The sounds of relaxation¹ 聆听大自然中令人放松的声音

　　忙碌的现代生活有时会伴随各种压力，因此人们常常寻找放松、解压的方式。本期 “随身英语” 节目聊一聊鸟叫等自然中的声音给心理健康带来的积极影响。

　　词汇：relaxing sounds 令人放松的声音

　　In a fast-paced world, where stress and mental fatigue² seem commonplace, we're constantly looking for new ways to unwind. Some people take a hot bath, watch a film, go for a run, or listen to slower tempo³ music to help them relax. But what about the chirrups and whistles of birdsong or other nature sounds? Could they also help people to let go of the tensions of modern life?

　　According to a study by King's College London in 2022, seeing or hearing birds could help to boost the mental wellbeing of people. Taking a trip to a place rich in birdlife like parks, forests and canals and encountering birds chirping⁴ and warbling to each other in the trees could even help to treat some mental health conditions. And it's not just birds that could have a therapeutic⁶ effect on our moods. Another study commissioned by the National Trust compared the effects of woodland sounds with voiced meditation⁷ apps. The study found listening to birdsong as well as other woodland sounds like leaves crunching⁹ underfoot or the gentle trickle¹⁰ of a stream boosted feelings of relaxation 30% more than an app. Other sounds which may help to chill people out are waves lapping on the shore, gentle breezes, and light rainfall.

　　However, not all of us live in rural surroundings, and depending on where we live, a trip to the countryside to see birds may not be an option. But could the nature sounds that originate there still help you? According to research by California Polytechnic¹¹ State University, even a recording¹² of the sounds of birds had a profound effect on people's mood, while other studies saw people listening to soundscapes of the coast and forests with similar outcomes to their wellbeing.

　　So, wherever you live, you can access the wonderful sounds of birds and nature, be it during a stroll through a wood or via some headphones. And maybe listening to the chirps¹³, trills, warbles and whistles of some birds could help you to relax after a long, hard day.

　　词汇表

　　unwind 放松

　　tempo （音乐的）速度，节奏

　　chirrup （鸟）唧唧叫

　　whistle （鸟）鸣叫

　　birdsong 鸟鸣声

　　wellbeing 健康

　　birdlife 鸟类

　　chirp⁵ （鸟）啁啾，唧唧叫

　　warble （鸟）啭鸣

　　therapeutic 使人放松的，有疗效的

　　woodland 树林，林地

　　crunch⁸ 发出嘎吱嘎吱的声音

　　trickle 涓涓细流

　　chill out 使（人）放松

　　wave lapping 波浪拍打

　　shore （海、湖、河）岸

　　breeze 微风

　　rainfall 下雨

　　rural 乡村的

　　soundscape 声景

　　trill （鸟）啼啭

 

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