________________________________

Hey you guys, thanks for tuning-in to today's episode of News Bites.

I'm Jacob Ingram.

And I'm Allie Highsmith.

In today's news: Fewer people speak local languages, and South Korea convicts
a man for binge eating.

And for today's Tasty Tidbit: the world's oldest written language.

Stay tuned for more on those stories.
_______________________________

在日常生活中講本土語言的人越來越少
Fewer People Speak Local Languages

Do you speak any local languages of Taiwan?

The three most common local languages are Hokkien (閩南話), which is also
known as Taiwanese (台語), Hakka (客家語) and Formosan languages
(福爾摩沙語言).

Formosan languages are the indigenous languages (原住民語言) of Taiwan,
spoken by the various indigenous tribes (原住民部落).

Sadly, the number of people who speak indigenous languages is going down.

National Taiwan Normal University (台師大) conducted a survey (民調).

Researchers at the university made lots of telephone calls, interviewing over
1,000 people.

73% of survey participants identify themselves as Hokkien, while 11% identify
as Hakka.

The results of the survey show an interesting phenomenon (現象).

Chung, a linguistic professor of NTNU, says there is a trend (趨勢) on not
speaking local languages at home.

Around 68% of participants speak Mandarin Chinese (國語) at home, compared to
30% for Hokkien and just 1.4% for Hakka.

The survey also shows that elderly people (長輩們) tend to speak more local
languages.

But when elders interact (互動) with their grandchildren, most of them switch
to Mandarin Chinese.

They worry children won't understand them otherwise.

Urban (都市地區) areas have a higher rate of speaking Mandarin Chinese,
compared to rural (偏鄉) areas.

Chung suggested that the government encourage families to speak local
languages at home to reverse the trend.

He emphasized the importance of a language-rich home environment.

He said, "Language learning should be part of daily life, not just textbook
exercises."

"Speaking one's mother tongue at home is a powerful influence."

專家學者曾經說過，在家裡學習本土語言，效果最顯著。

Another survey done last year showed that 50% of people are not aware of
their ethnic (族群) culture.

Chung also suggested the government try various approaches to encourage
cultural education.

Online games, illustrated books (繪本) and manga (漫畫) are popular ways to
interest students.

This will make learning more fun.
_______________________________

南韓男子增加體重來逃避兵役 結果被判刑
South Korea Convicts Man over Binge Eating to Dodge Military Draft

Many countries in the world have mandatory (強制) military service.

This means men of a certain age are required to serve in the military.
有些國家規定，成年男子一定要當兵。

Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand (泰國), Israel (以色列) and many other countries
have mandatory military service.

A few countries even have mandatory military service for women.

Some people are exempted (豁免) from military service.

They are usually people with mental or physical challenges (身心障礙) and
also chronic diseases (慢性疾病).

But people who are too skinny (太瘦) or obese (過於肥胖) can also be exempted.

So some people gain weight deliberately just to avoid military service.
有些人會故意變胖，以便躲避當兵。

This is exactly what a man from South Korea did.

In South Korea, all men who are healthy must serve for at least 18 months
when they are 28 years old.
在韓國，所有身體健康的男性到了２８歲，必須服兵役至少１８個月。

This man tried but failed to gain weight to avoid doing military service
(他想增重，卻沒成功).

Not only that, he got into trouble too.

He was sentenced (判刑) to one year in prison.

The judge ruled that the man "...ate high-calorie foods, doubled his meal
portions, refrained (避免) from physically demanding jobs."

"He also drank large amounts of water right before measurements to
deliberately (故意的) increase his weight."

Over the years, hundreds of South Korean young men have tried to escape doing
military service.

They deliberately gain or lose weight, fake mental illness and even self-harm
(自我傷害).

In fact, this is common in countries that have mandatory military service.

Many think mandatory military service is a waste of time.

Lots of people also think the law would be fairer if military service also
applied to women.
許多人也認為應該徵召女生入伍，法律應該一視同仁。
_______________________________

So, in today's News Bites:

Taiwan has three main local languages: Hokkien, Hakka, and Formosan.

Sadly, fewer people are speaking local languages in Taiwan.

A recent survey found that many Taiwanese families are switching to Mandarin
Chinese at home.

Experts say that local languages should be spoken at home for children to
learn them naturally.
_______________________________

And...

Many countries, including Taiwan, Singapore, and South Korea, have mandatory
military service for men.

Some try to avoid military service by faking illnesses or deliberately
gaining weight.

A South Korean man was sentenced to prison for trying to avoid military
service by gaining weight.

Many think mandatory military service for men is a waste of time and unfair.
_______________________________
趣味小點
Tasty Tidbit

And in today's Tasty Tidbit:

Do you know what the world's oldest written language is?

Many believe it is Sumerian (蘇美語).

It came from ancient Mesopotamia, which is now modern-day Iraq (伊拉克).

It dates back to around 3200 BCE.

So it's over 5000 years old!

It was used to record a wide range of information.
________________________________

That's it for today's episode of News Bites!

