female Divers1 of Korea’s Jeju Island
世界文化遺產——韓國「海女」文化
These ladies had some impressive swimming skills.
這些女人都擁有令人欽佩的泳技。
Did you know that South Korea has over 3,000 islands? The largest is Jeju Island, which is located off the southern coast. For most of its history, Jeju Island was a tough2 place to live. It was isolated, and most of the land was not suitable for3 farming.
你知道韓國有超過三千個島嶼嗎？其中最大的島嶼是位在南海岸的濟州島。在歷史上的大多時候，濟州島的島民過得非常艱苦。它是一個孤島而且大多數的土地不適合農耕。
So, how did the people there make a living? Some started diving into1 the ocean to catch sea creatures to sell. At first, most divers were men, but over time, women took over4 the profession. These female divers were called haenyeo, which means Sea women.
那麼島上的人民是如何維生的呢？有些人開始潛入海里捕撈海洋生物拿去賣錢。一開始，大多的潛水員都是男性，不過隨著時間經過，女人接管了這項工作。這些女性潛水員被稱為 haenyeo，也就是「海女」的意思。
Haenyeo were excellent swimmers. Many could dive 20 meters underwater and hold their breath5 for two minutes. Training usually started when girls turned 11 and lasted for seven years. They learned how to catch things like sea urchins and octopuses with their hands or a fishing spear. Nowadays, haenyeo use modern equipment6 like wetsuits, fins, and masks, but they still go without air tanks.
海女各個都是游泳健將。許多海女可以潛入海底二十公尺並能憋氣兩分鐘。女孩通常滿十一歲時就會開始接受為期七年的訓練。她們學會如何靠雙手或是用魚叉捕捉像是海膽和章魚的漁貨。現今的海女會使用像是潛水服、蛙鞋、面罩等現代裝備，但她們仍然不用氧氣筒。
Though there are fewer haenyeo today than in the past, they are still seen as an important symbol7 of Jeju Island. In fact, in 2016, haenyeo culture was added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists. This has helped put these brave female divers and Jeju Island on the map8.
雖然跟過去相比，現在海女的數量更少了，不過她們還是被視為濟州島一個重要的象徵。事實上，海女文化在 2016 年被聯合國教科文組織列入人類非物質文化遺產名錄。這使得這些英勇的女性潛水員以及濟州島大為出名。
★ Words & Phrases ★
單詞詞組
★ 1. diver n. 潛水員
dive into... 潛入⋯⋯
三態為：dive, dived / dove, dived / dove。
The divers are showing the audience how they feed the dolphins.
潛水員正在對觀眾示範他們如何餵食海豚。
Children happily dive into the swimming pool in the summertime.
夏日炎炎，孩子們開心地跳進游泳池。
★ 2. tough a. 艱困的，困難的By studying hard, John finally succeeded in passing the tough test.
靠著用功讀書，約翰終於成功通過困難的考試。
★ 3. be suitable for... 適合⋯⋯的
This horror movie is not suitable for young kids.
這部恐怖片不適合孩童觀看。
★ 4. take over... 接管⋯⋯；取得對⋯⋯的控制
The brave man took over leadership of the tribe once he won the fight.
這名勇士打贏這場決鬥後便接管整個部落。
* tribe n. 部落
★ 5. hold sb’s breath 某人屏住呼吸
A great swimmer can hold his breath for three minutes underwater.
游泳健將可以在水中憋氣三分鐘。
★ 6. equipment n. 配備，設備（不可數）
To improve the workplace environment, the boss had the office equipment upgraded.
為了改善工作環境，老闆升級了辦公室的設備。
* upgrade vt.（使）升級／等
★ 7. symbol n. 象徵
Doves are usually considered a symbol of peace.
鴿子通常被視為和平的象徵。
★ 8. put... on the map 使⋯⋯出名
The success of the singer’s first album really put her on the map in the music industry.
那名歌手首張專輯的成功使她在音樂圈成名。
In ancient times, thousands of women on South Korea’s Jeju Island worked as sea divers. Sea diving was one of the best ways to support1 a family on the island at that time. There were far more female divers than male ones. While the women worked, their husbands often looked after2 the children and did the shopping.
在古代，韓國濟州島有數千位女性的職業是海底潛水員。那時候海底潛水是在島上養家活口最好的方式之一。女性潛水員遠遠多於男性。當女人工作時，男人則經常照顧小孩和採買東西。
Over the years, however, South Korea has gone through3 many changes, and the number of haenyeo has decreased. Sea diving used to be one of the only professions available4 to women on Jeju Island, but now, they have many different choices. As a result5, most women choose not to become a sea diver, which is a very difficult and dangerous job.
然而多年以來，韓國經歷了許多改變，海女的數量也減少了。海底潛水在過去是濟州島女性少數可從事的職業，但現在她們有非常多種不同的選擇。因此大多數的女人不會選擇海底潛水這種艱難且危險的工作。
While there are still haenyeo around today, most are elderly. A mother and daughter, Park Suk-Hee and Ko Ryou-Jin, however, have shown that it’s still possible to succeed6 as a haenyeo. In the morning, the two dive into the ocean to catch sea creatures. In the afternoon and evening, they cook the seafood they caught and serve it to customers. People come from far and wide7 to taste their freshly caught dishes. Thanks to their diving skills and restaurant, this mother-daughter pair can continue to8 support themselves through the sea.
儘管現在還是有一些海女，但她們大多是年老的婦人。不過朴石熙（Park Suk-Hee）和高良珍（Ko Ryou-Jin）這對母女體現了身為海女還是有可能成功的。每天早上母女倆會潛入海底捕撈海鮮。到了下午和傍晚，她們會烹煮當天的漁獲，並端上桌給客人享用。人們會從四面八方前來品嘗她們現抓的海鮮。多虧有了她們的潛水技術與餐廳，這對母女倆才能繼續靠海維生。
★ Words & Phrases ★
單詞詞組
★ 1. support vt. 供養；支持 & n. 支持
Benny has to work day and night so that he can support a family of five.
班尼必須日以繼夜地工作以維持一家五口的生活。
Children are more likely to achieve their goals with their parents』 support.
孩子在父母的支持下更有可能達成他們的目標。
★ 2. look after... 照顧／照看⋯⋯
The young man will look after his sister when their parents are away.
當他爸媽不在的時候，那位年輕人會照顧他的妹妹。
★ 3. go through... 經歷⋯⋯
Caterpillars go through several stages of growth before they turn into butterflies.
毛毛蟲要經歷多個成長階段才會變成蝴蝶。
* caterpillar n. 毛毛蟲
★ 4. available a. 可取得的，現有的
The record companies wanted to raise the price of songs available for download.
唱片公司想要提高可供下載的歌曲費用。
★ 5. as a result 因此，所以
The boy broke his wrist. As a result, he was not able to play in the basketball game.
那個男孩摔斷他的手腕。因此，他無法去打籃球賽。
★ 6. succeed vi. 成功；順利完成
Only if we keep on trying, and learn in the process, will we succeed in the end.
唯有不斷嘗試並在過程中學習，我們最後才會成功。
★ 7. far and wide 各處，廣泛地
Due to his great works, the artist’s fame has spread far and wide.
因為他的傑作，這個藝術家才得以聲名遠播。
* fame n. 名聲，名氣
★ 8. continue to V 繼續（做）⋯⋯
As long as you tell me the truth, I』ll continue to trust you.
只要你告訴我實話，我就會繼續相信你。
*本文內容選自：《常春藤生活英語雜誌》賴世雄主編
*圖片出自攝圖網
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