英语听力—环球英语 1204 The Language of Volcanoes

 　　Voice 1

 

　　Welcome to Spotlight¹, I’m Ryan Geertsma.

 

　　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 1

 

　　This song is called “Pop Pop Pop.” It is sung by the female² music group Rania. Rania is a popular or ‘pop’ music group from South Korea. There are six girls in the group. They sing, dance, and create some of the most popular music in Asia. They also travel all around Asia and perform their music. Rania is a “KPOP” music group. The “k” in KPOP comes from the word “Korean.”  But People all over Asia listen to KPOP. The songs are top hits in many countries - countries as far away from South Korea as the Philippines. Today’s Spotlight is on KPOP.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　Korean Popular Music – or, KPOP - is similar to American and British “Pop” music. The term “Pop” music became famous in the 1950s.  People used the term to describe popular rock and roll music.  Like early “Pop” music, KPOP uses a lot of very fast beats.  The music often repeats and is very easy to remember.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　American hip-hop music has also had a large influence on KPOP. Hip-hop started to become popular in the United States in the 1970s. It had many influences – like jazz and rock and roll music. Hip-hop is different than most music.  In most music, the performer sings the words. But in hip-hop, the performer speaks the words to the beat. The first famous hip-hop song was called “Rapper’s Delight.” It was performed by a band called The Sugarhill Gang³. It sounds like this,

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　You can hear this kind of singing or rapping⁴ in many KPOP songs. It is even in the “Pop, Pop, Pop” song from the beginning of this program. The singer raps⁵ in Korean to the beat of the song:

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　KPOP music is also very easy to dance to. The rhythm⁶ or beat is clear and easy to follow.  Restaurants, bars and dance clubs all over Asia play KPOP for people to dance to. It is rare to find KPOP songs that are slow.  This is because making the song easy to dance to is extremely important.  The beat and sound are often even more important than the words.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　KPOP shares many similarities with other kinds of global popular music.  However, there is one thing that makes it unique or different.  KPOP often combines the Korean and English languages. For example, there is a song called “Bad Girl, Good Girl” by Miss A.  This song starts in English.  It says, “You don’t know me, so shut up boy.” Then it quickly changes into Korean. Listen:

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　This use of English in KPOP is not surprising.  Most young Koreans speak some English or are learning⁷ English. Often, they speak what people call “Konglish.”  Konglish is a mixture of Korean and English. Often Koreans will speak mostly Korean, but use some English words instead of Korean words.  Sometimes, they will even use long groups of English words.  However, these phrases will be highly⁸ influenced by Korean.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　Tory Thorkelson is a professor at Hangyang University in South Korea. He says that Konglish often borrows words from English. But sometimes these English words are given new, Konglish meanings.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　A good example is the word ‘meeting.’ In English, meeting means - the act of two or more people coming together.  A meeting can be for work, school, community or even religion.  However, in Konglish, “meeting” means a particular kind of meeting. It is a meeting between two people.  They are looking for love and they have never met before.  In English, people would call this a “blind date.”  In Konglish, it is just a “meeting.”

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　KPOP’s international success is also changing how some cultures see South Korea.  Sue Jin Lee is a Communications student at Elon University in the United States. She wrote a research paper about the Korean wave.  The Korean wave is a term people use to explain the spread of Korean popular culture in Asia. She writes,

 

　　Voice 3

 

　　“The clearest effect that the Korean wave has had is improving the Korean national image. South Korea is reinventing their national image…Countries in the world are always shaping and reshaping their national images. They do this as they compete with other countries for power and influence.”

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　KPOP is a major part of the Korean wave.  And it has helped change the way Asian countries see South Korea.  Lee writes,

 

　　Voice 3

 

　　“Many experts and news writers have questioned why Korean popular culture became such a powerful force in Asia…Most people like cultural products that are similar to their own culture… So, it is not surprising that Korean cultural products are successful. Asian people feel closer to Korean culture than to Western culture.”

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　However, some people think KPOP and the Korean wave have given South Korea too much cultural influence and power.  Lee writes,

 

　　Voice 3

 

　　“When the Korean wave first developed and moved into Asia, Japanese newspapers had a hostile⁹ attitude toward¹⁰ Korean issues. Chinese newspapers criticized¹¹ the increase in Korean television shows and businesses…”

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　However, no one can argue KPOP’s global appeal. It is crossing cultural divisions¹².  And it is building relationships between countries.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　In fact, the spread of KPOP has not stopped with Asia.  Its influence is spreading around the world.   Donika Sterling¹³ is a fifteen year old girl from New York City. She suffers from a disease¹⁴ with no cure.  She cannot walk. And she has gone through many operations to fight her disease. Her life is different than many girls her age.  But like many people her age, she loves music - in particular KPOP.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　Donika loves to listen to KPOP over the internet.  And in June of 2012, she went on a very exciting trip. She travelled to Seoul, South Korea.  There, she met members of her favorite KPOP music groups.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　This experience was powerful both for Donika and the KPOP groups she met.  Donika told the Internet website KPOPstarz:

 

　　Voice 4

 

　　“I still cannot believe I am in Korea. I thank everyone who helped me make my dreams come true.”

