英语听力—环球英语 653 Deaf Culture

　　Voice 1
Thank you for joining us for Spotlight¹! I'm Nick Page.
Voice 2
And I'm Liz Waid. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 3
"What is it like to be deaf?
People have asked me.
Deaf? Oh, hmm. How do I explain that?
Simple: I cannot hear.
No, wait. It is much more than that.
It is similar to a goldfish in a glass bowl,
Always observing things going on.
People talking at all times.
It is like a man on his own island
Among foreigners.
I feel more at home with Deaf people
Of different colour, religion, short or tall
Than I do with my own hearing family.
And you wonder why?
Our language is common.
We understand each other.
Deaf people are still human beings,
With dreams, desires and needs
To belong, just like everyone else."
["Being Deaf," Dianne Kinnee]
Voice 1
This is part of a poem called "Being Deaf." Dianne Kinnee wrote this poem from her own experiences being deaf. She tries to express the emotions that deaf people may feel.
Voice 2
The World Federation² for the Deaf says that there are 70 million deaf people around the world. Sadly, most of these people do not have the resources³ they need. They do not feel like they are fully⁴ part of a community. But other deaf people have formed close groups. They even say they have a culture. On today's Spotlight we will tell about Deaf Culture.
Voice 1
For a long time, people have looked at deaf people as unusual. They believe that deaf people have something wrong with them - a disability. In the past, some people have even believed that deaf people were not as intelligent as "normal" people. They believed deaf people learned⁵ slowly, or that they could not even learn. Sadly, some people in the past and even today, considered deaf people to be worth less than other people because they could not hear. So, deaf people were oppressed⁶. But experts now see deaf people in a new way.
Voice 2
Carol⁷ Padden is a professor at a university in California⁸ in the United⁹ States. She teaches students about communication. She is also deaf. Padden's parents were deaf too. So, at home she learned Sign Language. Sign Language is a way of communicating. A person using Sign Language moves her hands in a particular way. Each movement has a special meaning. As a young child Padden went to a special school. This school was especially for deaf children. But, when she was about eight years old, Carol began to attend a public school. The other students in her class were hearing children. That is, they were not deaf. They did not communicate using Sign Language. Instead, they talked to each other. Padden writes about her experiences:
Voice 4
"My interest in language is strongly rooted in the experience of moving between different worlds and languages. While at school, I was often the only deaf child among hearing classmates. But at the end of the day, I returned home and used Sign Language with my parents and brother."
Voice 2
Carol Padden's experiences as a child increased her interest in communication. Today she is an expert in communication and Deaf Culture. So what is Deaf Culture? Like other experts, Padden defines¹⁰ general culture as a "set of learned behaviours." That is, people who are similar learn similar ways to behave and communicate. They have a common language, set of values, rules, and traditions. Cultures form because the people are similar. Padden says that some deaf people form this sort of cultural group.
Voice 1
Deaf people created Deaf Culture through their shared experiences. Not all deaf people are part of Deaf Culture. It is more than just the physical issue¹¹ of not hearing. It is about belonging to a group of people who are similar. People in Deaf Culture have developed new ways to see themselves. They are not disabled. Instead, they are full, able people who belong to this particular group or culture. Many experts agree that Deaf Culture is an example of a minority culture. Members of a minority culture may feel even more strongly that their culture is important.
Voice 2
Carol says that the deaf community has a common way of behaving and communicating. Many deaf people have lived through similar experiences. Many communicate using some form of Sign Language. Many have similar values. They have a common identity¹². They believe this common identity is important. Hearing people may think of being deaf as a disability. But many in the Deaf Culture do not think of being deaf as a disability or problem. Carol says that nine out of every ten members of Deaf Culture marry another deaf person. They may even HOPE for a deaf child. They want to share their culture with their children!
Voice 1
Kate Nelson is from Australia. When Kate was born she could hear some sounds. But she could not hear enough to understand voices speaking. She learned to read lips¹³. That is, she could understand a person who was speaking by looking at how the person's mouth and lips moved. She used powerful¹⁴ hearing aid machines. And she learned how to form words with her mouth so she could speak clearly. She looked like she was similar to everyone else. But she did not feel like she belonged. Finally, when she was 21 years old she learned Sign Language.
Voice 2
Kate talked to journalist Carina Dennis about why she liked Sign Language so much. This way of communicating uses more than just hand movements. It also uses facial¹⁵ expressions and a person's whole body. Learning¹⁶ this way of communicating felt good to Kate. She says:
Voice 5
"When I learned Sign Language, suddenly the whole Deaf world opened up. It was amazing. It was like I was coming home. I am proud of my deafness. I do not see myself as having a disability."
Voice 1
Kate is an actor. She writes and performs in plays. And she writes from her own experiences. She uses theatre to link the Deaf world and the hearing world. She also works¹⁷ to show hearing people how deaf people connect with each other. She wants to show the world the beauty of Deaf Culture.
Voice 2
As Kate grows older, she is losing more and more of her ability to hear. Sign Language is becoming more important to her. And the Deaf community feels more and more like where she belongs. This is a common feeling for many deaf people in Deaf Culture. Kate says:
Voice 5
"The Deaf world is a place where I can relax. I can just be me."
 

