新西兰英语 464 Maori Moko used by French man

 　　The photo of a French rugby player with a moko design on his face and back, upset many Maori.

　　The moko is a tattoo¹ on the face and other parts of the body. Originally, it was done with a chisel², not a needle, to make grooves³ in the skin. Soot⁴ from burnt wood was used for the black colour. The moko was a mark of respect. Only people of high rank could have a moko. The design told the story of the family and the tribe. It was a sacred tradition like a religious ceremony.

　　So it is not surprising if some Maori were upset to learn at the weekend that this French man was on the cover of a gay magazine, with a moko design drawn⁵ on his face. Other photos inside the magazine showed him with a Maori taiaha, a traditional weapon.

　　He apologized and said he respected Maori traditions like the moko and the haka.

　　Maori designs and the haka are becoming more popular both here and overseas. Earlier this month, the Wai 262 report from the Waitangi Tribunal suggested it could be time to look at protecting Maori artistic⁶ and cultural rights. If it became illegal in New Zealand for non-Maori to copy Maori designs, how could we stop people overseas from doing this?

　　Vocabulary

　　The Waitangi Tribunal is like a law court. It looks at Maori land rights and other issues related to the Treaty of Waitangi.

　　chisel – a tool which you hit with a hammer to carve wood or stone.

　　grooves – deep lines cut in the surface

　　rank – a high position like a chief

　　Questions

　　1. “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery” is a well-known proverb. It means that you should feel very pleased if someone copies or imitates your work. Do you agree?

　　2. Do you think non-Maori should be able to copy the moko or the haka?

　　3. Do you think Maori should be able to sell their cultural property like the moko or the haka?

1 tattoo   

n.纹身，(皮肤上的)刺花纹；vt.刺花纹于

参考例句：

• I've decided to get my tattoo removed.我已经决定去掉我身上的纹身。
• He had a tattoo on the back of his hand.他手背上刺有花纹。

2 chisel   

n.凿子；v.用凿子刻，雕，凿

参考例句：

• This chisel is useful for getting into awkward spaces.这凿子在要伸入到犄角儿里时十分有用。
• Camille used a hammer and chisel to carve out a figure from the marble.卡米尔用锤子和凿子将大理石雕刻出一个人像。

3 grooves   

n.沟( groove的名词复数 )；槽；老一套；（某种）音乐节奏v.沟( groove的第三人称单数 )；槽；老一套；（某种）音乐节奏

参考例句：

• Wheels leave grooves in a dirt road. 车轮在泥路上留下了凹痕。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Sliding doors move in grooves. 滑动门在槽沟中移动。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 soot   

n.煤烟，烟尘；vt.熏以煤烟

参考例句：

• Soot is the product of the imperfect combustion of fuel.煤烟是燃料不完全燃烧的产物。
• The chimney was choked with soot.烟囱被煤灰堵塞了。

5 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

6 artistic   

adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的

参考例句：

• The picture on this screen is a good artistic work.这屏风上的画是件很好的艺术品。
• These artistic handicrafts are very popular with foreign friends.外国朋友很喜欢这些美术工艺品。