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CHAPTER XVI BÊCHE DE MER ENGLISH

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 Given a number of white traders, a wide area of land, and scores of savage1 languages and dialects, the result will be that the traders will manufacture a totally new, unscientific, but perfectly2 adequate, language.  This the traders did when they invented the Chinook lingo3 for use over British Columbia, Alaska, and the Northwest Territory.  So with the lingo of the Kroo-boys of Africa, the pigeon English of the Far East, and the bêche de mer of the westerly portion of the South Seas.  This latter is often called pigeon English, but pigeon English it certainly is not.  To show how totally different it is, mention need be made only of the fact that the classic piecee of China has no place in it.
 
There was once a sea captain who needed a dusky potentate4 down in his cabin.  The potentate was on deck.  The captain’s command to the Chinese steward6 was “Hey, boy, you go top-side catchee one piecee king.”  Had the steward been a New Hebridean or a Solomon islander, the command would have been: “Hey, you fella boy, go look ’m eye belong you along deck, bring ’m me fella one big fella marster belong black man.”
 
It was the first white men who ventured through Melanesia after the early explorers, who developed bêche de mer English—men such as the bêche de mer fishermen, the sandalwood traders, the pearl hunters, and the labour recruiters.  In the Solomons, for instance, scores of languages and dialects are spoken.  Unhappy the trader who tried to learn them all; for in the next group to which he might wander he would find scores of additional tongues.  A common language was necessary—a language so simple that a child could learn it, with a vocabulary as limited as the intelligence of the savages7 upon whom it was to be used.  The traders did not reason this out.  Bêche de mer English was the product of conditions and circumstances.  Function precedes organ; and the need for a universal Melanesian lingo preceded bêche de mer English.  Bêche de mer was

