American English
This Month
Tattoo Time
Language level: basic
Jason Bermingham (Standard American) and Rachel Roberts (Standard British accent)
Do Egito dos faraós às tribos da Polinésia e “tribos urbanas” das grandes metrópoles: a tradição de desenhar sobre a pele é antiqüíssima e vem à tona de tempos em tempos nas sociedades.
by John Rigg
Tattoos are fashionable. Everybody seems to have one, including top stars like Angelina Jolie, Ben Affleck and Eminem. Well, Derby may not be the most fashionable English city, but tattoo enthusiasts from around the world come each year for the State of the Art Tattoo Convention. This year it takes place at the Assembly Rooms on July 21st and 22nd. The world’s top tattoo artists come to take part in the convention’s prestigious competitions, while enthusiasts come to see – and display – spectacular examples of body art. There are three types of award(1): for small tattoos, which cover a shoulder or arm(02); large designs, which cover half the body; and, finally, “the body suit,” which covers the entire body.
ASK A STUPID QUESTION!
Spectators watch the tattoo artists at work. Their first question is always the same: does it hurt?(03) Well, of course, it does! The least painful areas(04) are the arms and shoulders, followed by the back; avoid joints(05) such as knees and ankles(06), and just forget about your neck. Ouch!(07) And remember: choose the design carefully, go to a registered(08) tattooist, certainly not the cheapest on offer(09), and insist on new needles(10) and new ink(11). Legally, you have to be over 18 years old in Britain.
SHOCKING
Why do people get tattoos? The answer varies: some people love the designs, some want to express their inner selves(12), while others want to shock. Local teenager Janine says: “My mother told me, ‘Proper young ladies(13) do not get tattoos.’ So I went and got one immediately!” Finally, there are people like Enigma who make a living(14) from displaying their tattoos as sideshow attractions(15). Enigma’s body (pictured opposite page, top, left) is completely covered in a blue jigsaw design(16).
A Brief History of Tattoos
Tattoos first became fashionable in Britain at the end of the 18th century. The famous explorer, Captain Cook, returned from a voyage to the South Pacific with a heavily tattooed Polynesian chief(17) named Omal, whom he presented to King George III. People were fascinated and tattoos became popular with the upper classes in this period. The word “tattoo” (derived from the Tahitian “tatu,” meaning “to mark something”) first appears in Captain Cook’s journals. Yet the art of tattooing dates back to Ancient Egypt (3000 BC(18)). A thousand years later we find descriptions in Chinese literature of men completely covered in tattoos. In Europe the Romans used tattoos to mark criminals and slaves, while Britons, Danes and Saxons had tattoos of their family crests(19). In fact, tattoos were common in Europe until AD(20) 787, when Pope Adrian I banned them.
Matéria publicada na revista Speak Up edição 242 - Julho/2007
VOCABULARY
1 award - prêmio.
2 a shoulder or arm - um ombro ou um braço.
3 does it hurt? - Isso dói?
4 the least painful areas - as áreas menos doloridas.
5 joints - articulações, juntas.
6 knees and ankles - joelhos e tornozelos.
7 ouch! - Ai!
8 registered - credenciado.
9 not the cheapest on offer - não o mais barato da praça.
10 needles - agulhas.
11 ink - tinta.
12 their inner selves - sua personalidade.
13 proper young ladies - garotas decentes, “certinhas”, de boa educação.
14 make a living - ganham o sustento.
15 as sideshow attractions - como shows circenses.
16 jigsaw design - um desenho em quebra-cabeça.
17 chief - cacique.
18 BC - A.C.: antes de Cristo (Before Christ).
19 crests - brasões.
20 AD - D.C.: depois de Cristo (Anno Domini).
COMPREHENSION!
1. Write TRUE or FALSE, according to the text above:
a) There are three categories in the competitions of tattooes, like the on in the State of the Art Tattoo Convention.
b) Tattoos are not common about celebrities nowadays.
c) Tattooeing process is painless.
d) When you are a minor and you have a tattoo in Britain. It’s legal.
e) You don’t need new needles and ink when you get tattooed.
2. What question can not be answered after reading the text.
a) Where was the State of Art Convention be held this year?
b) When was the State of Art Convention be held this year?
c) Which body parts are less painful when getting a tattoo?
d) Why do people tattoo? What are the reasons that make people get a tattoo fan?
e) What silly questions do people usually ask to people about tattoos?
• Answer in Portuguese the questions 3,4,5,6 below according to the text:
3. How did tattoos get popular?
___________________________________
4. What’s the origin of the name “tattoo”?
____________________________________
5. What was the relation of the Danes and Saxons with tattoos?
____________________________________
6. What was the relation of the Chineses with tattoos?
_____________________________
7. Match the columns according to the information from the text:
a) The Pope Adrian
b) Captain Cook
c) King George III
d) Tattoos
e) The chief
( ) was named Omal
( ) became popular with the high class
( ) was presented to Captain Cook
( ) banned the Tattoos
( ) tattoed a chief on the chest
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