F2F Class Notes (Nemo)

Those who feel a little guilty about gossiping may be pleased to know that academics have now said that it is actually what sets our species apart from animals. Gossip is what makes people human, because it allows us to pass on vital information on who to trust and who not to trust, as well as bond with family and friends.

In evolutionary biology, scientists call the phenomenon gossip theory. The theory suggests that as language developed, it allowed early humans to pass on reliable information so that they could live in ever-increasing groups. Gossiping used to be simply what people did with their friends and was not used in a negative sense until the 18^th century.

Scientists carried out experiments to find out what people thought about gossips, and the results were that while people distrust those who gossip too much, they were also wary of those who gossip too little.

Professor Robin Dunbar at Oxford University even said that we should accept gossiping as a vital part of human life, which might even help us live longer. He said that the most important thing apart from not smoking that will prevent you from dying early is the size of your social network.

Vocabulary

bond (n): 1-  a uniting or binding element or force.
E.g.: The bonds of friendship.

creature (n): 1-a created being. 2- a human being. 3-a lower animal.
E.g.: Few living creatures can survive without water.
E.g.: She’s a creature of rare beauty.

guilt (n): 1- a feeling of deserving blame for offenses.2- the fact of having done something wrong and especially something that is punishable by law. 3-内疚
E.g.: She feels guilt over something that happened before.
E.g.: They feel shame and guilt as though it is their fault

academic (n): 1-a member (such as a professor) of an institution of learning (such as a university). 2-学者.
E.g.: I noticed that most academics were writing papers during the summer

species (n): 1-a class of things of the same kind and with the same name. 2-kind.
E.g.: Pandas are an endangered species.
E.g.: There are several thousand species of trees here.

vital (adj): 1- of utmost importance/the most important. 2- full of life.
E.g.: your heart, lungs, and other vital organs
E.g.: Exercise keeps her young and vital.

evolution (n): 1- a process of change in a certain direction. 2-developing. 3-进化.
E.g.: Darwin eventually put forward a model of biological evolution.
E.g.: In the course of evolution, some birds have lost the power of flight.

experiment(n): 1-test, trial. 2-实验. 3- experience
E.g.: This was demonstrated in a laboratory experiment with rats.

phenomenon (n): 1- a rare or important fact or event. 2-现象.
E.g.: An eclipse is an interesting phenomenon.

wary (adj): 1-very cautious, careful.
E.g.: They were very wary about giving him a contract.