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1 savage ECxzR     
adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人
参考例句：
  • The poor man received a savage beating from the thugs.那可怜的人遭到暴徒的痛打。
  • He has a savage temper.他脾气粗暴。
2 perfectly 8Mzxb     
adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地
参考例句：
  • The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
  • Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。
3 lingo S0exp     
n.语言不知所云，外国话，隐语
参考例句：
  • If you live abroad it helps to know the local lingo.住在国外，学一点当地的语言自有好处。
  • Don't use all that technical lingo try and explain in plain English.别尽用那种专门术语，用普通的词语解释吧。
4 potentate r1lzj     
n.统治者；君主
参考例句：
  • People rose up against the despotic rule of their potentate.人们起来反抗君主的专制统治。
  • I shall recline here like an oriental potentate.我要像个东方君主一样躺在这.
5 stew 0GTz5     
n.炖汤，焖，烦恼；v.炖汤，焖，忧虑
参考例句：
  • The stew must be boiled up before serving.炖肉必须煮熟才能上桌。
  • There's no need to get in a stew.没有必要烦恼。
6 steward uUtzw     
n.乘务员，服务员；看管人；膳食管理员
参考例句：
  • He's the steward of the club.他是这家俱乐部的管理员。
  • He went around the world as a ship's steward.他当客船服务员，到过世界各地。
7 savages 2ea43ddb53dad99ea1c80de05d21d1e5     
未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 )
参考例句：
  • There're some savages living in the forest. 森林里居住着一些野人。
  • That's an island inhabited by savages. 那是一个野蛮人居住的岛屿。
8 purely 8Sqxf     
adv.纯粹地，完全地
参考例句：
  • I helped him purely and simply out of friendship.我帮他纯粹是出于友情。
  • This disproves the theory that children are purely imitative.这证明认为儿童只会单纯地模仿的理论是站不住脚的。
9 enthusiasts 7d5827a9c13ecd79a8fd94ebb2537412     
n.热心人，热衷者( enthusiast的名词复数 )
参考例句：
  • A group of enthusiasts have undertaken the reconstruction of a steam locomotive. 一群火车迷已担负起重造蒸汽机车的任务。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Now a group of enthusiasts are going to have the plane restored. 一群热心人计划修复这架飞机。 来自新概念英语第二册
10 primitive vSwz0     
adj.原始的；简单的；n.原(始)人，原始事物
参考例句：
  • It is a primitive instinct to flee a place of danger.逃离危险的地方是一种原始本能。
  • His book describes the march of the civilization of a primitive society.他的著作描述了一个原始社会的开化过程。
11 exertion F7Fyi     
n.尽力，努力
参考例句：
  • We were sweating profusely from the exertion of moving the furniture.我们搬动家具大费气力，累得大汗淋漓。
  • She was hot and breathless from the exertion of cycling uphill.由于用力骑车爬坡，她浑身发热。
12 excellence ZnhxM     
n.优秀，杰出，(pl.)优点，美德
参考例句：
  • His art has reached a high degree of excellence.他的艺术已达到炉火纯青的地步。
  • My performance is far below excellence.我的表演离优秀还差得远呢。
13 clams 0940cacadaf01e94ba47fd333a69de59     
n.蛤；蚌，蛤( clam的名词复数 )v.（在沙滩上）挖蛤( clam的第三人称单数 )
参考例句：
  • The restaurant's specialities are fried clams. 这个餐厅的特色菜是炸蚌。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • We dug clams in the flats et low tide. 退潮时我们在浅滩挖蛤蜊。 来自辞典例句
14 ripened 8ec8cef64426d262ecd7a78735a153dc     
v.成熟，使熟( ripen的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
  • They're collecting the ripened reddish berries. 他们正采集熟了的淡红草莓。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The branches bent low with ripened fruits. 成熟的果实压弯了树枝。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
15 westward XIvyz     
n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西
参考例句：
  • We live on the westward slope of the hill.我们住在这座山的西山坡。
  • Explore westward or wherever.向西或到什么别的地方去勘探。
16 quaint 7tqy2     
adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的
参考例句：
  • There were many small lanes in the quaint village.在这古香古色的村庄里，有很多小巷。
  • They still keep some quaint old customs.他们仍然保留着一些稀奇古怪的旧风俗。
17 seasick seasick     
adj.晕船的
参考例句：
  • When I get seasick,I throw up my food.我一晕船就呕吐。
  • He got seasick during the voyage.在航行中他晕船。
18 mere rC1xE     
adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过
参考例句：
  • That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
  • It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。
19 seamen 43a29039ad1366660fa923c1d3550922     
n.海员
参考例句：
  • Experienced seamen will advise you about sailing in this weather. 有经验的海员会告诉你在这种天气下的航行情况。
  • In the storm, many seamen wished they were on shore. 在暴风雨中，许多海员想，要是他们在陆地上就好了。
20 Christian KVByl     
adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒
参考例句：
  • They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
  • His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。
21 fowl fljy6     
n.家禽，鸡，禽肉
参考例句：
  • Fowl is not part of a traditional brunch.禽肉不是传统的早午餐的一部分。
  • Since my heart attack,I've eaten more fish and fowl and less red meat.自从我患了心脏病后，我就多吃鱼肉和禽肉，少吃红色肉类。
22 exclamation onBxZ     
n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词
参考例句：
  • He could not restrain an exclamation of approval.他禁不住喝一声采。
  • The author used three exclamation marks at the end of the last sentence to wake up the readers.作者在文章的最后一句连用了三个惊叹号，以引起读者的注意。
23 oar EH0xQ     
n.桨，橹，划手；v.划行
参考例句：
