The language of being human | Poet Ali

翻译人员: Yanyan Hong 校对人员: Harper Chang

Poet Ali: Hi. Audience: Hi.

诗人阿里（Poet Ali）：嗨。 观众：嗨。

PA: I want to ask you guys a question. How many languages do you speak?

阿：我想问大家一个问题。 你会讲多少种语言？

This is not a rhetorical question.

这不是一个设问。

I actually want you to think of a number.

大家都想一下，多少种。

For some of you, it's pretty easy.

对于你们中的一些人，答案很简单。

Inside your head, you're like, "It's one. You're speaking it, buddy. I'm done."

你可能会想：“就一种， 你正在说的这种。哥们，数好了。”

Others of you maybe are wondering

其他人或许在纠结，

if the language an ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend taught you,

前男友或前女友教你的语言，

where you learned all the cusswords,

那些你学到外语的脏话，

if it counts -- go ahead and count it.

到底算不算——对自己好点， 把它算进去吧。

When I asked myself the question, I came up with four,

当我问自己这个问题时， 我数出了四种，

arguably five, if I've been drinking.

如果我喝醉了，可能会是五种。

(Laughter)

（笑声）

(In Italian: With a little bit of wine I can speak Italian.)

【意大利语：喝点酒， 我就会说意大利语。】

(Applause)

（掌声）

Cheers!

谢谢！

But on closer examination, I came up with 83 -- 83 languages,

但近一步细数， 我意识到了 83 —— 83 种语言，

and I got tired and I stopped counting.

数到这，我都懒得数下去。

And it forced me to revisit this definition that we have of language.

它促使我重新反思我们对语言的定义。

The first entry said,

第一个定义是，

"The method of human communication, either spoken or written,

“语言是人类沟通的方式， 可以是口头或是书面形式，

consisting of the use of words in a structured or conventional way."

并受一定规则的语法的制约。“

The definition at the bottom refers to specialized fields,

下面的释义解释其在特定领域的定义，

like medicine, science, tech.

像医学，科学，科技。

We know they have their own vernacular,

我们知道他们有自己的术语，

their own jargon.

他们自己的行话。

But what most interested me was that definition right in the center there:

但最让我感兴趣都是 中间右侧的那个释义：

"the system of communication used by a particular community or country."

“由某一个特定群体或国家 使用的沟通交流体系。“

And I'm not interested in altering this definition.

我并非想要修改这个定义。

I'm interested in applying it to everything we do,

而是想把它应用到 我们做的所有事情上，

because I believe that we speak far more languages than we realize.

因为我相信我们会讲的语言 远远比我们意识到的多。

And for the rest of our time together,

而接下来我们在一起的时间，

I'm going to attempt to speak in one language

我要尝试说一种语言，

that is native to every single human being in this room.

一种与在座每一位都共通的语言。

But that changes things a little bit,

但这会改变一些事情，

because then it's no longer a presentation.

因为这将不再是一个演讲，

It becomes a conversation,

它变成了一个对话，

and in any conversation,

而在任何对话中，

there must be some sort of interaction.

必须要有些互动。

And for any interaction to happen,

对于任何成功的互动，

there has to be a degree of willingness on both parties.

必须要双方都乐于参与。

And I think if we just are willing, we will see the magic that can happen

我想我们只要愿意参与， 我们就会看见神奇的产生，

with just a little bit of willingness.

只需要怀有一丝乐意。

So I've chosen a relatively low-risk common denominator

所以我选择了一个 相对低风险的共同语，

that can kind of gauge if we're all willing.

如果我们都愿意， 那便可以由此确认。

If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands.

如果开心，你知道的， 你就拍拍手。

(Claps)

（拍手）

Now you're talking!

现在，你就在讲话！

(In Spanish: For all the people who speak Spanish,

【西班牙语：如果你们中 有会讲西班牙语的，

please stand up.

请起立。

And look at a person sitting to your side

现在看着坐在你身边的人，

and start laughing.)

然后开始大笑。】

(Laughter)

（笑声）

Thank you so much. Please be seated.

非常感谢，请坐。

Now, if that felt a little bit awkward,

现在，如果你们感觉有点尴尬，

I promise there was no joke being had at your expense.

我可以保证刚才没有取笑你们。

I simply asked the Spanish-speaking audience to stand up,

我只是请会讲西班牙语的观众起立，

look at a person that was sitting close to them and laugh.

