精美英文欣赏:Sign Language 手语(上)（在线收听）

There is one language that is in use in every country in the world. The people who use it are young and old, thin and fat, short and tall. It is everybody's second language. It is easy to understand, although you can not hear it. It is sign language.

有一种语言在全球每个国家都在用。使用这种语言的人或年轻或年老，或瘦或胖，或高或矮。这是每个人的第二语言。尽管不能听到它，但是它很容易理解。这就是手语。

When you wave to a friend who is across the street, you are using sign language. When you smile at someone, you are saying, "I want to be friendly." but you are not using speech. You are using sign language. When you raise your hand in class, you are saying, "Please ask me. I think I know the correct answer."

当你向街对面的朋友挥手的时候，你是在用手语。当你对某人微笑的时候，你仿佛在说“我想很友好地对待你”，但是你没有真正地说。你在用手语。当你在课堂里举手，就等于说：“提问我吧，我有正确答案了。”

Babies who can not talk can point at things. They are using sign language. A policeman who wants to stop traffic holds up his hand. He is using sign language. Winston Churchill's famous "V-for-Victory" was sign language, too.

不能说话的宝宝能够指东西。他们在使用手语。一个交通警察举起手意味着阻拦车辆。他在使用手语。温斯顿·丘吉尔著名的V字形胜利的手势也是一种手语。

Many years ago, a French priest, Charles Michel de l'Epee, became interested in education for deaf people. He invented a finger alphabet. It is still in use. People can make signs for letters and spell words with their hands, and deaf people can read and understand them.

很多年前，一个法国的牧师，查尔斯·米歇尔·德莱皮，开始对失聪的人的教育感兴趣。他发明了手语至今仍被使用。人们使用手表示字母，用手拼写单词，失聪的人可以读懂和理解它们的意思。