TED演讲：语言如何改变人类(12)

 　　There are lots and lots of ways of measuring time, 在许多计量时间的方法中

　　but a really bizarre base 60 system 古怪的60进制制度

　　known as hours and minutes and seconds is nearly universal around the world. 也就是时分秒计量单位，几乎被全世界采用

　　There are many, many ways of imprinting¹ CDs or DVDs, 有很多很多方法压印CD和DVD

　　but those are all being standardized² as well. 但它们也同样标准化了

　　And you can probably think of many, many more in your own everyday lives. 也许你可以想到更多生活中的例子

　　And so our modern world now is confronting us with a dilemma³. 那么现代社会面临着一个困境

　　And it's the dilemma that this Chinese man faces, 这个困境，也是这个中国人面临的

　　who's language is spoken by more people in the world than any other single language, 他的口头语言比起世界上任何其他的单一语言都有更多的使用者

　　and yet he is sitting at his blackboard, converting Chinese phrases into English language phrases. 但是他坐在黑板前，把中文词组翻译成英文词组

　　And what this does is it raises the possibility to us 这个行为给我们提出了一种可能性

　　that in a world in which we want to promote cooperation and exchange, 在这世界上，我们想要促进合作和交流的可能性

　　and in a world that might be dependent more than ever before on cooperation 在一个史无前例地、依赖于合作的世界上

　　to maintain and enhance our levels of prosperity, his actions suggest to us 为了去维持和促进我们的繁荣程度，他的行为告诉我们

　　it might be inevitable⁴ that we have to confront the idea 也许我们不得不承认

　　that our destiny is to be one world with one language. Thank you. 我们的命运会是：一个世界一种语言。谢谢。

1 imprinting   

n.胚教，铭记（动物生命早期即起作用的一种学习机能）；印记

参考例句：

• He gathered her to himself, imprinting kisses upon her lips and cheeks. 他把她抱过来，吻着她的嘴唇和面颊。 来自辞典例句
• It'seems likely that imprinting is an extreme case of conditioning. 看来似乎铭记是适应的一种极端的情况。 来自辞典例句

2 standardized   

adj.标准化的

参考例句：

• We use standardized tests to measure scholastic achievement. 我们用标准化考试来衡量学生的学业成绩。
• The parts of an automobile are standardized. 汽车零件是标准化了的。

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 inevitable   

adj.不可避免的，必然发生的

参考例句：

• Mary was wearing her inevitable large hat.玛丽戴着她总是戴的那顶大帽子。
• The defeat had inevitable consequences for British policy.战败对英国政策不可避免地产生了影响。