新概念第四冊(cè)課文精講 Lesson41:訓(xùn)練大象

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課文41 訓(xùn)練大象

760. Two main techniques have been used for training elephants, which we may respectively the tough and the gentle.

馴象有兩種主要的方法，我們分別稱之為強(qiáng)硬法和溫柔法。

761. The former method simply consists of setting an elephant to work and beating him until he does what is expected of him.

強(qiáng)硬法就是驅(qū)象去干活，把它打順從為止。

762. Apart from moral considerations this is a stupid method of training,

且不說(shuō)道義問(wèn)題，這本身就是一種愚蠢的訓(xùn)練方法，

763. for it produces a resentful animal who at a later stage may well turn man-killer.

因?yàn)檫@種方法訓(xùn)練會(huì)使動(dòng)物反感，在以后某個(gè)時(shí)期可能會(huì)變成傷人的動(dòng)物。

764. The gentle method requires more patience in the early stages,

溫柔法要求在最初階段保持較大的耐心，

765. but produces a cheerful, good-tempered elephant who will give many years of loyal service.

但這種方法可以訓(xùn)練出性情愉快、脾氣溫順，能忠實(shí)為人服務(wù)多年的大象。

766. The first essential in elephant training is to assign to the animal a single mahout who will be entirely responsible for the job.

馴象中至關(guān)生要的是指派一名專門的馴象員，全面負(fù)責(zé)這項(xiàng)工作。

767. Elephants like to have one master just as dogs do, and are capable of a considerable degree of personal affection.

大象和狗一樣，喜歡有一個(gè)專一的主人，而且會(huì)對(duì)主人產(chǎn)生相當(dāng)深厚的私人感情。

768. There are even stories of half-trained elephant calves who have refused to feed and pined to death when by some unavoidable circumstance they have been deprived of their own trainer.

甚至有這樣的故事：訓(xùn)練了一半的小象，由于不可避免的情況與他們的主人分離后，竟拒絕吃食，消瘦至死。

769. Such extreme cases must probably be taken with a grain of salt,

這種極端的事例雖不可全信，

770. but they do underline the general principle that the relationship between elephant and mahout is the key to successful training.

但強(qiáng)調(diào)了一項(xiàng)基本原則，象和馴象員之間的關(guān)系是馴象成功與否的關(guān)健。

771. The most economical age to capture an elephant for training is between fifteen and twenty years,

捕捉15至20歲之間年齡的大象進(jìn)行馴象最為經(jīng)濟(jì)。

772. for it is then almost ready to undertake heavy work and can begin to earn its keep straight away.

這個(gè)年齡的象差不多已能干重活，可以很快掙回飼養(yǎng)它的開支。

773. But animals of this age do not easily become subservient to man, and a very time man, and a very firm hand must be employed in the early stages.

但這個(gè)年齡的象不易馴服，因此開始階段需要有一位強(qiáng)有力的老手。

774. The captive elephant, still roped to a tree, plunges and screams every time a man approaches,

捕來(lái)拴在樹上的大象，每當(dāng)有人走近它時(shí)，就會(huì)向前猛沖并發(fā)出尖叫，

775. and for several days will probably refuse all food through anger and fear.

甚至一連幾于都由于憤怒和恐懼而拒絕進(jìn)食。

776. Sometimes a tame elephant is tethered nearby to give the wild one confidence,

有時(shí)，把一頭已馴服的象拴在旁邊能給野象以信心。

777. and in most cases the captive gradually quietens down and begins to accept its food.

在大多數(shù)情況下，剛博來(lái)的象會(huì)慢慢靜下來(lái)，接著開始吃食。

778. The next stage is to get the elephant to the training establishment,

下一步就是把象帶到訓(xùn)練場(chǎng)所，

779. a ticklish business which is achieved with the aid of two tame elephants roped to the captive on either side.

這是一件棘手的事，需要在它兩側(cè)拴上兩頭馴服的大象才能完成。

780. When several elephants are being trained at one time, it is customary for the new arrival to be placed between the stalls of two captives whose training is already well advanced.

幾只象同時(shí)訓(xùn)練時(shí)，通常是把新到的安置在兩頭訓(xùn)練得很好的大象的象廄中間，

781. It is then left completely undisturbed with plenty of food and water so that it can absorb the atmosphere of its new home and see that nothing particularly alarming is happening to its companions.

然后給它以充足的食物和水，一定不要驚擾它，以便讓他能適應(yīng)新居的氣氛，并且看到自己的同伴身上沒(méi)有發(fā)生讓自己擔(dān)驚受怕的事。

782. When it is eating normally, its own training begins.

當(dāng)它進(jìn)食正常了，訓(xùn)練就開始。

783. The trainer stands in front of the elephant holding a long stick with a sharp metal point.

馴練員手持一根有鋒利金屬尖頭的長(zhǎng)棒，站在象前。

784. Two assistants, mounted on tame elephants, control the captive from either side,

兩位助手騎在馴服的象的背上，從兩側(cè)控制新捕的象，

785. while others rub their hands over his skin to the accompaniment of a monotonous and soothing chant.

其他人唱著單調(diào)的歌聲用手撫摸象的皮膚。

786. This is supposed to induce pleasurable sensations in the elephant, and its effects are reinforced by the use of endearing epithets.

據(jù)說(shuō)這是為了使象產(chǎn)生愉快的感覺(jué)，為了加強(qiáng)這種效果，

787. The elephant is not son', or 'ho! my father', or 'my mother', according to the age and sex of the captive.

人閃還按象的年齡性別，給以親切的外號(hào)，如“嗬!我的孩子”、“嗬!我的爸爸”、“嗬!我的媽媽”。

788. The elephant is not immediately susceptible to such blandishments,however,

然而大象不會(huì)立刻被這些討好的括感動(dòng)，

789. and usually lashes fiercely with its trunk in all directions.

而往往是用鼻子朝各個(gè)方向猛烈地甩動(dòng)。

790. These movements are controlled by the trainer with the metal-pointed stick,

訓(xùn)練員要用有鋒利金屬尖的長(zhǎng)棒控制它的這種舉動(dòng)，

791. and the trunk eventually becomes so sore that the elephant curls it up and seldom afterwards uses it for offensive purposes.

象鼻子最后疼得卷了起來(lái)，以后它就很少用鼻子去進(jìn)攻了。