If you have a fun fact, a joke or interesting news story you'd like to share
with us, record your message and send us your Tasty Tidbit to
newsbites@icrt.com.tw, and you might hear it at the end of an episode.

We'll see you next time for an exciting new episode of News Bites!
 

________________________________

Hello and welcome back to a brand new episode of News Bites.

I'm Paz Bueno.

And I'm Allie Highsmith.

In today's news: Connecting ancient sports to modern life, and a helpful
robot in space.

And in today's Tasty Tidbit…which animals sleep the most?

Keep on listening to find out more!
________________________________

古代生活與現代運動
Exhibition of Ancient Life and Modern Sport

Taiwan's history goes back thousands of years.

Before the arrival of the Han Chinese (漢人), the island was home to the
Austronesian people (南島民族).

They are one of the world's oldest and most widespread cultures.
南島民族是世界上最古老、分布最廣的文化之一。

They lived in Taiwan for over 6,000 years and are part of the same group as
people in the Philippines, New Zealand, and even as far away as Madagascar.

These early inhabitants (早期居民) developed rich traditions (傳統),
languages (語言), and customs (習俗) that are still part of Taiwan's culture
today.

A new exhibition at the Shihsanhang Museum of Archeology (十三行博物館) in
New Taipei City shows how ancient Austronesian life connects with modern
sports.

The exhibition is called Ancient Life and Modern Sport and runs until
September 14.

The exhibition shows how traditional activities like archery, rowing,
weightlifting, and throwing are similar to modern sports.
展覽展示了像射箭、划船、舉重和丟擲等古代活動，這些與現代運動非常相似。

It also explains how ancient ceremonies before hunting or farming
(狩獵或耕種前舉行的儀式) are like today's opening ceremonies in sports.

In ancient Austronesian culture, strong and skilled people were admired and
respected (受到尊敬).

Some were even seen as divine (神聖).

The exhibition also talks about the challenges Indigenous Peoples in Taiwan
(台灣原住民) face today.

Some groups, like the Plains Indigenous Peoples (平埔族), have lost their
language and customs.

It is important to help them keep their traditions alive.

The Shihsanhang Museum is a great place to learn about Taiwan's deep
Austronesian roots and how their traditions are still with us today!
________________________________

機器人幫助太空人
Robot Helps Astronauts in Space!

Robots are becoming a bigger part of our daily lives.

They help with many things, from cleaning homes to building cars.

But in the future, robots won't just work on Earth-they'll help humans in
space, too.

Scientists are now testing how robots can assist astronauts on space
missions.

Astronauts on China's Tiangong space station (天宮太空站) are testing a smart
robot named Xiao Hang (小航).

This floating robot moves easily in space's microgravity and can take
pictures.
這個漂浮機器人在太空中的微重力環境下能輕鬆移動，還可以拍照。

In the future, it will help astronauts with important tasks like checking
equipment (檢查設備) and managing supplies (管理物資).

The robot will save time for astronauts so they can focus on bigger tasks.

The Shenzhou 19 crew is studying how humans and robots can work better
together in space.

Astronauts are also running many experiments (科學實驗).

One study looks at how space affects fruit flies (果蠅).

This research helps scientists understand how living things change in space.

Another experiment tests how astronauts' movement changes
(太空人的動作如何改變) after spending a long time in space.

The Shenzhou 19 crew set a new world record for the longest spacewalk on
December 18, spending nine hours outside the station.

This broke the old record of nearly nine hours set by NASA astronauts in 2001.

12 月 18 日，神舟 19 號的太空人創下世界紀錄，進行長達 9
小時的太空漫步，打破了 2001 年由 美國太空總署太空人創下的紀錄。

China's Tiangong space station, completed in 2022, means "Heavenly Palace."

It orbits (繞行) the Earth about 400 kilometers above the surface.

China plans to expand the station and continue using it for science and space
exploration.
________________________________

So, in today's News Bites:

A new exhibition at the Shihsanhang Museum of Archeology in New Taipei City
shows how ancient Austronesian life connects with modern sports.

The exhibition is called Ancient Life and Modern Sport and runs until
September 14.

It shows how traditional activities like archery, rowing, weightlifting, and
throwing are similar to modern sports.
________________________________

And,

Astronauts on China's Tiangong space station are testing a smart robot named
Xiao Hang.

This floating robot moves easily in space's microgravity and can take
pictures.

In the future, it will help astronauts with important tasks like checking
equipment and managing supplies.
________________________________

趣味小點
Tasty Tidbit

Some animals sleep a lot.

Koalas rest up to 20 hours each day.

Sloths also enjoy long naps, sleeping around 15 to 20 hours daily.

Bats can snooze for nearly 20 hours a day.

These animals sleep so much because their food doesn't give them much energy.

Sleeping helps them save energy and stay safe from predators.
________________________________

If you have a fun fact, a joke, or interesting news you'd like to share with
us, record your message and send us your Tasty Tidbit to
newsbites@icrt.com.tw, and you might hear it at the end of an episode!

