纪录片《为何讲话》 第18期：语言接受的根源

There are all sorts of different components¹

我们把各种不同的组成部位

that we're putting together to make this model

放在一起建造了这个模型

So it is like doing a jigsaw² puzzle

这就像玩七巧板

where you have lots of different pieces and as you work on it,

工作进行时 在你面前有很多不同的板

you find new pieces but you also find,

你会发现几块新板 同时还发现

"Ah I've got a little cluster of pieces here that now fit together

我发现这几块正好可以拼在一起

"into something very, very meaningful."

变成非常非常有意义的东西

It's very much work in progress

还有很多工作仍在进行中

but we are building the clearest picture ever

但我们正在构建的是

of the areas of the brain that are involved in talking.

迄今最为清晰的大脑语言功能区域图

But how does it all begin?

但这一切是如何开始的呢

Hi, baby!

你好 宝宝

When does a new brain switch on to language?

一个新生大脑何时开始处理语言呢

Hi, baby!

你好 宝宝

Part of our research has to do with helping³ to understand

我们的部分研究得有助于人们理解

the roots of, of language reception

语言接受的根源

and how it is that babies begin to understand speech sounds.

和婴儿开始认识说话声音的过程

1 components   

（机器、设备等的）构成要素，零件，成分； 成分( component的名词复数 )； [物理化学]组分； [数学]分量； （混合物的）组成部分

参考例句：

• the components of a machine 机器部件
• Our chemistry teacher often reduces a compound to its components in lab. 在实验室中化学老师常把化合物分解为各种成分。

2 jigsaw   

n.缕花锯，竖锯，拼图游戏；vt.用竖锯锯，使互相交错搭接

参考例句：

• A jigsaw puzzle can keep me absorbed for hours.一副拼图就能让我沉醉几个小时。
• Tom likes to work on jigsaw puzzles,too.汤姆也喜欢玩拼图游戏。

3 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。