The Noisy Horn of South Africa 南非喇叭的噪音

By Jonah Fisher, South Africa

媒体英语会带大家一起学习BBC撰稿人在报道世界大事时常用到的单词和短语。

Background:日本足球协会负责人提出应在明年的世界杯赛中取缔一种叫 vuvuzela 的塑料喇叭。犬飼基昭在日本队同东道主南非队比赛之后说，刺耳的喇叭声严重干扰了日本球员之间的交流。此前世界足协曾拒绝过类似抱怨，认为 vuvuzela 是南非运动传统的一部分。

Its sound has been compared to a swarm of angry bees; even an elephant with constipation.

But the blowing of the vuvuzela could, if anyone can hear themselves speak, be one of the talking points of the next World Cup.

A metre long and used like a trumpet, the plastic horn is the constant soundtrack to South African domestic football.

But opinion is divided as to whether it will be a welcome addition to next June’s event.

Television networks and players have complained and they've now been joined by the head of the Japanese football association. Speaking after his side played a friendly in South Africa, Motoaki Inukai said the noise was so loud that players just a few metres apart still couldn't hear each other.

He said he would raise the issue at the World Cup draw on 4 December and wanted FIFA to ban the vuvuzela from all games not involving the hosts.

Despite the noise, and a change of coach, South Africa's team Bafana Bafana show no sign of improving.

Currently ranked 85th in the world, they've failed to score a goal in any of their last four games.