看着坐在他们右边的人，并大笑。

And I know that wasn't nice, and I'm sorry,

我知道这样做不好，我很抱歉，

but in that moment,

但就在刚刚那一刻，

some of us felt something.

我们中有些人感受到了些东西。

You see, we're often aware of what language does

你看，当我会说某人的语言时，

when we speak somebody's language,

我通常会意识到语言的作用，

what it does to connect, what it does to bind.

它能用以联系彼此， 它能用以连结你我。

But we often forget what it does when you can't speak that language,

但是当我们不会说那种语言时， 我们往往会忘了它的作用，

what it does to isolate, what it does to exclude.

它会带来隔阂， 它会带来排斥。

And I want us to hold on as we journey through

在我们继续探索语言之旅中，

our little walk of languages here.

我想要大家要始终记住它。

(In Farsi: I'd like to translate the idea of "taarof.")

【波斯语：我想解释一下 “Taarof” 这个词。】

I said in Farsi, "I'd like to translate

我刚用波斯语说，“我想要解释下

this idea of 'taarof' in the Persian culture,"

“Taarof” 在波斯文化里的意义，

which, really -- it has no equivalent in the English lexicon.

在英语里完全没有与它匹配的词汇。

The best definition would be something like an extreme grace

能最好定义它的是类似 一种极其的优雅，

or an extreme humility.

或者极其的谦恭。

But that doesn't quite get the job done.

但是这还不算完，

So I'll give you an example.

那我给大家举个例子。

If two gentlemen were walking by each other,

如果两位绅士在路上遇见，

it'd be very common for the first one to say,

通常一个人会说，

(In Farsi: I am indebted to you),

【波斯语】

which means, "I am indebted to you."

它的意思是，“我亏欠你很多。“

The other gentlemen would respond back,

另一位绅士会回答，

(In Farsi: I open my shirt for you)

【波斯语】

which means, "I open my shirt for you."

意思是，“我为你敞开衬衫。“

The first guy would respond back,

第一位家伙就会回道，

(In Farsi: I am your servant)

【波斯语】

which means, "I am your servant."

意思是，“我是你的仆人。”

And then the second guy would respond back to him,

接着，第二位家伙又会回他，

(In Farsi: I am the dirt beneath your feet)

【波斯语】

which literally means, "I am the dirt beneath your feet."

字面意思就是， “我就是你脚下的尘埃。”

(Laughter)

（笑声）

Here's an exhibit for you guys, in case you didn't get the picture.

如果你们还是想象不到， 大概就是图里这个样子。

(Laughter)

（笑声）

And I share that with you, because

而我与大家分享，是因为

with new languages come new concepts that didn't exist before.

新的语言会带来 你从前不了解的新概念，

And the other thing is,

另外，

sometimes we think language is about understanding the meaning of a word,

有时我们认为语言 就是了解单词的含义，

but I believe language is about making a word meaningful for yourself.

但我相信语言就是 让一个单词对你有意义。

If I were to flash this series of words on the screen,

如果我在屏幕上闪过这一段话，

some of you, you'd know exactly what it is right away.

你们中有些人， 会很快知道它的涵义，

Others of you, you might struggle a little bit.

而另外的人，却完全没有头绪。

And I could probably draw a pretty clear-cut line

我大概可以清楚的划分

right around the age of 35 and older, 35 and younger.

年纪大概是 35 岁及以上， 和 35 岁及以下。

And for those of us that are in the know,

对于那些知道的人来说，

we know that's text-speak, or SMS language.

我们知道这就是短信用语， 或者 SMS 语言。

It's a series of characters meant to convey the most amount of meaning

这是一系列符号能用最少的字符，

with the least amount of characters,

表达最多的含义，

which sounds pretty similar to our definition of languages:

这听起来和我们语言的定义非常相近：

"system of communication used by a community."

“由某一个特定群体使用的沟通体系。”

Now, anyone who's ever got into an argument via text

现在，如果有谁曾用短信语言吵架，

can make a case for how it's maybe not the best method of communication,

就知道它不是最好的沟通方法，

but what if I told you that what you saw earlier

但是如果我告诉你，你刚刚看到的

was a modern-day love letter?

是一封现代情书呢？

If you follow along:

跟我一起读：

"For the time being, I love you lots,

“就目前来讲，我非常爱你，

because you positively bring out all the best in me,

因为你真的使我 把内心最好的东西表现出来，

and I laugh out loud, in other words, let's me know what's up.

