Vocabulary Challenge 12: https://tw.voicetube.com/everyday/20190609
心智圖詞彙攻略: ericvocab.com
Script:
Did you guys learn about Mesoamerican civilizations (中部美洲文明) in school? If not, have you ever seen the film Apocalypto 阿波卡獵逃? Yes, it’s an old film from 2006, but it was a box office success (賣座電影), and it was about a story set toward the end of the Mayan civilization (瑪雅文明).
While there are some historical inaccuracies (就是歷史不準確的地方), it was still a very impactful film and I highly recommend it if you have not watched it.
However, please note that the film is quite gory (血淋淋的).OK, what are some words that come to your mind when you think of Mesoamerican cultures? The Aztec? Astronomy? Human sacrifices?
Unlike the gradual decline of Maya cities, the Aztecs lasted right up until the Spanish arrived.
不像馬雅城市逐漸衰敗，阿茲特克一直到西班牙人到來時都還存在。
So let’s say this sentence again.
Unlike the gradual decline of Maya cities, the Aztecs lasted right up until the Spanish arrived.
Faster
Unlike the gradual decline of Maya cities, the Aztecs lasted right up until the Spanish arrived.
OK, you know the drill. What are the possible thought groups「字組」?
Unlike the gradual decline of Maya cities, (1)
the Aztecs lasted right up (2)
until the Spanish arrived. (3)
How about intonation 語調?
Unlike the gradual decline of Maya cities, (fall-rise)
the Aztecs lasted right up (rise)
until the Spanish arrived (fall).
What about the sentence stress? 句子的重音 You could say:
Unlike the gradual decline of Maya cities, (1)
the Aztecs lasted right up (2)
until the Spanish arrived. (3)
不像馬雅城市逐漸衰敗，阿茲特克一直到西班牙人到來時都還存在。
OK, it’s grammar time!!! 文法時間到了!!!
unlike (prep)
Different from; not similar to.
Unlike his house, my house is small.
Unlike the gradual decline of Maya cities, (1)
the Aztecs lasted right up (2)
until the Spanish arrived. (3)
使用介係詞「像」like 和介係詞「不像」unlike時，須注意以下兩點：
1. 同性質的東西才可類比。
2. 介係詞後方需搭配「名詞」。
例句：不像其他學生，瑪莉從沒上學遲到過。
Unlike other students, Mary is never late to school.
OK, let’s take a break!
So, did you watch the video? It talks about the four great Mesoamerican civilizations: the Olmecs, Maya (Mayan is the language, the Maya refers to the people, it can be a noun or an adjective), the Aztecs, and the Incas.
I am not going to go over a two-hour lecture on these four civilizations because even a two-hour lecture would not do them justice. You need to go over each in detail.
However, let me briefly talk about the Maya civilization, possibly the most well-known of the four.
The Maya civilization existed around 2000BCE, but their first cities did not develop until around 750 BCE. The Maya civilization developed in southeastern Mexico, and are known for their developed writing, art, architecture, mathematics, and knowledge in astronomy, and their ritual and their calendar system. Do you still remember the 2012 phenomenon? Many people thought the world was going to end because it was the end of Mayan calendar!
2012年預言或2012年現象（英語：2012 phenomenon）是一個關於末世論的預言、信仰或傳說、謠言，宣稱美洲的馬雅文明中的馬雅曆長達5,126年週期的結束，預言了地球、世界和人類社會在公元2012年12月21日[a]之時前後數天之內將會發生全球性的災難性變化。
Unfortunately, the last independent Maya cities fell to the Spanish. While the Maya were almost fully conquered by the Spanish in the late 1600w, most villages remained relatively independent because they did not have a central political core! So this actually helped them. Many continued their own way of life. Their beliefs and language survive even today. In fact, it is estimated that there are still 6 million Maya today in South America, and many still speak one of the many Mayan languages.
So many people think it is not helpful to study history. But by knowing what the Maya people went through, and understanding their culture, we can better understand these people, avoid the mistakes the Spanish made, and understand more about our world
Sources:
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Inca
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Mesoamerican-civilization
https://www.thoughtco.com/olmec-civilization-influence-on-mesoamerica-2136296
OK, let’s get back to English learning!
| Word | Form | |
| 1. decline
to gradually become less, worse, or lower （逐漸）減少，衰落，降低 steady/gradual/long-term decline 穩定/逐步/長期下降 His interest in the project declined after his wife died. 妻子死後，他對該企劃案的興趣逐漸淡薄了。 |
(n.) | |
|
(n.) | |
| 3. monument
a structure or building that is built to honor a special person or event 紀念碑；紀念塔；紀念館 national monument國家紀念碑 ancient/historic monument an old building or place that is an important part of a country’s history 歷史遺跡，名勝古跡 Parts of the Berlin wall are being allowed to stand as historic monuments. 當局允許把柏林圍牆的一部分作為歷史遺跡保留下來。 |
(n.) | |
| 4. predominantly
mostly or mainly 佔主導地位地；佔絕大多數地；顯著地 a predominantly Muslim community 回教徒佔絕大多數的社區 She is predominantly a dancer, but she also sings. 她主要是跳舞，但也唱歌。 |
(adv.) | |
| 5. convey
to express a thought, feeling, or idea so that it is understood by other people 表達，傳達（思想、感情或想法） His poetry conveys a great sense of religious devotion. 他的詩歌表達了獻身宗教的強烈感情。 Please convey our condolences to the family. 請向家人轉達我們的哀思。 |
(v.) |
OK, thank you guys so much for listening! If you have any questions, feel free to leave a message here or on my FB. I will keep doing my best to bring you content knowledge and teach you metacognitive strategies!
Ancient Aztec and Mayan traditional music by Ricardo Lozano featuring Jorge Ramos: