纪录片《为何讲话》 第25期：说话的能力是先天还是后天

Chomsky argues that our ability to talk

乔姆斯基认为我们说话的能力

is not just the result of our general intelligence

并不仅仅来自于人类的一般智力

but that we have an unconscious innate¹ understanding about things

而是因为我们潜意识里对于句式语序

like sentence structure, word order, meaning and sounds.

含义和声调这类事物的天生理解力

Arlo, why don't you count them?

阿洛 你来数数有几个

But while we may have the blueprint² for language,

但即使我们对语言有先天的认知能力

we need to be exposed to it early in life.

生命初期也需要生活在语言中

If a child is brought up on stilts³, let's say,

假设一个孩子从小踩着高跷

and then they're taken off when it's two years old,

两岁时才帮他取掉高跷

it probably won't be able to acquire the capacity to walk

很可能他就无法学会走路了

because it's just too late.

因为为时已晚

You know, something should have happened already.

有些事情是早就应该完成的

Same with binocular vision and so on,

就像睁开双眼观察一样

and probably the same is true of language.

可能语言也是这么回事

Chomsky's theories get to the heart of the fundamental question -

乔姆斯基的理论触及了这基本问题的核心

is talking the result of nature or nurture⁴?

说话的能力是天生的还是后天的

1 innate   

adj.天生的，固有的，天赋的

参考例句：

• You obviously have an innate talent for music.你显然有天生的音乐才能。
• Correct ideas are not innate in the mind.人的正确思想不是自己头脑中固有的。

2 blueprint   

n.蓝图，设计图，计划；vt.制成蓝图，计划

参考例句：

• All the machine parts on a blueprint must answer each other.设计图上所有的机器部件都应互相配合。
• The documents contain a blueprint for a nuclear device.文件内附有一张核装置的设计蓝图。

3 stilts   

n.（支撑建筑物高出地面或水面的）桩子，支柱( stilt的名词复数 )；高跷

参考例句：

• a circus performer on stilts 马戏团里踩高跷的演员
• The bamboo huts here are all built on stilts. 这里的竹楼都是架空的。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 nurture   

n.养育，照顾，教育；滋养，营养品；vt.养育，给与营养物，教养，扶持

参考例句：

• The tree grows well in his nurture.在他的培育下这棵树长得很好。
• The two sisters had received very different nurture.这俩个姊妹接受过极不同的教育。