TED演讲：语言如何改变人类(5)

 　　Our species can make stuff, therefore we prospered¹ in a way that no other species has. 人类这一物种可以创造事物，所以我们比任何其他物种都要繁荣先进

　　In fact, we can even make the "stuff of life" -- as I just said, all the stuff around us. 事实上我们甚至可以创造“生命本身的东西”-- 如我所说，我们周围的一切

　　But in fact, it turns out that some time around 200,000 years ago, 实际上，大约二十万年前

　　when our species first arose and acquired social learning, 当我们的祖先开始直立行走，并获得社会学习的能力

　　that this was really the beginning of our story, not the end of our story. 这的确是故事的开始，但不是结尾

　　Because our acquisition of social learning would create a social and evolutionary² dilemma³, 因为社会学习能力的获得会令社会和进化陷入一个进退两难的地步

　　the resolution of which, it's fair to say, would determine not only the future course of our psychology⁴, 其解决方法不但决定了未来人类心理的轨迹

　　but the future course of the entire world. 也决定了整个世界的未来走向

　　And most importantly for this, it'll tell us why we have language. 最重要的是，它告诉我们为什么我们有语言

　　And the reason that dilemma arose is, it turns out, that social learning is visual theft. 两难局面的出现是因为社会学习实际是一种观察性窃取

　　If I can learn by watching you, I can steal your best ideas, and I can benefit from your efforts, 如果我可以通过观察你而学习，我就可以窃取你最好的想法，从你的努力中坐收渔利

　　without having to put in the time and energy that you did into developing them. 而不用像你一样投入时间和精力去开发想法

　　If I can watch which lure⁵ you use to catch a fish, 如果我可以观察你用什么饵钓鱼

　　or I can watch how you flake⁶ your hand axe⁷ to make it better, 如何削薄手斧改进它

　　or if I follow you secretly to your mushroom patch, 或者偷偷跟踪你去你的蘑菇地

　　I can benefit from your knowledge and wisdom and skills, 我就可以从你的知识，智慧和技能中获益

　　and maybe even catch that fish before you do. 甚至在你之前就抓走鱼

　　Social learning really is visual theft. 社会学习确实是种观察性窃取

　　And in any species that acquired it, 任何具备该能力的物种

　　it would behoove⁸ you to hide your best ideas, lest somebody steal them from you. 必然都会隐藏自己最好的点子，以防别人偷走。

1 prospered   

成功，兴旺( prosper的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The organization certainly prospered under his stewardship. 不可否认，这个组织在他的管理下兴旺了起来。
• Mr. Black prospered from his wise investments. 布莱克先生由于巧妙的投资赚了不少钱。

2 evolutionary   

adj.进化的；演化的，演变的；[生]进化论的

参考例句：

• Life has its own evolutionary process.生命有其自身的进化过程。
• These are fascinating questions to be resolved by the evolutionary studies of plants.这些十分吸引人的问题将在研究植物进化过程中得以解决。

3 dilemma   

n.困境，进退两难的局面

参考例句：

• I am on the horns of a dilemma about the matter.这件事使我进退两难。
• He was thrown into a dilemma.他陷入困境。

4 psychology   

n.心理，心理学，心理状态

参考例句：

• She has a background in child psychology.她受过儿童心理学的教育。
• He studied philosophy and psychology at Cambridge.他在剑桥大学学习哲学和心理学。

5 lure   

n.吸引人的东西，诱惑物；vt.引诱，吸引

参考例句：

• Life in big cities is a lure for many country boys.大城市的生活吸引着许多乡下小伙子。
• He couldn't resist the lure of money.他不能抵制金钱的诱惑。

6 flake   

v.使成薄片；雪片般落下；n.薄片

参考例句：

• Drain the salmon,discard the skin,crush the bones and flake the salmon with a fork.将鲑鱼沥干，去表皮，粉碎鱼骨并用餐叉子将鱼肉切成小薄片状。
• The paint's beginning to flake.油漆开始剥落了。

7 axe   

n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减

参考例句：

• Be careful with that sharp axe.那把斧子很锋利，你要当心。
• The edge of this axe has turned.这把斧子卷了刃了。

8 behoove   

v.理应；有益于

参考例句：

• It would behoove you and your career to consider this among the most importanttimeless management laws.在职业生涯中你理应考虑到这一点。
• This can change a lot of things,so that the original fantastic become behoove.时间本就能改变很多东西，让原本的匪夷所思成为理所当然。