  • The sailors oar slowly across the river.水手们慢慢地划过河去。
  • The blade of the oar was bitten off by a shark.浆叶被一条鲨鱼咬掉了。
24 dictated aa4dc65f69c81352fa034c36d66908ec     
v.大声讲或读( dictate的过去式和过去分词 )；口授；支配；摆布
参考例句：
  • He dictated a letter to his secretary. 他向秘书口授信稿。
  • No person of a strong character likes to be dictated to. 没有一个个性强的人愿受人使唤。 来自《简明英汉词典》
25 harry heBxS     
vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼
参考例句：
  • Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
  • Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。
26 schooner mDoyU     
n.纵帆船
参考例句：
  • The schooner was driven ashore.那条帆船被冲上了岸。
  • The current was bearing coracle and schooner southward at an equal rate.急流正以同样的速度将小筏子和帆船一起冲向南方。
27 corrupted 88ed91fad91b8b69b62ce17ae542ff45     
（使）败坏( corrupt的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）腐化； 引起（计算机文件等的）错误； 破坏
参考例句：
  • The body corrupted quite quickly. 尸体很快腐烂了。
  • The text was corrupted by careless copyists. 原文因抄写员粗心而有讹误。
28 hoof 55JyP     
n.(马，牛等的)蹄
参考例句：
  • Suddenly he heard the quick,short click of a horse's hoof behind him.突然间，他听见背后响起一阵急骤的马蹄的得得声。
  • I was kicked by a hoof.我被一只蹄子踢到了。
29 petulant u3JzP     
adj.性急的，暴躁的
参考例句：
  • He picked the pen up with a petulant gesture.他生气地拿起那支钢笔。
  • The thing had been remarked with petulant jealousy by his wife.
30 toiled 599622ddec16892278f7d146935604a3     
长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的过去式和过去分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉
参考例句：
  • They toiled up the hill in the blazing sun. 他们冒着炎炎烈日艰难地一步一步爬上山冈。
  • He toiled all day long but earned very little. 他整天劳碌但挣得很少。
31 toil WJezp     
vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事
参考例句：
  • The wealth comes from the toil of the masses.财富来自大众的辛勤劳动。
  • Every single grain is the result of toil.每一粒粮食都来之不易。
32 plantation oOWxz     
n.种植园，大农场
参考例句：
  • His father-in-law is a plantation manager.他岳父是个种植园经营者。
  • The plantation owner has possessed himself of a vast piece of land.这个种植园主把大片土地占为己有。
33 possessed xuyyQ     
adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的
参考例句：
  • He flew out of the room like a man possessed.他像着了魔似地猛然冲出房门。
  • He behaved like someone possessed.他行为举止像是魔怔了。
34 beads 894701f6859a9d5c3c045fd6f355dbf5     
n.（空心）小珠子( bead的名词复数 )；水珠；珠子项链
参考例句：
  • a necklace of wooden beads 一条木珠项链
  • Beads of perspiration stood out on his forehead. 他的前额上挂着汗珠。
35 confiscated b8af45cb6ba964fa52504a6126c35855     
没收，充公( confiscate的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
  • Their land was confiscated after the war. 他们的土地在战后被没收。
  • The customs officer confiscated the smuggled goods. 海关官员没收了走私品。
36 strings nh0zBe     
n.弦
参考例句：
  • He sat on the bed,idly plucking the strings of his guitar.他坐在床上，随意地拨着吉他的弦。
  • She swept her fingers over the strings of the harp.她用手指划过竖琴的琴弦。
37 gaudy QfmzN     
adj.华而不实的；俗丽的
参考例句：
  • She was tricked out in gaudy dress.她穿得华丽而俗气。
  • The gaudy butterfly is sure that the flowers owe thanks to him.浮华的蝴蝶却相信花是应该向它道谢的。
38 wrath nVNzv     
n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒
参考例句：
  • His silence marked his wrath. 他的沉默表明了他的愤怒。
  • The wrath of the people is now aroused. 人们被激怒了。
39 outrageous MvFyH     
adj.无理的，令人不能容忍的
参考例句：
  • Her outrageous behaviour at the party offended everyone.她在聚会上的无礼行为触怒了每一个人。
  • Charges for local telephone calls are particularly outrageous.本地电话资费贵得出奇。
40 plantations ee6ea2c72cc24bed200cd75cf6fbf861     
n.种植园，大农场( plantation的名词复数 )
参考例句：
  • Soon great plantations, supported by slave labor, made some families very wealthy. 不久之后出现了依靠奴隶劳动的大庄园，使一些家庭成了富豪。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
  • Winterborne's contract was completed, and the plantations were deserted. 维恩特波恩的合同完成后，那片林地变得荒废了。 来自辞典例句
41 polyglot MOAxK     
adj.通晓数种语言的；n.通晓多种语言的人
参考例句：
  • He was a round old man with a guttural,polyglot accent.他是一位肥胖的老人,讲话时带有多种语言混合的多喉音的声调。
  • Thanks to his polyglot aptitude,he made rapid progress.由于他有学习语言的天才，他学习的进度很快。
42 stolidly 3d5f42d464d711b8c0c9ea4ca88895e6     
adv.迟钝地，神经麻木地
参考例句：
  • Too often people sat stolidly watching the noisy little fiddler. 人们往往不动声色地坐在那里，瞧着这位瘦小的提琴手闹腾一番。 来自辞典例句
  • He dropped into a chair and sat looking stolidly at the floor. 他坐在椅子上，两眼呆呆地望着地板。 来自辞典例句
43 missionary ID8xX     
adj.教会的，传教(士)的；n.传教士
参考例句：
  • She taught in a missionary school for a couple of years.她在一所教会学校教了两年书。
  • I hope every member understands the value of missionary work. 我希望教友都了解传教工作的价值。
44 taro TgVzm3     
n.芋，芋头
参考例句：
  • Main grain crop has taro,corn,banana to wait.主要粮食作物有芋头、玉米、芭蕉等。
  • You celebrate your birthday with taro,red bean and butter.用红豆、芋头和黄油给自己过生日。
45 musket 46jzO     
n.滑膛枪
参考例句：
  • I hunted with a musket two years ago.两年前我用滑膛枪打猎。
  • So some seconds passed,till suddenly Joyce whipped up his musket and fired.又过了几秒钟，突然，乔伊斯端起枪来开了火。

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