Karina Galperin: Should we simplify spelling? (with English subtitles) | TED

Translator: Tomás Guarna Reviewer: Sebastian Betti

翻译人员: Wang Jianyu 校对人员: Yanyan Hong

We lost a lot of time at school learning spelling.

我们上学的时候浪费了 许多时间学习拼写，

Kids are still losing a lot of time at school with spelling.

现在的孩子也一样。

That's why I want to share a question with you:

所以我想问一个问题，

Do we need new spelling rules?

我们是否需要一套新的拼写规则？

I believe that yes, we do.

我认为答案是肯定的，我们需要。

Or even better, I think we need to simplify the ones we already have.

或者更好的方法是简化 现有的拼写规则，

Neither the question nor the answer are new in the Spanish language.

这个问题及答案并不是 第一次出现在西班牙语历史上，

They have been bouncing around from century to century

人们已经反复讨论了几个世纪，

since 1492, when in the first grammar guide of the Spanish language,

1492年，第一部语法指南面世，

Antonio de Nebrija, set a clear and simple principle for our spelling:

安东尼奥·德·内夫里哈为我们 制定了一套简洁明了的拼写规则，

"... thus, we have to write words as we pronounce them,

因此，我们需要在读出单词 的同时将其拼写出来，

and pronounce words as we write them."

反之亦然，

Each sound was to correspond to one letter,

每一读音都对应一个字母，

each letter was to represent a single sound,

每一字母都代表一个读音，

and those which did not represent any sound should be removed.

不代表任一读音的字母则应移除，

This approach, the phonetic approach,

这个发音方法，

which says we have to write words as we pronounce them,

就是在我们读出单词的时候 就能够将其拼写出来，

both is and isn't at the root of spelling as we practice it today.

正如我们今天实践中一样， 这个方法既是也不是拼写的根源，

It is, because the Spanish language, in contrast to English, French or others,

这是因为西班牙语同 其他语言相比，像英语或法语，

它的拼写，

always strongly resisted writing words too differently

与发音差别过大。

但这一发音方法在今天并不常见，

to how we pronounce them.

But the phonetic approach is also absent today,

因为18世纪，我们就决定将书写

because when, in the 18th century, we decided how we would standardize

规范化，

our writing,

there was another approach which guided a good part of the decisions.

有另外一种方法促成了这个决定，

It was the etymological approach,

那就是词源法，

the one that says we have to write words

也就是根据单词，

according to how they were written in their original language,

源语言（拉丁语，希腊语）的书写形式，

in Latin, in Greek.

来确定单词写法，

That's how we ended up with silent H's, which we write but don't pronounce.

所以有些单词结尾有字母H却不发音，

That's how we have B's and V's that, contrary to what many people believe,

b和v许多人都以为的发音却完全不同，

但是在西班牙语中的发音 却是完全一样的。

were never differentiated in Spanish pronunciation.

带有G的单词，

That's how we wound up with G's,

有时是送气音，例如gente。

that are sometimes aspirated, as in "gente,"

and other times unaspirated, as in "gato."

有时是非送气音，例如gato。

That's how we ended up with C's, S's and Z's,

带有CSZ的单词，

three letters that in some places correspond to one sound,

有的时候都发同一个音，

and in others, to two, but nowhere to three.

有时候发成两个音 不过没有第三种读音，

I'm not here to tell you anything you don't know from your own experience.

我在这不是为了给你们

We all went to school,

讲一些生活中用不到的理论。

we all invested big amounts of learning time,

大家都上过学，

big amounts of pliant, childlike brain time

都花费大把的时间学习，顺从家长，

in dictation,

听写、

in the memorization of spelling rules filled, nevertheless, with exceptions.

记忆拼写规则不过也有例外，

We were told in many ways, implicitly and explicitly,

别人一直有意无意的 向我们渗透着一个观念，

that in spelling, something fundamental to our upbringing was at stake.

