Lucky Charms

The script of this programme本節目台詞

Helen:大家好，我是 Helen. 歡迎收聽BBC 都市掠影節目。

Rob:And I'm Rob. Welcome to On the Town from BBC Learning English.

Helen:我們今天的主題是 lucky charms 幸運符。

Rob:Let's hear a few people tell us what they consider to be their lucky charm.

Helen:在接下來的片斷中，我們將聽到一隻小黑象 a black elephant, 一顆石頭，還有數字11。是不是所有人都相信幸運符呢？

Woman 1: It's a little black elephant I found when I was nine years of age. And I've kept him ever since.

Woman 2: I carry around a turquoise stone, which for me is like a healthy happy thing that I carry around, just to keep me content.

Woman 3: I don't believe in lucky charms or lucky anything; I like the number 11 and that's about it.

Rob:So not everyone believes in lucky charms.

Helen:剛才聽到的第一位女士已經年過半百了，她9歲的時候找到了一隻小黑象，她至今還保存著它 she has kept him ever since.

Rob:The second lady carries a turquoise stone. It keeps her content.

Helen:Content 在這裏是滿足的意思。綠鬆石 turquoise stone. 這種石頭非常漂亮，難怪第二位女士戴在身上，覺得能夠給她帶來滿足感。

Rob:And the final young woman likes the number 11, but she doesn't believe in lucky charms.

Helen:最後一個女孩說什麼幸運符她都不相信。她僅僅是喜歡數字11。

Rob:So why do some of us have lucky charms? Felicity Powell, who curated a special lucky charm exhibition in London, spoke to the BBC about the effect of charms.

Helen:請留意 Felicity 對人類為什麼會佩戴 charms 的分析。她提到了 anxiety 焦慮，fears 恐懼，worries 擔憂。

I think they say a huge amount just about human condition, which is that when we have anxieties, fears and worries, that often these things don't have a shape; so if there is something, an object, it almost gives shape to that anxiety and is reassuring, it's a thing of great comfort and solace.

Helen:Felicity 分析說 anxiety, fears and worries 都是無形的。They don't have a shape.

Rob:So people use objects to symbolise and give shape to their feelings.

Helen:東西 objects, 我們把我們心中的感覺和一些東西連在一起，這樣的話，我們會感到放心 it's reassuring.

Rob:Felicity believes that with charms, people feel great comfort and solace. It eases people's fears, anxiety and worries.

Helen:Solace and comfort 在這裏都有安慰的意思。

Rob:In the exhibition, the objects on display are from the past century. But I think our connection to charms, or similar objects, goes far back.

Helen:I agree, 我想幸運符從古時候就應該有了。Here's Felicity again:

And it's so ancient, and I think the thing that is really fascinating about it is that it spans time. And every single culture, every kind of religion has had something that is a charm or an amulet.

Rob:Felicity explains that charms span time; they have long history behind them.

Helen:貫穿時間 span time. 而且每一種文化 every culture, 每一種宗教信仰 every kind of religion 都有自己的護身符。

Rob:That's what we call an amulet.

Helen:Amulet 就是護身符。How is it different from a lucky charm?

Rob:Well, as the name suggests, a lucky charm is believed to bring you luck in life.

Helen:Charm 也有護身符的意思，但人們更相信它能帶來幸運。所以我們也說 lucky charm.

Rob:There are lots of different things people can have as their lucky charms. The acorn is a very popular shape for people scared of thunder and lightening.

Helen:橡樹果 acorn 的形狀是很多人的幸運符，這裏麵有什麼神奇的力量?

Actually, it stems from the belief that the god of thunder lives in an oak tree. So therefore, if the god of thunder is in an oak tree, the oak has a special power to protect (so it won't strike you down). And, interestingly, people would hang acorns in windows, because it was always believed lightening came in through the window.

Rob:According to Felicity, people believed that the god of thunder lived in an oak tree. So the oak was thought to have special protective powers.

Helen:橡樹 oak 是非常堅硬的樹木，人們相信雷神 the god of thunder 住在橡樹裏，所以認為橡樹果形狀的東西有特殊保佑的所用。

Rob:So Helen, do you believe in lucky charms？

Helen:Yes, I do. I wear a small jade pendant to keep me safe. 玉墜 jade pendant. How about you?

Rob:No, I think it's all too superstitious for me.

Helen:Well, I am going to hold on to my little jade pendant. I'd be lost without it. 不管你有沒有幸運符，我們都祝大家能過的開開心心，平平安安。 感謝收聽，下次再會。Bye bye!

Rob:Bye bye!