而我畅快大笑，换句话， 让我知道这是怎么了？

'Cause you are a cutie in my opinion, and as far as I know to see you,

因为以我所见，据我所知， 你是个小可爱，

if you're not seeing someone, would make happy.

如果你还没有遇见其他人， 和你交往，会让我很开心。

For your information, I'll be right there forever.

告诉你，我会永远在那里，

In any case, keep in touch, no response necessary,

不论怎样，保持联系，无需回复，

all my best wishes, don't know, don't care if anyone sees this.

送上我最好的祝愿，不知道也不在乎， 如果其他人看到这个。

Don't go there, see you later, bye for now, hugs and kisses,

别找我，待会儿见， 先小别，拥抱你，吻你，

you only live once."

人生不再重来。“

(Applause)

（掌声）

Kind of a modern-day Romeo or Juliet.

有点现代的罗密欧或朱丽叶，

In that moment, if you laughed,

如果刚才，你笑了，

you spoke another language that needs no explanation: laughter.

你就在说另一种语言， 不需要解释：那就是笑。

It's one of the most common languages in the world.

它是世界上最通用的一种语言。

We don't have to explain it to each other, it's just something we all feel,

我们无需向彼此解释， 它只是我们都有的感受，

and that's why things like laughter and things like music are so prevalent,

这就是为什么笑和音乐是如此流行，

because they seem to somehow transcend explanation

因为他们似乎能够超越解释，

and convey a profound amount of meaning.

传达一种深刻的意义。

Every language we learn is a portal

我们学习的每一种语言都是

by which we can access another language.

我们通往另一种语言的门径。

The more you know, the more you can speak.

你知道的越多，你会说的越多。

And it's something common that we all do.

我们都经常会这样做，

We take any new concept, and we filter it through

遇到任何一个新概念， 我们会把它与我们心中

an already existing access of reality within us.

既有的概念进行对照。

And that's why languages are so important,

这就是为什么语言如此重要，

because they give us access to new worlds,

因为它们给予我们通往新世界的入口，

not just people.

不仅仅是去了解人们。

It's not just about seeing or hearing, it's about feeling, experiencing, sharing.

不仅为了看见或听见， 更为感受、体验、分享。

And despite these languages that we've covered,

除了我们已提到的这些语言，

I really don't think we've covered

我真的觉得我们还没有说

one of the most profound languages,

最深刻的一种语言，

and that's the language of experience.

那就是 “经历” 语言。

That's why when you're talking with someone,

这就是为什么当你和某人分享时，

if they've shared something you've shared, you don't need to explain it much.

如果他们和你有同样的经历， 那么你就不必过多解释。

Or that's why, when you're sharing a story and you finish,

或者是为什么当你分享完一个故事时，

and the people you're talking to don't quite get it,

有时人们不太明白你在讲什么，

the first thing we all say is,

这时我们最常回应的是，

"Guess you had to be there."

“你可能得去到那里才知道。”

I guess you had to be here this week to know what this is about.

我猜这周，你们也得在这里， 才会知道这到底是什么 [经历]。

It's kind of hard to explain, isn't it?

它有点难解释，不是吗？

And for the sake of our research, I'm going to close by asking

为了我们的试验，我要最后请你们

that you participate one more time in this language of experience.

再一次参与到这段语言体验之旅中。

I'm going to filter through some languages,

我分享一些语言，

and if I'm speaking your language,

而如果我正好说到了你的语言，

I'm going to ask that you just stand and you stay standing.

我想请你站起来，并保持站立。

You don't need to ask permission,

你不需要寻求许可，

just let me know that you see me,

让我看到你就可以，

and I can also see you

如果你说这种经历的语言，

if you speak this language of experience.

让我也可以看见你。

Do you speak this language?

你会讲这种语言吗？

When I was growing up in primary school,

当我还在小学时，

at the end of the year, we would have these parties,

在期末，我们都会有这些聚会，

and we'd vote on whether we wanted to celebrate at an amusement park

而我们投票决定是去 游乐公园庆祝，

or a water park.

还是去水上公园。

And I would really hope the party wasn't at a water park,

我真的不喜欢我们的聚会在水上公园，

because then I'd have to be in a bathing suit.