那就是拼写在我们成长过程中 扮演着非常基础重要的角色，

但是，我发觉

Yet, I have the feeling

that teachers didn't ask themselves why it was so important.

老师从来不问问自己 为什么拼写如此重要？

In fact, they didn't ask themselves a previous question:

实际上，他们没有给自己先提个问题，

What is the purpose of spelling?

学习拼写的目的是什么？

What do we need spelling for?

要拼写有何用？

And the truth is, when someone asks themselves this question,

而事实就是， 当你问自己这个问题的时候，

the answer is much simpler and less momentous

答案要比我们想象中，

than we'd usually believe.

要简单轻松得多。

We use spelling to unify the way we write, so we can all write the same way,

我们用拼写规则来规范书写形式， 这样大家都保持书写一致，

making it easier for us to understand when we read to each other.

也更容易在交谈过程中理解对方，

But unlike in other aspects of language such as punctuation,

但是拼写与语言的 其他方面不同，例如标点符号。

in spelling, there's no individual expression involved.

拼写中不涉及个人情感的表达，

In punctuation, there is.

标点符号则相反，

With punctuation, I can choose to change the meaning of a phrase.

利用不同的标点符号， 可以改变一句话的意思，

With punctuation, I can impose a particular rhythm to what I am writing,

还可以给一句话加上特定的韵律，

but not with spelling.

拼写则不尽然，

When it comes to spelling, it's either wrong or right,

说到拼写只有对错之分，

according to whether it conforms or not to the current rules.

通过判断是否符合 现有拼写规则区分对错，

But then, wouldn't it be more sensible to simplify the current rules

所以简化拼写规则不是更合理吗？

so it would be easier to teach, learn and use spelling correctly?

教学学习和正确使用拼写 规则就会变得更简单不是吗？

Wouldn't it be more sensible to simplify the current rules

简化拼写规则更合理，

so that all the time we devote today to teaching spelling,

这样我们用在教学生 拼写规则的时间就可以

we could devote to other language issues

用在学习语言的其他方面了。

whose complexities do, in fact, deserve the time and effort?

那些值得我们花费时间和 精力研究的较复杂的方面，

我并不是提倡废除拼写规则，

大家想怎么写就怎么写，

What I propose is not to abolish spelling,

语言是一种常用的工具，

所以我认为在使用时要 遵循一个常用的标准这是基础，

我还认为标准应该尽量保持越简单越好。

这一点也很重要，

因为如果我们简化了拼写规则，

and have everyone write however they want.

并不代表是其水平下降，

Language is a tool of common usage,

拼写简化，

and so I believe it's fundamental that we use it following common criteria.

语言的质量丝毫不受影响，

我每天都在研究西班牙黄金时代的文学，

But I also find it fundamental

我读加西拉索、塞万提斯、 龚果拉、克维多的作品，

that those common criteria be as simple as possible,

他们的作品中hombre 这个单词有时候不写h，

especially because if we simplify our spelling,

单词escribir中加上v，

we're not leveling it down;

我非常清楚，

when spelling is simplified,

这些单词和我们现在的 单词的差别在于拼写规则，

the quality of the language doesn't suffer at all.

或者更准确的说 他们的年代缺少拼写规则，

I work every day with Spanish Golden Age literature,

但是这并不影响文字质量。

I read Garcilaso, Cervantes, Góngora, Quevedo,

我们再回到大师们这里，

who sometimes write "hombre" without H,

因为他们是这个故事的主角，

sometimes write "escribir" with V,

之前我提到老师们不假思索的坚持，

and it's absolutely clear to me

要我们学习，

that the difference between those texts and ours is one of convention,

拼写规则，

or rather, a lack of convention during their time.

但这就是事实，

But it's not a difference of quality.

完全合情合理。

But let me go back to the masters,

在我们的社会， 掌握拼写就是掌握了特权，

because they're key characters in this story.

