should have a message. It should have a purpose.”

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　These words are from Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe.  As a young man Achebe grew up in Igbo Nigerian culture.  He saw the beauty and deep tradition of African people. But, when he looked at popular culture he saw something different. Some films and books from around the world showed African people as foolish or stupid.  Achebe believed this was very wrong.  He believed it was bad for African people.  And in fact, it was bad for the world.  Today’s Spotlight is on Chinua Achebe.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　Many people consider Chinua Achebe to be the ‘father of modern African literature.’  That is, he began a very important movement.  He affected⁴ all of Africa with the novels, or books, he wrote.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　Achebe was born in Nigeria in 1930.  His full name was Albert Chinualumogu Achebe.  His parents named him in honour of Prince Albert, in England.  Achebe’s father was a teacher in a missionary⁵ school.  And his parents were strong Christians⁶.  But they also taught him many values of the surrounding traditional Igbo culture.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　Achebe was a skilled⁷ student.  At university he studied English, history, and theology, or faith.  He also studied broadcasting.  At university Achebe also rejected his given British name, Albert.  Instead he took his middle name - an African name - Chinua.  After university Achebe travelled in Africa and America.  He also worked in radio and was a teacher.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　But in 1958 Achebe made a permanent⁸ mark on the world. He wrote a book called “Things Fall Apart.”  Today this book appears in more than 50 languages. It has sold more than 11,000,000 copies. This book began a new kind of writing about Africa.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　“Things Fall Apart” is the story of a very successful African man.  His name is Okonkwo.  In the story, Okonkwo is a leader in his village.  But after a terrible accident, he must leave his village.  “Things Fall Apart” tells about Okonkwo’s life.  It tells Okonkwo’s religious⁹ beliefs and his traditions.  It tells about his children, and the way the people in his village live.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　This seems like a very normal story.  And it IS a very normal story.  That is why it is so important. The characters in the book are very REAL.  Achebe showed the world what African people REALLY felt, and said, and how they acted.  This was a very new way to write stories about any African people.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　Achebe writes stories about Africa for a particular reason.  For a long time, Achebe was interested in language.  He listened to the people around him in Nigeria.  They loved language.  He heard them speak with “great eloquence¹⁰.”  They spoke¹¹ beautifully.  But Achebe did not see the same sort of eloquence and beauty from African people in modern literature of the time.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　A popular writer of the time was Joseph Conrad.  One of his most famous books is called “Heart of Darkness.”  He wrote it in 1902.  The story tells of a European man and his travels in parts of Africa.  In those days many Europeans called Africa ‘the dark continent.’  Many believed that African people were not intelligent.  They looked at them like animals.  They believed the ceremonies and traditions of the Africans were foolish, and even evil¹².  Some people believed that Joseph Conrad’s book showed Africans in this way.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　Achebe tells about the longest group of words said by an African character in ‘Heart of Darkness.’  The character says only eight words.  And he is not very eloquent¹³.  The African man says: “Catch him!  Give him to us! ... Eat him.”  The African man who says this is a cannibal.  He is looking for someone to eat.  In other parts of the novel this man does not even speak.  He shouts in high tones¹⁴ like an angry bird and makes animal noises.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　Achebe saw this short speech as an insult¹⁵ to the people of Africa.  So, he wanted to do something different.  In an interview with Lorene Cary at the Free Library of Philadelphia, Achebe tells why he wanted to write a book about his people.  He says:

 

　　Voice 3

 

　　The people I was writing about wanted their story told. They people of my village wanted their story told. I wanted my story told. I was very young, but I had begun to read other people’s stories. And I was beginning to wonder: where was mine?”

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　Achebe believed that no one had told the REAL story of the REAL people of Africa. Africans in literature did not seem human. These stories lacked the beautiful language Achebe heard around him. And he felt that taking away this language took worth away from Africans. He told Lorene Cary,

 

　　Voice 3

 

　　“When I am talking about my story, giving me back my story, I mean giving Africans back the story in which we are human. No matter how damaged or bad we are as humans. We cannot give language to some people and take it away from others. ... That is what “Things Fall Apart” is about. What I say must be true. I cannot act as if the Africans I am writing about are angels¹⁶ - that they are perfect. They are not. I have to say that they are human... I lived in the village and I knew the people of the village. They were not people without language.”

