TED演讲:特殊环境里的不同寻常的房子(5)

 While it may appear to be a completely chaotic¹ place, 虽然它看上去好像是一个很混乱的地方，

when you see it from above, there seems to be a whole grid² of waterways and canals connecting each and every home. 但当你从上往下看，那里好像存在一个由水路和运河形成的格子网连接着每家每户。

From the main dock, people board long wooden canoes which carry them out to their various homes and shops located in the expansive area. 从主码头，人们坐上长木做的小木舟带他们前往在很大一片区域里的各种房屋和商店。

When out on the water, it's clear that life has been completely adapted to this very specific way of living. 当进入水域时，很明显生活已经完全融入这种特殊条件下的生活方式。

Even the canoes become variety stores where ladies paddle from house to house, 甚至木筏子也变成各种各样的小店女人们划着木舟从一家到另一家，

selling anything from toothpaste to fresh fruits. 卖着从牙膏到新鲜水果的各种东西。

Behind every window and door frame, 在每一扇窗户和门框背后，

you'll see a small child peering back at you, 你都会看到有小孩子在背后盯着你，

and while Makoko seems to be packed with people, 虽然马卡卡看上去到处都是人，

what's more shocking is actually the amount of children pouring out of every building. 但更让人吃惊的是实际上每座房屋里面拥有的孩子的数量。

The population growth in Nigeria, 尼日利亚的人口增长，

and especially in these areas like Makoko, 尤其是在像马卡卡这样的区域，

are painful reminders³ of how out of control things really are. 痛苦地提醒着人们 生育失控后带来的结果。

In Makoko, very few systems and infrastructures⁴ exist. 在马卡卡，只有非常少的生活系统和基础设施存在。

Electricity is rigged and freshest water comes from self-built wells throughout the area. 电是被垄断的，且干净的水来自于这片区域里自己建造的井。

This entire economic model is designed to meet a specific way of living on the water, so fishing and boat-making are common professions. 整个经济模式是为了应对特殊的水上生活方式而设计的，所以捕鱼和造船是普遍的职业。

You'll have a set of entrepreneurs who have set up businesses throughout the area, 这里还有一系列的商户在这片区域建立经营着自己的生意，

like barbershops, CD and DVD stores, 比如理发店，CD和DVD商店，

movie theaters, tailors, everything is there. 电影院，裁缝铺，和其它的一切。

1 chaotic   

adj.混沌的，一片混乱的，一团糟的

参考例句：

• Things have been getting chaotic in the office recently.最近办公室的情况越来越乱了。
• The traffic in the city was chaotic.这城市的交通糟透了。

2 grid   

n.高压输电线路网；地图坐标方格；格栅

参考例句：

• In this application,the carrier is used to encapsulate the grid.在这种情况下，要用载体把格栅密封起来。
• Modern gauges consist of metal foil in the form of a grid.现代应变仪则由网格形式的金属片组成。

3 reminders   

n.令人回忆起…的东西( reminder的名词复数 )；提醒…的东西；（告知该做某事的）通知单；提示信

参考例句：

• The film evokes chilling reminders of the war. 这部电影使人们回忆起战争的可怕场景。
• The strike has delayed the mailing of tax reminders. 罢工耽搁了催税单的投寄。

4 infrastructures   

n.基础设施( infrastructure的名词复数 )；基础结构；行政机构；秘密机构

参考例句：

• Public transportation termini and depots are important infrastructures for a city. 公交场站设施是城市重要的基础设施。 来自互联网
• The increasingly fast urbanization process requires more and more infrastructures. 我国城市化进程不断加快，对城市基础设施的需求也越来越大。 来自互联网