将有教养和粗鲁的人， 知识分子和文盲区分开来，

Earlier, I mentioned this slightly thoughtless insistence

完全与写作内容无关

with which teachers pester and pester us

一个人能否找到工作

over spelling.

取决于他是否在单词中 写出不发音的H，

But the truth is, things being as they are,

一个人可能成为大家的笑柄，

this makes perfect sense.

只因为他把字母B写错了地方，

In our society, spelling serves as an index of privilege,

由此而论，

花费再多的时间 学习拼写也是有道理的，

separating the cultured from the brute, the educated from the ignorant,

但是别忘了，

independent of the content that's being written.

我们的语言在发展历史中，

One can get or not get a job

总是有

because of an H that one put or did not.

第一批学习语言的老师和人们，

One can become an object of public ridicule

他们促进了拼写的改革进程，

because of a misplaced B.

也意识到在传授知识的过程中，

Therefore, in this context,

我们的拼写规则总会遇到障碍。

of course, it makes sense to dedicate all this time to spelling.

举个例子，

But we shouldn't forget

萨米安托和安德雷斯贝略发起了，

that throughout the history of our language,

西班牙语历史上最大的一场拼写改革，

it has always been teachers

也就是19世纪中叶智利改革，

or people involved in the early learning of language

那为何不接替那些老师的任务，

who promoted spelling reforms,

开始为我们的拼写改革做出贡献呢？

who realized that in our spelling there was often an obstacle

这里在座的有一万人，

我想要跟大家分享的是，

to the transmission of knowledge.

In our case, for example,

我觉得值得讨论做出的一些改变，

Sarmiento, together with Andrés Bello, spearheaded the biggest spelling reform

我们把不发音的H，

to take place in the Spanish language:

从单词中去除吧。

the mid-19th century Chilean reform.

不要再写H，

Then, why not take over the task of those teachers

（鼓掌）

and start making progress in our spelling?

我很难想象一个人得多喜欢字母H，

Here, in this intimate group of 10,000,

才能将它造成的不便忽略不计，

I'd like to bring to the table

字母B和V的发音我们之前提到过，

some changes that I find reasonable to start discussing.

在西班牙语中完全一样。

Let's remove the silent H.

（鼓掌）

In places where we write an H but pronounce nothing,

就从中选一个字母留下 哪个都行我们可以讨论讨论，

let's not write anything.

每个人的偏好不一样可以各抒己见，

(Applause)

It's hard for me to imagine what sentimental attachment

我们只留下一个，

字母G和J，我们来明确 一下两个字母的分工，

can justify to someone all the hassle caused by the silent H.

G应该保留非送气音， 例如在“gato”“mago”"aguila"中的发音，

B and V, as we said before,

J应该保留为送气音，

were never differentiated in the Spanish language --

例如在“jarabe”“jirafa” “gente”"argentino"中的发音，

(Applause)

字母C,S,Z的发音规则很有趣，

Let's choose one; it could be either. We can discuss it, talk it over.

因为其表明发音方法是引导，

Everyone will have their preferences and can make their arguments.

但并不是绝对的规则，

Let's keep one, remove the other.

在某些情况下， 要指出发音的区别，

G and J, let's separate their roles.

像之前提到的CSZ的发音，

G should keep the unaspirated sound, like in "gato," "mago," and "águila,"

在一个单词的不同位置 发音有时是一个音，有时是两个音，

and J should keep the aspirated sound,

如果三个字母只用两个，这样更好

as in "jarabe," "jirafa," "gente," "argentino."

对于一些人来说， 这些变化或许有点突然，

The case of C, S and Z is interesting,

事实并不是这样，

because it shows that the phonetic approach must be a guide,

皇家西班牙语学院中 所有语言学院的老师，

but it can't be an absolute principle.

都认为拼写规则应该逐渐调整，

In some cases, the differences in pronunciation must be addressed.