We'll see you next time for an exciting new episode of News Bites!
 

________________________________

Hello and welcome back to a brand new episode of News Bites.

I'm Paz Bueno.

And I'm Nancy Sun.

In today's news:
A comic book about Taiwan's monsters and myths, and protecting the moon.

And in today's Tasty Tidbit…what did we leave on the moon?

Keep on listening to find out more!
________________________________

臺灣的怪物與傳說
Taiwan's Monsters and Myths

Taiwan has many amazing stories about monsters and spirits (怪物和精靈).

From mountain spirits to river monsters, these stories have been told for
many years.
從山裡的精靈到河裡的怪物，這些故事流傳了許多年。

Some of them teach people to respect nature (尊重大自然).

Others try to explain strange things that happen in everyday life
(生活中發生的奇怪現象).

Now, a new comic book (漫畫) is bringing these stories to life in a fun way!

Taiwanese artist and writer Chiaos Tseng (角斯) has created The Tales from
Taiwan《妖怪畫誌》.

It's a comic book full of mystery (神秘) and monsters!

It shows Taiwan's culture through its old legends (傳說).

Comics have been popular in Japan for a long time.

But Taiwan's comic style (漫畫風格) is still growing.

Tseng wants to help by sharing Taiwanese folklore (民間故事).

His book includes stories from different groups, including Taiwan's
Indigenous peoples (原住民族).

One legend he tells is about Tarovar (達洛凡), a spirit from Paiwan (排灣族)
and Taroko (太魯閣族) traditions.

Tarovar can hold a whole river in his mouth!
達洛凡可以把整條河的水含在嘴裡！

But if he gets angry, he can create big storms and floods.
但如果他生氣了，就能掀起大風暴和洪水。

Tseng says these stories are important because they teach people to respect
nature.

He spent a long time researching these legends, but he also used his
imagination (想像力) to bring the monsters to life.

He hopes Taiwan will continue to create its own art style and share its rich
culture (豐富的文化) with the world.
________________________________

月球也需要保護
The Moon Needs Protection!

Cultural sites (文化遺址) are very important.

They tell the story of human history.

Old temples, famous landmarks, and ancient ruins help us remember the past.
古老的寺廟、著名的地標和歷史遺跡，都幫助我們記住過去的重要時刻。

But some of these places are in danger (面臨危險).

Wars, natural disasters, and even too many tourists can damage them.
戰爭、自然災害，甚至過多的觀光客都可能造成破壞。

And now, one very surprising place has been added to the list of endangered
sites (被列入了瀕危遺址名單)...

The moon!

Experts say future space tourism and missions could damage historic spots,
like the footprints left by the first astronauts.
專家擔心，未來的太空旅行和商業活動，可能會破壞第一批太空人在月球表面留下的足跡。

The World Monuments Fund (世界紀念建築基金會) usually protects places on
Earth.

But this year, for the first time, they added the moon.

More space missions are planned, but there aren't enough rules to protect
important sites on the moon.

NASA's Artemis III mission in 2027 will send astronauts back to the moon.

And after that, private companies (私人公司) might start sending tourists!

That's why experts are worried.

People might disturb (破壞) important objects, like the camera that filmed
the first moon landing (例如拍攝人類首次登月畫面的攝影機).

Other places on the endangered list include earthquake-damaged areas
(地震受損的地區) in Japan and Turkey, the Swahili coast of Africa
(非洲的斯瓦希里海岸), and ancient monasteries in Albania
(阿爾巴尼亞的古老修道院).

Some places are at risk because of war (因戰爭受到威脅), like Gaza (加薩).

Others are affected by climate change (氣候變遷).

Experts say we must work together to protect historical sites on Earth and
even in space!
________________________________

So, in today's News Bites:

Taiwanese artist and writer Chiaos Tseng has created a comic book full of
mystery and monsters.

'The Tales from Taiwan' brings to life local legends and supernatural stories.

His book explores stories from many groups, including Taiwan's Indigenous
peoples.
________________________________

And,

The moon has been added to a list of endangered heritage sites.

Experts worry that future space tourism and commercial missions might damage
historic spots, like the footprints left by the first astronauts.

The World Monuments Fund usually protects cultural sites on Earth, but this
year, for the first time, the moon is included.
________________________________

趣味小點
Tasty Tidbit

Did you know that astronauts have left some very unusual things on the moon?

Of course, there are footprints and flags (腳印和國旗), but there's also a
gold olive branch (金色的橄欖枝), golf balls (高爾夫球), and even a small
statue (小雕像) called Fallen Astronaut.

Astronauts also left over 90 bags of… trash! These include food wrappers,
tools, and even astronaut waste.

Scientists study these items to learn how things change in space.

So, if you ever visit the moon, don't be surprised…there's already a little
bit of Earth up there!
________________________________

If you have a fun fact, int eresting news, or a joke you'd like to share with
us, record your message and send us your Tasty Tidbit to
newsbites@icrt.com.tw, and you might hear it at the end of an episode!

We'll see you next time for an exciting new episode of News Bites!