Burns Night

Burns Night
NB: This is not an accurate（精确的，准确的） word-for-word transcript¹
Dan: Hello and welcome to this week's 6 minute English. I’m Dan Walker Smith
and today I’m joined by Kate.
Kate: Hi Dan.
Dan: Now Kate, you're from Scotland. Does that mean you'll be celebrating Burns
Night this week?
Kate: Well as a matter of fact I will be. I'll be going to a friend's house where we're
going to be eating some haggis, drinking some whisky（威士忌酒） and reciting some
Scottish poetry.
Dan: OK, well to explain, Burns Night is the annual celebration of the Scottish poet
Robert Burns, who was born just over 250 years ago. Each year on Burns
birthday, the 25th January, Scottish people across the world gather for a
traditional Scottish meal with poetry and sometimes dancing.
Kate: In fact, although it’s a particularly Scottish event, it is celebrated² by people of
Scottish ancestry³ all over the world. These are people whose family originally
came from Scotland, but who now live in other countries, such as Australia or
Canada.
Dan: So Kate, this week's question for you is:
How many people worldwide claim Scotland as their ancestral home? Is it:
a) 5 to 10 million　b) 10 to 20 million
c) 30 to 40 million
Kate: Well I have to say I have absolutely（绝对地） no idea. But I reckon the numbers are
going to be quite high, so I'm going to go for c, 30 to 40 million.
Dan: OK, we'll see if you're right at the end of the programme.
Kate: Well, Robert Burns is one of the most recognised figures in Scottish literature,
even appearing on some Scottish money and stamps. So now we're going to
hear from a director from Scotland's tourist board summing up Burns'
influence on Scotland. She mentions that he's an iconic person. Can you
explain what she means by this Dan?
Dan: Well an icon⁴ is a symbol that represents a cultural group, so in this context
iconic means that Burns has become a symbol of Scotland.
Let's have a listen. How does she describe Burns' influence on the perception
of Scotland?
Extract 1
He's obviously an iconic figure. He's recognised（承认,认出） across the world, and he's part of what
we think visitors think of when we say 'well what does Scotland mean to you?' So he's an
absolutely essential part of the 'what is Scotland, the brand?'
Kate: Well, brand usually means a company’s or business’s image, so here she’s
saying that Robert Burns has become an essential part of Scotland’s image
overseas. And you can certainly see this if you ever go to Scotland; there are
pictures of Burns just about everywhere.

Dan: And Burns Night, of course, has become an important tradition for Scottish
communities across the world, and there are certain ceremonies associated with
the meal.
Here’s Scottish comedian⁵ Fred MacAulay talking about the origins of Burns
Night. He mentions drinking a toast. This means to raise your glass and drink
in honour to someone.
Kate: And a dram is a Scottish word meaning a small drink, usually of whisky or
another strong spirit. So have a listen to the next extract. Can you tell me when
the first Burns Supper was held?
Extract 2
One event which is exported internationally and which undoubtedly⁶ contributes to our
economy is the aforementioned Burns Supper, the first of which was held in 1801 on the
fifth anniversary of Burns' death. A toast was made to the memory of Burns, which was
followed by a dram, followed by more toasts, and more drams, and more drams, and the
traditions of Burns Suppers began.
Kate: Well lots of drinking going on there. So the custom of Burns Supper is over
200 years old, and is a vital part of Scottish tradition.
Dan: As well as toasts and drams, another central part of the Burns Supper is the
haggis, the traditional Scottish dish made from sheep intestines⁷, spices and
oats.
Kate: Now that may not sound terribly appetising to people around the world, but
believe me, it's a real Scottish delicacy⁸. So here’s Edinburgh haggis maker⁹
James McSween guiding us through the process of making a Burns Night
haggis. Have a listen; how long does it take to cook the haggis?
Extract 3
This is the first cook area. This is where we take the raw lamb lungs and the raw beef fat
and we cook them in these boilers¹⁰, and then they get lifted into the mixer-grinder. We
add the seasoning¹¹, the oatmeal, and the gravy¹², which we then fill into the casing. And
then they go through the cooker, which then steams them for about an hour. And then
they come out warm-reekin', rich.
Kate: So he said that once the haggises have cooked for an hour, they come out
‘warm-reekin', rich’, which is a quote from Burns' poem 'Ode to a Haggis',
written in the local Scots dialect. It means that the haggis is warm, steaming
and rich – just the thing for a cold January night.
Dan: You also heard the words seasoning, oatmeal, and gravy. Seasoning is the
term for flavourings such as herbs, spices, salt and pepper.
Kate: And oatmeal is ground oats, the same ingredient used to make the Scottish
breakfast, porridge.
Dan: And gravy is a thick sauce made from meat stock and vegetables.
OK we’re almost out of time, so let’s go over some of the vocabulary we’ve
come across today:
icon and iconic
brand
toast
a dram
haggis
seasoning
oatmeal
gravy