语言同历史，传统习俗密切相关，

As I said before, C, S and Z,

与此同时也是每天用得到的实用工具。

in some places, correspond to one sound, in others to two.

不过有时语言同历史， 传统习俗之间的联系，

If we go from three letters to two, we're all better off.

会变成使用中的障碍，

To some, these changes may seem a bit drastic.

的确，这也解释了，

They're really not.

语言，与我们的生活距离最近，密切相关。

The Royal Spanish Academy, all of language academies,

长久以来基于我们自身需求而改变，

also believes that spelling should be progressively modified;

例如 "ortographia" 变为"ortografía"，

that language is linked to history, tradition and custom,

"theatro" 变为 "teatro," "quantidad" 变为"cantidad"

but that at the same time, it is a practical everyday tool

"symbolo" 变为"símbolo"

and that sometimes this attachment to history, tradition and custom

一些不发音的H逐渐不写出来了，

becomes an obstacle for its current usage.

在皇家学院的字典中，

Indeed, this explains the fact

"arpa" "armonía"两个单词写不写H都可以，

that our language, much more than the others we are geographically close to,

大家都可以接受。

has been historically modifying itself based on us,

我还认为，

for example, we went from "ortographia" to "ortografía,"

现在来谈论这个问题时机尤其恰当，

from "theatro" to "teatro," from "quantidad" to "cantidad,"

人们常说语言的变化很随意，

from "symbolo" to "símbolo."

是自下而上的改变，

And some silent H's are slowly being stealthily removed:

语言使用者才是吸收新单词的人，

in the Dictionary of the Royal Academy,

才是提出改变语法的人，

"arpa" and "armonía" can be written with or without an H.

而语言权威--可能是学院，

And everybody is OK.

也可能是一本词典或者政府部门，

I also believe

会在很久之后才接受这些改变，

that this is a particularly appropriate moment to have this discussion.

以上事实仅限于语言的一些方面，

It's always said that language changes spontaneously,

例如词汇方面，

from the bottom up,

在语法方面就差了一些，

that its users are the ones who incorporate new words

在拼写方面我会说完全不是这样，

and who introduce grammatical changes,

拼写是自上而下的改变。

and that the authority -- in some places an academy,

语言机构立下规则，

in others a dictionary, in others a ministry --

提出改变，

accepts and incorporates them long after the fact.

那我为什么说现在这个时机尤其合适呢？

This is true only for some levels of language.

一直以来，

It is true on the lexical level, the level of words.

书写往往比言语限制多，更私密，

It is less true on the grammatical level,

但现在是网络时代，

and I would almost say it is not true for the spelling level,

我们正在经历变革，

that has historically changed from the top down.

人们从来没有书写过这么多的时候，

Institutions have always been the ones to establish the rules

人们从来没有写过 这么多文字给其他人看，

在社交网络中，我们第一次看到，

and propose changes.

Why do I say this is a particularly appropriate moment?

看到拼写被如此大规模的革新使用，

Until today,

许多知识分子对拼写规则了如指掌，

writing always had a much more restricted and private use than speech.

在使用社交网络的时候，

But in our time, the age of social networks,

和大多数用户一样，

this is going through a revolutionary change.

懒得检查拼写，

Never before have people written so much;

只注重沟通速度和效率，

never before have people written for so many others to see.

现在，社交网络上出现 拼写混乱的使用现象，

And in these social networks, for the first time,

我认为我们应该关注这个问题。

we're seeing innovative uses of spelling on a large scale,

因为这一问题可能是在告诉我们，

where even more-than-educated people with impeccable spelling,

在这个社交网络上书写的年代，

when using social networks,

需要新的拼写规则，

behave a lot like the majority of users of social networks behave.

我认为拒绝和放弃是错误的，

That is to say, they slack on spell-checking

因为我们把这个现象 看作当今时代文化退步的标志，

and prioritize speed and efficacy in communication.

不，我认为我们要留心观察， 积极组织引导，

For now, on social networks, we see chaotic, individual usages.

