TED演讲：语言如何改变人类(4)

 　　Okay, so what this tells us is that, contrary to the old adage¹, "monkey see, monkey do," 这与我们所知的，“有样学样”（猴子见什么学什么）的谚语完全相反

　　the surprise really is that all of the other animals really cannot do that -- at least not very much. 令人惊讶的事实是，其他的所有动物都无法做到有样学样，至少做到很少

　　And even this picture has the suspicious taint² of being rigged about it -- something from a Barnum And Bailey circus. 甚至这张图片，虽然它有人为操纵之嫌--“不会是来自巴纳姆贝利马戏团吧”

　　But by comparison, we can learn. 但是相比之下，我们有学习能力

　　We can learn by watching other people and copying or imitating what they can do. 我们可以通过观察别人，以及照搬或模仿别人所做的来学习

　　We can then choose, from among a range of options, the best one. 然后我们可以在一系列选择中挑选最好的选择

　　We can benefit from others' ideas. We can build on their wisdom. 我们可以汲取别人的想法。可以发展他人的智慧

　　And as a result, our ideas do accumulate, and our technology progresses. 所以我们的智慧可以累积，技术得以进步

　　And this cumulative³ cultural adaptation, as anthropologists call 这种人类学家所称累积性的文化适应

　　this accumulation of ideas, is responsible for everything around you in your bustling⁴ and teeming⁵ everyday lives. 这种想法的积累是你周围所有一切的根源，并存在于你繁忙和与人合作的日常生活中

　　I mean the world has changed out of all proportion to what we would recognize even 1,000 or 2,000 years ago. 这个世界跟一千或者两千年前相比，已经发生了翻天覆地的变化

　　And all of this because of cumulative cultural adaptation. 这一切都归因于累积性文化适应

　　The chairs you're sitting in, the lights in this auditorium⁶, 你们坐着的椅子，礼堂里的灯

　　my microphone, the iPads and iPods that you carry around with you -- 我的手机，你们携带的iPad和iPod

　　all are a result of cumulative cultural adaptation. 这些都是累积性文化适应的结果

　　Now to many commentators⁷, cumulative cultural adaptation, or social learning, is job done, end of story. 对许多评论者来说，累积性文化适应，或者说社会学习，已经大功告成。

1 adage   

n.格言，古训

参考例句：

• But the old adage that men grow into office has not proved true in my experience.但是，根据我的经验，人们所谓的工作岗位造就人材这句古话并不正确。
• Her experience lends credence to the adage " We live and learn!"她的经验印证了一句格言: 活到老，学到老！

2 taint   

n.污点；感染；腐坏；v.使感染；污染

参考例句：

• Everything possible should be done to free them from the economic taint.应尽可能把他们从经济的腐蚀中解脱出来。
• Moral taint has spread among young people.道德的败坏在年轻人之间蔓延。

3 cumulative   

adj.累积的，渐增的

参考例句：

• This drug has a cumulative effect.这种药有渐增的效力。
• The benefits from eating fish are cumulative.吃鱼的好处要长期才能显现。

4 bustling   

adj.喧闹的

参考例句：

• The market was bustling with life. 市场上生机勃勃。
• This district is getting more and more prosperous and bustling. 这一带越来越繁华了。

5 teeming   

adj.丰富的v.充满( teem的现在分词 )；到处都是；（指水、雨等）暴降；倾注

参考例句：

• The rain was teeming down. 大雨倾盆而下。
• the teeming streets of the city 熙熙攘攘的城市街道

6 auditorium   

n.观众席，听众席；会堂，礼堂

参考例句：

• The teacher gathered all the pupils in the auditorium.老师把全体同学集合在礼堂内。
• The stage is thrust forward into the auditorium.舞台向前突出，伸入观众席。

7 commentators   

n.评论员( commentator的名词复数 )；时事评论员；注释者；实况广播员

参考例句：

• Sports commentators repeat the same phrases ad nauseam. 体育解说员翻来覆去说着同样的词语，真叫人腻烦。
• Television sports commentators repeat the same phrases ad nauseam. 电视体育解说员说来说去就是那么几句话，令人厌烦。 来自《简明英汉词典》