因为那样我就得穿泳衣，

I don't know about you, but sometimes when I approach a dressing room,

我不知道你们怎样， 但是有时当我走去更衣室，

my sweat glands start activating on their own,

我不由得开始紧张起来，

because I know the garment is not going to look on me

因为我知道泳衣穿在模特身上

like it did on that mannequin.

和穿在我身上完全不是一回事。

Or how about this?

或者像这样？

When I would go to family functions or family gatherings,

当我去参加家庭活动，或家庭聚会，

every time I wanted a second plate --

每次我都想要再来一盘，

and I usually did --

而我也通常都会要——

(Laughter)

（笑声）

it was a whole exercise in cost-benefit analysis,

这是一套需要 “权衡利益” 的分析，

my relatives looking at me like,

我的亲戚看着我就像，

"I don't know. Do you really need that? Looks like you're doing OK there, bud."

“你真的还要吃吗，小家伙？ 看起来你已经吃得够多了吧。”

Did my cheeks have a big "Pinch me" sign that I didn't see?

我的脸颊上难道写着 我看不见的 “捏捏我” 字样吗？

And if you're squirming or you're laughing or you stood up,

如果你在挪动， 或者你在笑，或你已经起立，

or you're beginning to stand,

或者你正在起立，

you're speaking the language that I endearingly call

你知道我在说的语言就是

"the language of growing up a fat kid."

“身为一个小胖墩长大的语言。”

And any body-image issue is a dialect of that language.

而任何有关体态的问题 都是那种语言的方言。

I want you to stay standing.

我想要你继续站着。

Again, if I'm speaking your language, please go ahead and stand.

再说一次，如果我讲到了 你的语言，请向前起立。

Imagine two bills in my hand.

想象下，我手里有两张账单，

One is the phone bill,

一张是电话账单，

and one is the electric bill.

而另一张是电费账单，

Eeny, meeny, miny, mo, pay one off, let the other one go,

点兵点将，点哪是哪， 交一张账单，另一张随它去，

which means, "I might not have enough to pay both at the current moment."

意思是，“我可能此时 不能同时支付两张账单。”

You've got to be resourceful. You've got to figure it out.

你必须要足智多谋， 想方设法把它解决。

And if you're standing, you know the language of barely making ends meet,

如果你站起来了，你知道 这是为生计而挣扎的语言，

of financial struggle.

财务困难的语言。

And if you've been lucky enough to speak that language,

如果你曾有幸说那种语言，

you understand that there is no motivator of greatness like deficiency.

你便会理解没有比一无所有 能给你更大的动力，

Not having resources, not having looks, not having finances

没有资源，没有颜值，没有钱，

can often be the barren soil

是让你一穷二白的土壤，

from which the most productive seeds are painstakingly plowed and harvested.

从中会有生产的种子， 唯有经过辛苦的耕耘才会收获。

I'm going to ask if you speak this language.

我要问你是否会说这种语言，

The second you recognize it, feel free to stand.

如果你意识到这种语言，请起立。

When we heard the diagnosis,

当我们听到诊断，

I thought, "Not that word.

我想，“千万别是那个。

Anything but that word.

任何事，只要不是那个。

I hate that word."

我恨那个词。”

And then you ask a series of questions:

然后你会问一连串问题：

"Are you sure?"

“你确定吗？”

"Has it spread?"

“它扩散了吗？”

"How long?"

“还有多久？”

"Doctor, how long?"

“医生，多久？”

And a series of answers determines a person's life.

而这一系列回答 决定了一个人的生命。

And when my dad was hungry, we'd all rush to the dinner table to eat,

我记得我爸爸还有胃口的时候， 我们会冲到餐桌前大吃一顿，

because that's what we did before.

因为那是我们以前常做的事。

We ate together, so we were going to continue doing that.

我们一起吃饭， 我们也会一直这样。

And I didn't understand why we were losing this battle,

我不知道为什么我们没有获胜，

because I was taught if you fight and if you have the right spirit,

因为我常被教导， 如果你奋斗，你乐观，

you're supposed to win.

你一定会赢。

And we weren't winning.

但我们输了。

For any of you that stood up,

如果你们站起来了，

you know very well that I'm speaking the language

你一定知道我说的这种语言，

of watching a loved one battle cancer.

看着心爱的人与癌症抗争。

(Applause)

（掌声）

Any terminal illness is a derivative of that language.