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　SHINee is a member of the KPOP group Taemin.  He told KPOPstarz,

 

　　Voice 5

 

　　"I was happy to hear about Donika coming to Korea to meet us. I was very amazed¹⁵ to hear that Donika is encouraged by our music."

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　Do you listen to KPOP music?  Why do you think music has the power to cross cultures?  Tell us what you think.  Write your comments on the script¹⁶ page of this program.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　The writer and producer of this program was Dianna Anderson. The voices you heard were from the United States and the United Kingdom. All quotes were adapted for this program and voiced by Spotlight. You can listen to this program again, and read it, on the internet at http://www.radioenglish.net This .program is called, “KPOP: Asia’s Popular Music.”

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　We hope you can join us again for the next Spotlight program. Goodbye.

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 female   

adj.雌的，女(性)的；n.雌性的动物，女子

参考例句：

• We only employ female workers.我们只雇用女工。
• The animal in the picture was a female elephant.照片上的动物是头母象。

3 gang   

n.一伙，一帮；结伴的朋友

参考例句：

• The gang live abroad,beyond reach of the British police.这帮匪徒住在国外，英国警方鞭长莫及。
• Some gang came in and shot the place up.有股匪帮进来对这个地方开枪扫射。

4 rapping   

n.轻击修光（锻造中）v.突然说出( rap的现在分词 )；（公开地）严厉批评；突然大声说出；连续敲叩

参考例句：

• All at once there was a brisk rapping at the door. 这时忽听得有人急匆匆的在敲门。 来自辞典例句
• A sharp metallic rapping came on the front door. 前门上响起一阵刺耳的金属敲击声。 来自辞典例句

5 raps   

n.（轻快的）敲击（声）( rap的名词复数 )；说唱音乐；说唱歌；速度快的谈话v.突然说出( rap的第三人称单数 )；（公开地）严厉批评；突然大声说出；连续敲叩

参考例句：

• "Yes, I reckon we better. P'raps we better." “对，我也是这样想的，也许还是回去的好。” 来自英汉文学 - 汤姆历险
• The chairman prefaced his remarks with some sharp raps on the table. 主席重重地敲了几下桌子，然后开始讲话。 来自辞典例句

6 rhythm   

n.韵律；节奏

参考例句：

• He has an ear for the rhythm of Irish speech.他对爱尔兰语的节奏很敏感。
• His poem has a pleasing rhythm.他的诗有和谐的韵律。

7 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。

8 highly   

adv.高度地，极，非常；非常赞许地

参考例句：

• It is highly important to provide for the future.预先做好准备非常重要。
• The teacher speaks very highly of the boy's behaviour.老师称赞这个男孩的表现。

9 hostile   

adj.不友好的，敌对的；敌方的，敌人的

参考例句：

• The local people are hostile to outsiders.当地人敌视外地人。
• Their hostile looks showed that he was unwelcome.他们怀敌意的表情说明他不受欢迎。

10 toward   

prep.对于，关于，接近，将近，向，朝

参考例句：

• Suddenly I saw a tall figure approaching toward the policeman.突然间我看到一个高大的身影朝警察靠近。
• Upon seeing her,I smiled and ran toward her. 看到她我笑了，并跑了过去。

11 criticized   

vt.批评(criticize的过去式)v.评论，批评( criticize的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The decision was criticized by environmental groups. 这个决定受到了环保团体的批评。
• The movie has been criticized for apparently legitimizing violence. 这部电影因明显地美化暴力而受到了指责。

12 divisions   

n.分开( division的名词复数 )；分界线；分歧；分离

参考例句：

• The country's political divisions are deep-seated. 这个国家的政治分歧根深蒂固。
• The country's political divisions are deep-seated. 这个国家的政治分歧根深蒂固。

13 sterling   

adj.英币的(纯粹的，货真价实的)；n.英国货币(英镑)

参考例句：

• Could you tell me the current rate for sterling, please?能否请您告诉我现行英国货币的兑换率？
• Sterling has recently been strong,which will help to abate inflationary pressures.英国货币最近非常坚挺，这有助于减轻通胀压力。

14 disease   

n.疾病，弊端

参考例句：

• The doctors are trying to stamp out the disease.医生正在尽力消灭这种疾病。
• He fought against the disease for a long time.他同疾病做了长时间的斗争。

15 amazed   

adj.吃惊的，惊奇的v.使大为吃惊，使惊奇( amaze的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Just the size of the place amazed her. 仅仅地方之大就使她十分惊奇。
• I was amazed at her knowledge of French literature. 她的法国文学知识之丰富使我大为惊奇。

16 script   

n.剧本，广播稿；文字体系；笔迹，手迹

参考例句：

• It's easy to identify his script.他的笔迹容易辨认。
• The script is massaged into final form.这篇稿子经过修改已定稿。