时差N小时 人与名字之间的联系

Yael: Hey Don, see that guy over there? I'm always forgetting his name!

雅艾尔：嘿，唐，看见那边那个人了吗？我总是忘记他叫什么！

Don: Oh, you mean Matt?

唐：欧，你是指马特吗？

Yael: Yeah, that's it! You know, it's really easy for me to remember some names, but others take a lot of work.

雅艾尔：对，他叫马特！有些人的名字我很容易就记住，但有些就得花点功夫了。

Don: Don't feel bad. It might be because Matt's face doesn't go with his name.

唐：不要难过。也许是因为马特的长相跟他的名字不相配吧。

Yael: What? How can Matt's face not go with his name? They're both his!

雅艾尔：什么？马特的长相和他的名字怎么不相配呢？他们都是马特的啊！

Don: Well, psychologists at Miami University of Ohio conducted experiments showing a correlation¹ between specific facial features and names. In one experiment, the researchers randomly² presented participants with a name like Bob, Joe, or Dan, and then asked them to use computer software to draw a picture of someone likely to have this name.

唐：好吧，俄亥俄州的迈阿密大学的心理学家进行了一项实验，实验显示特定的面部特征和名字之间有关联。在试验中，研究人员随机为参与者提供一个姓名，比如说鲍勃，乔伊或者丹，然后让他们用电脑软件画一幅他们心中叫这个名字的人的画像。

Yael: And?

雅艾尔：然后呢？

Don: The pictures had some striking³ similarities that depended on the name. For instance, the name "Bob" led most people to draw someone with a rounder face, while the name "Tim" triggered⁴ more sketches⁵ with longer, thinner features. The study only used common men's names, though, so it's too early to tell how these findings might apply to women's names, or unusual ones.

唐：同一个名字的画像有惊人的相似之处。比如说，大多数人会给叫鲍勃这个人画一张圆脸，给提姆画的草图中，高瘦是最大特点。这项研究只运用了平常男性的名字，所以不能断定这个发现也适用于女性的名字，或者不寻常的名字。

Yael: Well, that's kind of interesting, but what does it have to do with remembering?

雅艾尔：嗯，这挺有趣的，但是这跟记忆有什么关系呢？

Don: In another experiment, the participants were shown a series of photos labeled with a name. They were able to learn—and retain—a name much more quickly when the names "fit" their expectations of what a "Bob" or a "Tim" should look like.

唐：在另一项试验中，向参与者展示一系列贴有名字标签的人物照片。他们能更快记住那些长相跟他们的期望一致的人。

Yael: So, it's easier to remember someone's name if it's a good match to their face?

雅艾尔：那么，如果名字与张相匹配度高的话，就能更容易地记住一个人的名字，是吗？

Don: Exactly. Some names just fit better.

唐：正是。有一些人的名字匹配度高。

Yael: So, how come you remembered Matt's name?

雅艾尔：那么你是怎么记住马特的呢？

Don: Oh him. He's my brother.

唐：欧，他呀，他是我哥哥。

1 correlation   

n.相互关系，相关，关连

参考例句：

• The second group of measurements had a high correlation with the first.第二组测量数据与第一组高度相关。
• A high correlation exists in America between education and economic position.教育和经济地位在美国有极密切的关系。

2 randomly   

adv.随便地，未加计划地

参考例句：

• Within the hot gas chamber, molecules are moving randomly in all directions. 在灼热的气体燃烧室内，分子在各个方向上作无规运动。 来自辞典例句
• Transformed cells are loosely attached, rounded and randomly oriented. 转化细胞则不大贴壁、圆缩并呈杂乱分布。 来自辞典例句

3 striking   

adj.显著的，惹人注目的，容貌出众的

参考例句：

• There is a striking difference between Jane and Mary.简和玛丽之间有显著的差异。
• What is immediately striking is how resourceful the children are.最令人注目的是孩子们的机智聪明。

4 triggered   

触发的

参考例句：

• An indiscreet remark triggered off a long and costly strike. 一次轻率的讲话导致长时间、代价高昂的罢工。
• The incident triggered an armed clash. 这起事件触发了一场武装冲突。

5 sketches   

n.草图( sketch的名词复数 )；素描；速写；梗概

参考例句：

• The artist is making sketches for his next painting. 画家正为他的下一幅作品画素描。
• You have to admit that these sketches are true to life. 你得承认这些素描很逼真。 来自《简明英汉词典》