遵循符合时代需求的规则，

But I think we have to pay attention to them,

我能想到有人反对，

because they're probably telling us

会有一些人说，

that an era that designates a new place for writing

如果简化拼写规则，我们会丢掉语源。

seeks new criteria for that writing.

严格来讲，如果我们要保留语源，

I think we'd be wrong to reject them, to discard them,

那就不仅仅涉及拼写规则了，

because we identify them as symptoms of the cultural decay of our times.

我们还要学习拉丁语， 希腊语，阿拉伯语，

简化拼写，

No, I believe we have to observe them, organize them and channel them

我们还会在语源词典中，

within guidelines that better correspond to the needs of our times.

将语源标准化，

I can anticipate some objections.

第二批反对的声音是，

There will be those who'll say

如果简化拼写规则就无法区分，

that if we simplify spelling we'll lose etymology.

只有一个不同字母的单词了，

Strictly speaking, if we wanted to preserve etymology,

这点没错，但是并不是 解决不了的问题，

it would go beyond just spelling.

我们的语言中有同音异义词， 这些词还不止一个意思，

We'd also have to learn Latin, Greek, Arabic.

我们并没有混淆坐在banco课桌，

With simplified spelling,

和存钱的banco银行啊，

we would normalize etymology in the same place we do now:

也没有混淆我们穿的礼服traje和trajimos。

in etymological dictionaries.

A second objection will come from those who say:

大多数情况语境会消除混淆，

"If we simplify spelling, we'll stop distinguishing

还有一些人会反对，

对我而言，

between words that differ in just one letter."

这是我最能理解的理由了，

That is true, but it's not a problem.

这些人会说 我不想改变，

Our language has homonyms, words with more than one meaning,

我从小到大就是 这么学的，都已经习惯了，

yet we don't confuse the "banco" where we sit

要我读简化后的拼写，我眼睛疼，

（笑声）

with the "banco" where we deposit money,

or the "traje" that we wear with the things we "trajimos."

最后这个反对观点我们都会有一点，

In the vast majority of situations, context dispels any confusion.

那我们该怎么办呢？

But there's a third objection.

和这类问题的解决方法一样，

To me,

改变是未来的事情， 孩子们学习新规则

it's the most understandable, even the most moving.

It's the people who'll say: "I don't want to change.

不想学习新规则的人们 可以使用从前的拼写规则，

I was brought up like this, I got used to doing it this way,

希望时间会巩固这些新规则，

when I read a written word in simplified spelling, my eyes hurt."

每一次成功的拼写改革， 深切影响书写的习惯，

都依赖于谨慎，大众一致， 渐进，和忍耐，

(Laughter)

与此同时，也不要依赖于从前的习惯，

This objection is, in part, in all of us.

会妨碍我们前进，

What do I think we should do?

The same thing that's always done in these cases:

changes are made looking forward; children are taught the new rules,

those of us who don't want to adapt can write the way we're used to writing,

and hopefully, time will cement the new rules in place.

The success of every spelling reform that affects deeply rooted habits

lies in caution, agreement, gradualism and tolerance.

At the same time, can't allow the attachment to old customs

impede us from moving forward.

The best tribute we can pay to the past

我们对过去最好的致敬，

is to improve upon what it's given us.

就是改善现状，

So I believe that we must reach an agreement,

所以我认为我们一定要达成一致，

that academies must reach an agreement,

语言学院也要达成一致，

and purge from our spelling rules

简化我们的拼写规则，

all the habits we practice just for the sake of tradition,

我们现有的拼写习惯都是过去保留下来的， 即使他们现在毫无用处，

even if they are useless now.

I'm convinced that if we do that

我确信如果我们，

in the humble but extremely important realm of language,

对语言的重要领域 改变这些习惯的话，

we'll be leaving a better future to the next generations.

我们会给下一代留下

更美好的未来。

(Applause)

（鼓掌）