常春藤生活英语【78】Boating in Taiwan『船』承台湾

Boating1 has long been a part of Taiwan and its surrounding islands. Almost everyone has been on a boat while fishing, competing, or getting from place to place. After all, Taiwan is an island in the Pacific Ocean and it has many rivers. However, boating isn't just about the boats we see on the water today. It also involves cultural traditions. To really know about boating in Taiwan, we have to look at both the past and the present.

These days, high-tech¹ boat-making businesses are appearing all over Taiwan. They specialize in everything from basic parts to custom-made2 boats. So, whether you need an anchor3, a yacht4, or a floating dock5, it can all be found here. Together, these businesses are helping² Taiwan make a name for itself in the international boat-making world.

In the past, wooden boats were always made by hand. This tradition is still an important activity for many of the native peoples of Taiwan. The Yami, who live on Orchid6 Island, are especially famous for their handmade boats. Each boat is carved from one large tree, and there are two main styles. One type is a 10-man boat that is used during the flying fish season. The other is a two-person boat that is used for everyday needs, and most families have one. Making a boat is a group effort. Yet, it is up to the master builder to make sure everything is done appropriately.

长久以来，船业一直是台湾及其周围岛屿的一部分。几乎每个人在钓鱼、比赛或往返各地时都曾搭过船。毕竟台湾是太平洋上的一个岛，也拥有许多河流。不过，船业不只是我们现今在水上所看到的船而已。它也与文化传统有关。为了真正了解台湾的船业，我们必须同时放眼古今。

近来，高科技的造船公司纷纷在全台设立。它们专门制造的东西从基本零件到量身打造的船只都有。所以不论您需要的是锚、游艇或是漂浮船坞，在这里都能找得到。这些公司协力使台湾在国际造船界中享有盛名。

在过去，木船一向是手工打造的。如今这项传统对台湾许多原住民族来说，仍然是一种重要的活动。居住在兰屿的雅美族尤其以手工造船出名。每艘船都是从一棵大树雕凿出来的，而其款式主要有两种。一种是在飞鱼季中使用的十人座船。另一种两人座的则是用来应付日常生活所需，大多数家庭都拥有一艘。造船是一项团队合作。但要确认每个环节都妥善进行，则全仰赖造船大师。

Building Your Vocabulary

1. surrounding　a. 周围的，附近的
The big fire spread to the surrounding area.
这场大火波及到周遭地区。
2. handmade　a. 手工的
This shop sells all kinds of handmade soaps.
这家店贩卖着各式各样的手工香皂。
3. carve　vt. 刻，雕刻
Flora⁴ carved a beautiful statue of a cat.
弗劳拉雕出了一尊美丽的猫形雕像。
4. appropriately　adv. 适当地，合适地
I was dressed appropriately for the occasion.
我出席这项场合的穿著十分得体。

Phrases for Learning

1. specialize in...　　专攻∕专门从事……
Do you know of any clinic that specializes in skin diseases?
你知不知道有哪间诊所是专治皮肤病的？
2. make a name for + 反身代名词　　（某人）扬名
Claire wants to make a name for herself in the art world.
克莱儿想在艺术界成名。

参考字词

1. boating　n. 划船；乘船；船业（引申为与船有关的事物，亦作形容词用）
2. custom-made　a. 订制的，订做的
3. anchor　n. 锚
4. yacht　n. 大型游艇
5. floating dock　n. 漂浮船坞
6. orchid³　n. 兰花（本文中作形容词用）

Tips In Use

...for many of the native peoples of Taiwan.
（……对台湾许多原住民族来说……）
people 在本句中并不是作 person 的复数形用，而是表『民族，种族』，是一可数名词，此时 people 本身为单数，须加 -s 以构成复数形。
The six groups of peoples in this country are all different.
（这个国家里的六个民族截然不同。）

1 high-tech   

adj.高科技的

参考例句：

• The economy is in the upswing which makes high-tech services in more demand too.经济在蓬勃发展，这就使对高科技服务的需求量也在加大。
• The quest of a cure for disease with high-tech has never ceased. 人们希望运用高科技治疗疾病的追求从未停止过。

2 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

3 orchid   

n.兰花，淡紫色

参考例句：

• The orchid is a class of plant which I have never tried to grow.兰花这类植物我从来没种过。
• There are over 35 000 species of orchid distributed throughout the world.有35,000多种兰花分布在世界各地。

4 flora   

n.(某一地区的)植物群

参考例句：

• The subtropical island has a remarkably rich native flora.这个亚热带岛屿有相当丰富的乡土植物种类。
• All flora need water and light.一切草木都需要水和阳光。