TED演讲：谈语言和思想(2)

 　　We see it in the constant appearance of slang and jargon¹, of the historical change in languages, 我们看到俗语和术语不断产生，历史上语言在变化

　　in divergence² of dialects and the formation of new languages. 方言在分支，新的语言在形成

　　So language is not so much a creator or shaper of human nature, so much as a window onto human nature. 所以语言并不只是创造、塑造人性之物，同样是反映人性的窗口

　　And...in a book that I'm currently working on,  我正在写的一本书中

　　I hope to use language to shed light on a number of aspects of human nature, 我希望能阐明人性的一些方面

　　including the cognitive³ machinery⁴ with which humans conceptualize the world 包括认知机能，人们靠这个把世界概念化

　　and the relationship types that govern human interaction.  还有掌管人类互动的各类关系。

　　And I'm going to say a few words about each one this morning.  今天早上，我将对它们逐一简要介绍。

　　Let me start off with a technical problem in language that I've worried about for quite some time 让我从一个语言中的技术性问题开始，我研究这个问题已经有一段时间了

　　and indulge me in my passion for verbs and how they're used. 希望你们能包涵一下，包涵我对动词和它们用法的热情

　　The problem is, which verbs go in which constructions?  问题在于，哪个动词用于哪个构式？

　　The verb is the chassis⁵ of the sentence.  动词是句子的基座，

　　It's the framework onto which the other parts are bolted.  其他部分都安在这个基座上。

　　Let me give you a quick reminder⁶ of something that you've long forgotten. 让我提醒你们一下，这是你们早已忘记的东西。

　　An intransitive verb, such as "dine," for example, can't take a direct object. 不及物动词，比如“用餐”，不能带有直接的宾语

　　You have to say, "Sam dined," not, "Sam dined the pizza."  你得说：“山姆用餐了",而不是“山姆用餐了比萨饼”

　　A transitive verb mandates⁷ that there has to be an object there: 一个及物动词要求必须有宾语：

　　"Sam devoured⁸ the pizza." You can't just say, "Sam devoured." “山姆吞吃比萨饼”。你不能只是说“山姆吞吃”。

　　There are dozens or scores of verbs of this type, each of which shapes its sentence. 有许许多多这类的动词，每个都塑造着句子。

1 jargon   

n.术语，行话

参考例句：

• They will not hear critics with their horrible jargon.他们不愿意听到评论家们那些可怕的行话。
• It is important not to be overawed by the mathematical jargon.要紧的是不要被数学的术语所吓倒.

2 divergence   

n.分歧，岔开

参考例句：

• There is no sure cure for this transatlantic divergence.没有什么灵丹妙药可以消除大西洋两岸的分歧。
• In short,it was an age full of conflicts and divergence of values.总之，这一时期是矛盾与价值观分歧的时期。

3 cognitive   

adj.认知的，认识的，有感知的

参考例句：

• As children grow older,their cognitive processes become sharper.孩子们越长越大，他们的认知过程变得更为敏锐。
• The cognitive psychologist is like the tinker who wants to know how a clock works.认知心理学者倒很像一个需要通晓钟表如何运转的钟表修理匠。

4 machinery   

n.(总称)机械，机器；机构

参考例句：

• Has the machinery been put up ready for the broadcast?广播器材安装完毕了吗？
• Machinery ought to be well maintained all the time.机器应该随时注意维护。

5 chassis   

n.汽车等之底盘；（飞机的）起落架；炮底架

参考例句：

• The new parts may include the sheet metal,the transmission,or the chassis.新部件可能包括钢壳，变速器或底盘。
• Can chassis and whole-vehicle manufacturers co-exist peacefully?底盘企业和整车企业能相安无事吗？

6 reminder   

n.提醒物，纪念品；暗示，提示

参考例句：

• I have had another reminder from the library.我又收到图书馆的催还单。
• It always took a final reminder to get her to pay her share of the rent.总是得发给她一份最后催缴通知，她才付应该交的房租。

7 mandates   

托管（mandate的第三人称单数形式）

参考例句：

• Individual mandates would require all people to purchase health insurance. 个人托管要求所有人都要购买健康保险。
• While I agree with those benefits, I'm not a supporter of mandates. 我同意上述好处，我不是授权软件的支持者。

8 devoured   

吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光

参考例句：

• She devoured everything she could lay her hands on: books, magazines and newspapers. 无论是书、杂志，还是报纸，只要能弄得到，她都看得津津有味。
• The lions devoured a zebra in a short time. 狮子一会儿就吃掉了一匹斑马。