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　Achebe’s books test old ways of thinking about African people.  He believes that language and literature greatly influence people.  In the past, bad representations¹⁷ of Africa and Africans influenced people all around the world.  These bad representations even influenced Africans themselves.  They started to believe they were not as modern or as good as white European cultures. But Achebe writes books to show the African cultures as they really are.  He educates foreign readers.  And he encourages African readers.  He helps his people understand how valuable their culture is.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　Through the years, Achebe has written many novels, essays, and poems.  And he has received many literature awards.  His writings have influenced and inspired people all over the world.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　You can read “Things Fall Apart” in English.  You may also be able to find the book in your own language.  Are there writers in your culture who show your culture well?  Tell us about them.  Write to us at Radio at radio English . net.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　The writer and producer of this program was Liz Waid. The voices you heard were from the United¹⁸ States. You can hear this program again on the internet at http://www.RadioEnglish.net.  This program is called “Nigerian Writer Chinua Achebe.”

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　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 ancestors   

n.祖先( ancestor的名词复数 )；祖宗；原型；（动物的）原种

参考例句：

• His ancestors had come to America from Ireland. 他的祖先从爱尔兰来到美国。
• The custom of worshipping ancestors is prevalent among these people. 崇拜祖先的风俗在这些人中是普遍的。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 myths   

n.神话( myth的名词复数 )；杜撰出来的人[事物]

参考例句：

• They drew the material of their plays chiefly from myths and legends. 他们主要从神话传说中提取剧本的素材。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Jasper White is one of rare people who believes in ancient myths. 贾斯珀。怀特是少有的相信古代神话的人之一。 来自新概念英语第二册

4 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

5 missionary   

adj.教会的，传教(士)的；n.传教士

参考例句：

• She taught in a missionary school for a couple of years.她在一所教会学校教了两年书。
• I hope every member understands the value of missionary work. 我希望教友都了解传教工作的价值。

6 Christians   

n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
• His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。

7 skilled   

adj.(in)熟练的，有技能的；需要技能的

参考例句：

• Unskilled workers usually earn less money than skilled workers.无技能的工人通常比有技能的工人挣钱少。
• She was skilled enough in French to translate a novel.她法语娴熟，足以翻译小说。

8 permanent   

adj.永久的，不变的，固定的

参考例句：

• The coat gives permanent protection against heavy rain.这种防雨衣经久耐用。
• It's difficult to find a permanent cure for this disease.这病很难除根。

9 religious   

adj.宗教性的，虔诚的，宗教上的；n.修道士，出家人

参考例句：

• She is very religious person who goes to church every Sunday.她十分虔诚，每个星期天都上教堂。
• It is hard for me to reject religious beliefs.要我抛弃自己的宗教信仰是困难的。

10 eloquence   

n.雄辩；口才，修辞

参考例句：

• I am afraid my eloquence did not avail against the facts.恐怕我的雄辩也无补于事实了。
• The people were charmed by his eloquence.人们被他的口才迷住了。

11 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

12 evil   

n.邪恶，不幸，罪恶；adj.邪恶的，不幸的，有害的，诽谤的

参考例句：

• We pray to God to deliver us from evil.我们祈求上帝把我们从罪恶中拯救出来。
• Love of money is the root of all evil.爱钱是邪恶的根源。

13 eloquent   

adj.雄辩的，口才流利的；明白显示出的

参考例句：

• He was so eloquent that he cut down the finest orator.他能言善辩，胜过最好的演说家。
• These ruins are an eloquent reminder of the horrors of war.这些废墟形象地提醒人们不要忘记战争的恐怖。

14 tones   

音( tone的名词复数 )； 色调； 腔调； 全音 （英式英语）

参考例句：

• his clipped military tones 他那短促的军人音调
• His name was always mentioned in almost reverential tones. 人们每次提起他的名字，语调中几乎总是充满了敬意。

15 insult   

vt.侮辱，凌辱；n.侮辱的言词或行为

参考例句：

• You will insult her if you don't go to her party. 你要是不去参加她举办的聚会，就对她太无礼了。
• I can't sit down with that insult.我不能忍受那种侮辱。

16 angels   

n.天使( angel的名词复数 )；可爱的人；品行高洁的人；大好人（感激某人时所说）（非正式）

参考例句：

• Angels are usually shown in pictures dressed in white. 图画中的天使通常身穿白衣。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Angels are celestial beings. 天使是天上的神灵。 来自《简明英汉词典》

17 representations   

n.陈述，投诉，抗议；表现( representation的名词复数 )；陈述；表现…的事物；有代理人

参考例句：

• Naturally, we tend to use old representations in our new environments. 同样很自然的，在新的环境里，我们习惯于采用旧的表达方式。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓
• They made representations to the college cook about the bad food. 他们向学校厨师抗议伙食太差。 来自辞典例句

18 united   

adj.和谐的；团结的；联合的，统一的

参考例句：

• The whole nation is closely united.全国人民紧密团结。
• The two men were united by community of interests.共同的利益使两个人结合在一起。