TED演讲： 语言如何改变人类(1)

 　　Each of you possesses the most powerful, dangerous and subversive¹ trait 每一个人都拥有一个最强大，危险并具有颠覆性的特性

　　that natural selection has ever devised. 这一特性是自然选择前所未有的设计

　　It's a piece of neural² audio technology for rewiring other people's minds. 它是一个神经声频技术，用于与他人交流思想

　　I'm talking about your language, of course, 我说的当然就是语言

　　because it allows you to implant³ a thought from your mind directly into someone else's mind, 因为通过语言你可以将自己的想法直接灌输进别人脑子里

　　and they can attempt to do the same to you, without either of you having to perform surgery. 而他们亦可这样对你，双方都不用动手术

　　Instead, when you speak, you're actually using a form of telemetry 实际上，当你讲话的时候，使用的是一种遥测技术

　　not so different from the remote control device for your television. 这跟遥控器遥控电视的差别并不大

　　It's just that, whereas that device relies on pulses of infrared⁴ light, 差别仅是遥控器借助红外光

　　your language relies on pulses, discrete⁵ pulses, of sound. 而你依靠的是脉冲，声音的不连续脉冲

　　And just as you use the remote control device to alter the internal settings of your television to suit your mood, 就如同使用遥控器去修改电视机内部设定，迎合自己口味一样

　　you use your language to alter the settings inside someone else's brain to suit your interests. 你使用语言来转变别人大脑内部的设定，以满足你的需要

　　Languages are genes⁶ talking, getting things that they want. 语言是用来表达的基因，得到它们想要的表述

　　And just imagine the sense of wonder in a baby when it first discovers that, merely by uttering a sound, 试想从婴儿不可思议的视角来看，当婴儿发现仅仅通过发出声音

　　it can get objects to move across a room as if by magic, and maybe even into its mouth. 他/她就能使音频穿过房间，如魔法一样，甚至从他/她嘴里蹦出。

　　Now language's subversive power has been recognized throughout the ages 如今，语言的颠覆性能力已经在那些舆论审查的年代

　　in censorship, in books you can't read, phrases you can't use and words you can't say. 以及你无法读到的书籍，你不能使用的敏感词和字眼中得到了印证

1 subversive   

adj.颠覆性的，破坏性的；n.破坏份子，危险份子

参考例句：

• She was seen as a potentially subversive within the party.她被看成党内潜在的颠覆分子。
• The police is investigating subversive group in the student organization.警方正调查学生组织中的搞颠覆阴谋的集团。

2 neural   

adj.神经的，神经系统的

参考例句：

• The neural network can preferably solve the non- linear problem.利用神经网络建模可以较好地解决非线性问题。
• The information transmission in neural system depends on neurotransmitters.信息传递的神经途径有赖于神经递质。

3 implant   

vt.注入，植入，灌输

参考例句：

• A good teacher should implant high ideals in children.好教师应该把高尚理想灌输给孩子们。
• The operation to implant the artificial heart took two hours.人工心脏植入手术花费了两小时。

4 infrared   

adj./n.红外线(的)

参考例句：

• Infrared is widely used in industry and medical science.红外线广泛应用于工业和医学科学。
• Infrared radiation has wavelengths longer than those of visible light.红外辐射的波长比可见光的波长长。

5 discrete   

adj.个别的，分离的，不连续的

参考例句：

• The picture consists of a lot of discrete spots of colour.这幅画由许多不相连的色点组成。
• Most staple fibers are discrete,individual entities.大多数短纤维是不联系的单独实体。

6 genes   

n.基因( gene的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• You have good genes from your parents, so you should live a long time. 你从父母那儿获得优良的基因，所以能够活得很长。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Differences will help to reveal the functions of the genes. 它们间的差异将会帮助我们揭开基因多种功能。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 生物技术的世纪