1 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

2 federation   

n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会

参考例句：

• It is a federation of 10 regional unions.它是由十个地方工会结合成的联合会。
• Mr.Putin was inaugurated as the President of the Russian Federation.普京正式就任俄罗斯联邦总统。

3 resources   

n.勇气；才智；谋略；有助于实现目标的东西；资源( resource的名词复数 )；[复数]物力；办法；来源

参考例句：

• The world's resources are rapidly diminishing. 世界资源正在迅速减少。
• a policy to equalize the distribution of resources throughout the country 使资源在全国分布均衡的政策

4 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

5 learned   

adj.有学问的，博学的；learn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He went into a rage when he learned about it.他听到这事后勃然大怒。
• In this little village,he passed for a learned man.在这个小村子里，他被视为有学问的人。

6 oppressed   

adj. 被压迫的，郁闷的 动词oppress的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• It'seemed that the realisation of his life's dream oppressed him with overjoy. 夙愿得偿似乎使他欣喜若狂。
• The bad eggs wielded power, while the good people were oppressed. 坏人当道，好人受气

7 Carol   

n.赞美诗，圣诞颂歌

参考例句：

• Silent Night is my favourite carol.《平安夜》是我最喜欢的圣诞颂歌。
• The people in the church are singing a christmas carol.教堂里的人们正在唱圣诞颂歌。

8 California   

n.加利福尼亚(美国)

参考例句：

• He was elected governor of the state of California.他当选为加州州长。
• We were driving on a California freeway.我们正沿着加利福尼亚的一条快车道驾车行驶。

9 united   

adj.和谐的；团结的；联合的，统一的

参考例句：

• The whole nation is closely united.全国人民紧密团结。
• The two men were united by community of interests.共同的利益使两个人结合在一起。

10 defines   

规定( define的第三人称单数 )； 使明确； 精确地解释； 画出…的线条

参考例句：

• This name defines us all. 这个名字造就了我们。 来自演讲部分
• The range of incomes over which this happens defines the 'poverty trap'. 发生在这种情况的收入范围，称为“贫困陷阱。”

11 issue   

n.出版，发行，（报刊等）期、号，论点，问题，结果， （水，血等的）流出；vt.使流出，放出，发行（钞票等），发布（命令），出版（书等）发给；vi.发行，流出，造成...结果，进行辩护，传下

参考例句：

• I bought the book the day after its issue.这书出版后的第一天，我就去买了它。
• I'll support her down the line on that issue.在那个问题上我将全力支持她。

12 identity   

n.身份，本体，特征；同一(性)，一致

参考例句：

• He never revealed his identity.他从未暴露过自己的身份。
• He showed his identity card and went in.他把工作证亮了一下就进去了。

13 lips   

abbr.logical inferences per second 每秒的逻辑推论n.嘴唇( lip的名词复数 )；（容器或凹陷地方的）边缘；粗鲁无礼的话

参考例句：

• Her lips compressed into a thin line. 她的双唇抿成了一道缝。
• the fullness of her lips 她丰满的双唇

14 powerful   

adj.有力的，有权力的，强大的

参考例句：

• The UN began to get more and more powerful.联合国开始变得越来越强大了。
• Such are the most powerful voices of our times!这些就是我们时代的最有力的声音！

15 facial   

adj.面部的，脸上的

参考例句：

• I've made an appointment for a facial tomorrow.我约好明天去做美容。
• The chimpanzee uses facial expressions for communication.黑猩猩用面部表情进行交流。

16 learning   

n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词

参考例句：

• When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
• Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。

17 works   

n.作品，著作；工厂，活动部件，机件

参考例句：

• We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。