常春藤生活英語(yǔ)：Boating in Taiwan『船』承臺(tái)灣

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-tech 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 helping 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.

長(zhǎng)久以來，船業(yè)一直是臺(tái)灣及其周圍島嶼的一部分。幾乎每個(gè)人在釣魚、比賽或往返各地時(shí)都曾搭過船。畢竟臺(tái)灣是太平洋上的一個(gè)島，也擁有許多河流。不過，船業(yè)不只是我們現(xiàn)今在水上所看到的船而已。它也與文化傳統(tǒng)有關(guān)。為了真正了解臺(tái)灣的船業(yè)，我們必須同時(shí)放眼古今。

近來，高科技的造船公司紛紛在全臺(tái)設(shè)立。它們專門制造的東西從基本零件到量身打造的船只都有。所以不論您需要的是錨、游艇或是漂浮船塢，在這里都能找得到。這些公司協(xié)力使臺(tái)灣在國(guó)際造船界中享有盛名。

在過去，木船一向是手工打造的。如今這項(xiàng)傳統(tǒng)對(duì)臺(tái)灣許多原住民族來說，仍然是一種重要的活動(dòng)。居住在蘭嶼的雅美族尤其以手工造船出名。每艘船都是從一棵大樹雕鑿出來的，而其款式主要有兩種。一種是在飛魚季中使用的十人座船。另一種兩人座的則是用來應(yīng)付日常生活所需，大多數(shù)家庭都擁有一艘。造船是一項(xiàng)團(tuán)隊(duì)合作。但要確認(rèn)每個(gè)環(huán)節(jié)都妥善進(jìn)行，則全仰賴造船大師。

Building Your Vocabulary

1. surrounding　a. 周圍的，附近的

The big fire spread to the surrounding area.

這場(chǎng)大火波及到周遭地區(qū)。

2. handmade　a. 手工的

This shop sells all kinds of handmade soaps.

這家店販賣著各式各樣的手工香皂。

3. carve　vt. 刻，雕刻

Flora carved a beautiful statue of a cat.

弗勞拉雕出了一尊美麗的貓形雕像。

4. appropriately　adv. 適當(dāng)?shù)?，合適地

I was dressed appropriately for the occasion.

我出席這項(xiàng)場(chǎng)合的穿著十分得體。

Phrases for Learning

1. specialize in...　　專攻∕專門從事……

Do you know of any clinic that specializes in skin diseases?

你知不知道有哪間診所是專治皮膚病的?

2. make a name for + 反身代名詞　　(某人)揚(yáng)名

Claire wants to make a name for herself in the art world.

克萊兒想在藝術(shù)界成名。

參考字詞

1. boating　n. 劃船;乘船;船業(yè)(引申為與船有關(guān)的事物，亦作形容詞用)

2. custom-made　a. 訂制的，訂做的

3. anchor　n. 錨

4. yacht　n. 大型游艇

5. floating dock　n. 漂浮船塢

6. orchid　n. 蘭花(本文中作形容詞用)

Tips In Use

...for many of the native peoples of Taiwan.

(……對(duì)臺(tái)灣許多原住民族來說……)

people 在本句中并不是作 person 的復(fù)數(shù)形用，而是表『民族，種族』，是一可數(shù)名詞，此時(shí) people 本身為單數(shù)，須加 -s 以構(gòu)成復(fù)數(shù)形。

The six groups of peoples in this country are all different.

(這個(gè)國(guó)家里的六個(gè)民族截然不同。)