Dan: And there’s just time for today's question. I asked you Kate how many people
worldwide claim Scotland as their ancestral home? Is it:
a) 5 to 10 million
b) 10 to 20 million
c) 30 to 40 million
Kate: And I said c, 30 to 40 million.
Dan: And you're spot on; that's exactly right. There are 30 to 40 million who claim
Scotland as their ancestral home, so plenty of people I imagine who'll be
enjoying a Burns Supper this week.
Kate: Absolutely. It's incredible to think how many Scottish people there are around
the world. But they're all very proud of their ancestry, I'm sure, and will be
eating lots of haggis.
Dan: So from all of us here at BBC Learning English, thank you so much indeed for
listening, have a very Happy Burns Night, and goodbye!
Kate: Goodbye!(本文由在线英语听力室资料编辑)
 

1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

3 ancestry   

n.祖先，家世

参考例句：

• Their ancestry settled the land in 1856.他们的祖辈1856年在这块土地上定居下来。
• He is an American of French ancestry.他是法国血统的美国人。

4 icon   

n.偶像，崇拜的对象，画像

参考例句：

• They found an icon in the monastery.他们在修道院中发现了一个圣像。
• Click on this icon to align or justify text.点击这个图标使文本排齐。

5 comedian   

n.喜剧演员；滑稽演员

参考例句：

• The comedian tickled the crowd with his jokes.喜剧演员的笑话把人们逗乐了。
• The comedian enjoyed great popularity during the 30's.那位喜剧演员在三十年代非常走红。

6 undoubtedly   

adv.确实地，无疑地

参考例句：

• It is undoubtedly she who has said that.这话明明是她说的。
• He is undoubtedly the pride of China.毫无疑问他是中国的骄傲。

7 intestines   

n.肠( intestine的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Perhaps the most serious problems occur in the stomach and intestines. 最严重的问题或许出现在胃和肠里。 来自辞典例句
• The traps of carnivorous plants function a little like the stomachs and small intestines of animals. 食肉植物的捕蝇器起着动物的胃和小肠的作用。 来自辞典例句

8 delicacy   

n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴

参考例句：

• We admired the delicacy of the craftsmanship.我们佩服工艺师精巧的手艺。
• He sensed the delicacy of the situation.他感觉到了形势的微妙。

9 maker   

n.制造者，制造商

参考例句：

• He is a trouble maker，You must be distant with him.他是个捣蛋鬼，你不要跟他在一起。
• A cabinet maker must be a master craftsman.家具木工必须是技艺高超的手艺人。

10 boilers   

锅炉，烧水器，水壶( boiler的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Even then the boilers often burst or came apart at the seams. 甚至那时的锅炉也经常从焊接处爆炸或裂开。 来自英汉非文学 - 科学史
• The clean coal is sent to a crusher and the boilers. 干净的煤送入破碎机和锅炉。

11 seasoning   

n.调味；调味料；增添趣味之物

参考例句：

• Salt is the most common seasoning.盐是最常用的调味品。
• This sauce uses mushroom as its seasoning.这酱油用蘑菇作调料。

12 gravy   

n.肉汁；轻易得来的钱，外快

参考例句：

• You have spilled gravy on the tablecloth.你把肉汁泼到台布上了。
• The meat was swimming in gravy.肉泡在浓汁之中。