访谈录 2009-05-23&05-25 【洋葱访谈】拼写天才的遭

Coming up next, we’ll meet yet another smug guy who scaled Mount Everest.

 

Oh, we’ve had too many of these guys over here, you’re gonna hate this one. This guy is particularly hateable. But right now, we’ve got a very special guest here in the studio with us and I do mean special.

 

Some idiot savants are skilled with music or numbers. Twelve-year-old James Kimura’s skill is spelling.

 

Like a real life Rain Man.

 

That’s right, Tracy. Here’s him winning the New Jersey¹ State Spelling Bee. He did such a good job there that he gets to represent the state in the National's. And he joined us live right here in the Today Now studios. James, good morning.

 

Good morning to you.

 

James, we’re both so proud of you.

 

Yeah, when I won, I was like ‘Yes’! (Yeah.)

 

Well now James, tell us how did you get to be able to spell like that. My brain works normally, so I don’t, I can’t even fathom² it.

 

I study like two or three hours a day.

 

What is going on in your brain right now? I think you can probably understand everything we’re saying but is it all jumbled³ up, I mean do you see random⁴ colors and flashes and stuff like that?

 

No, I don’t. I’m just…I’m fine.

 

I understand your school has actually put you into a special institution… the Gifted and Talented Program?

 

Well, those are accelerated learning classes.

 

Ah, is that what they’re calling them now?

 

Yeah.

 

Well let’s take another look at you up on that big high stage.

 

E-u-d-a-e-m-o-n-i-c, eudaemonic.

 

That’s correct.

 

See, look at him there. I mean he may not be able to feed himself but he can spell a word I can’t even pronounce.

 

Whoa…I can feed myself. I’m just fine.

 

James, the other kids must be so cruel to you, are they?

 

No, they’re not.

 

Do they call your names?

 

No, I’m fine.

 

No, I bet they do. (No they don't.)

 

I bet it really hurt your feelings.

 

They never call my names.

 

Well, James, do you know if your mother did a lot of drinking or had a drug problem while she was pregnant with you.

 

No, she didn’t. She was fine.

 

I really admire her strength in raising you. I mean I would have just tossed you in the gutter⁵ to end your agony.

 

There’s nothing wrong with me. I’m just smart.

 

Right. James, if you want to howl or pound your head against something, you just go ahead and do it.

 

There’s nothing wrong with me. I’m just smart!

 

You just do whatever you have to do.

 

There's nothing wrong, I’m just…I’m just smart. Stop. Stop.

It’s OK, James. Calm down. Oh, whoa, now hold on. Take a seat (it’s OK) Relax. (It’s OK). OK, all right, (There's nothing wrong) calm down. All right, calm down. All right. I think we need some help in here guys. No, no, no, no, oops. All right, guys thank you very much. OK, oh what a great little guy he is, huh? He just got a little excited there for a minute, I think.
 

1 jersey   

n.运动衫

参考例句：

• He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
• They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致，都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。

2 fathom   

v.领悟，彻底了解

参考例句：

• I really couldn't fathom what he was talking about.我真搞不懂他在说些什么。
• What these people hoped to achieve is hard to fathom.这些人希望实现些什么目标难以揣测。

3 jumbled   

adj.混乱的；杂乱的

参考例句：

• Books, shoes and clothes were jumbled together on the floor. 书、鞋子和衣服胡乱堆放在地板上。
• The details of the accident were all jumbled together in his mind. 他把事故细节记得颠三倒四。

4 random   

adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动

参考例句：

• The list is arranged in a random order.名单排列不分先后。
• On random inspection the meat was found to be bad.经抽查，发现肉变质了。

5 gutter   

n.沟，街沟，水槽，檐槽，贫民窟

参考例句：

• There's a cigarette packet thrown into the gutter.阴沟里有个香烟盒。
• He picked her out of the gutter and made her a great lady.他使她脱离贫苦生活，并成为贵妇。