任何绝症都是这种语言的派生词。

I'm going to speak one last language.

我要说的最后一种语言。

Oh -- no, no, I'm listening.

噢——不，不，我在听。

Yeah, yeah, yeah, no no, no no, me and you, right here, yup.

耶，耶，耶，不，不，不不， 我和你，在这里，耶。

(Laughter)

（笑声）

No, I'm with ya. I'm with ya!

不，我在。我在！

(Laughter)

（笑声）

Or, imagine the lights are all off and a blue light is just shining in your face

或者，想象下，灯暗下来， 蓝光照在你的脸上，

as you're laying on the bed.

而你躺在床上。

And I know some of you, like me,

我知道你们中有些人，就像我，

have dropped that phone right on your face.

把手机砸到过你的脸上。

(Laughter)

（笑声）

Or this one, right?

或者是这样，对吗？

Passenger seat freaking out, like, "Can you watch the road?"

乘客吓得半死说， “你可以看着路吗？”

And for anybody that stood up,

对于那些站起来的人，

you speak the language that I like to call "the language of disconnection."

你会说这种关于 ”断连的语言“。

It's been called the language of connection,

它被叫做连结的语言，

but I like to call it the language of disconnection.

但是我喜欢叫它断连的语言。

I don't mean disconnection, I mean disconnection,

我的意思不是网络掉线， 我的意识是断开连结，

human disconnection,

人类断连，

disconnected from each other,

人与人之间的断连，

from where we are, from our own thoughts,

从我所在的地方，从我的思想上，

so we can occupy another space.

所以我们可以进入另一个世界。

If you're not standing,

如果你还是没有站着，

you probably know what it's like to feel left out.

你或许知道，被剩下是什么感觉了。

(Laughter)

（笑声）

(Applause)

（掌声）

You probably -- you know what it's like when everybody's a part of something,

你或许——你知道它， 当所有人都属于某事，

and you're not.

而你没有。

You know what it's like being the minority.

你知道作为少数人的感觉，

And now that I'm speaking your language,

而现在我在说你的语言，

I'm going to ask you to stand,

我想邀请你起立，

since we're speaking the same language.

因为我们说着相同的语言，

Because I believe that language of being the minority

因为我相信少数人的语言

is one of the most important languages you can ever speak in your life,

是你生活中曾说过最重要的语言之一，

because how you feel in that position of compromise

因为我明白你处于妥协的位置，

will directly determine how you act in that position of power.

那会直接决定在那个 权力位置你做出怎样的行为。

Thank you for participating.

谢谢大家的参与，

If you'd take a seat, I want to speak one last language.

请大家坐下， 我想要说最后一种语言。

(Applause)

（掌声）

This one, you don't need to stand.

对于它，你们不用站着，

I just want to see if you recognize it.

我只想看看你们是否认得它。

Most the girls in the world are complainin' about it.

世界上大多的女孩都为它抱怨，

Most the poems in the world been written about it.

世界上大多的诗歌都为它抒写，

Most the music on the radio be hittin' about it, kickin' about it,

广播里大多的音乐 都为它弹奏，它律动，

or rippin' about it.

或为它录制。

Most the verses in the game people spittin' about it,

游戏里大多的说辞都为它倾吐，

most the songs in the world, people talkin' about it.

世界上大多的歌曲都在谈论着它，

Most the broken hearts I know are walkin' without it,

破碎的心灵，如我所知， 也因失去了它而徘徊，

started to doubt it,

没有了它，开始怀疑；

or lost without it.

失去了它，开始迷茫。

Most the shadows in the dark have forgotten about it.

黑暗中大片的阴影都忘却了它。

Everybody in the world would be trippin' without it.

世上每个人会因为没有它而跌倒。

Every boy and every girl will be dead without it,

每个男孩和女孩会因没有它而寻短见，

struggle without it, nothing without it.

没有它，会挣扎， 没有它，尽是虚无。

Most the pages that are filled are filled about it.

书页上大多的文字，为它而写，

["It" = Love]

The tears that are spilled are spilled about it.

眼里充盈着的泪水，为它流淌。

The people that have felt it are real about it.

感受到它的人知道，它真真切切。

A life without it, you'd be lost.

没有它的生活，你会迷失。

When I'm in it and I feel it, I be shoutin' about it.

当我身在其中， 我感受到它，我会为它呐喊。

Everybody in the whole world knowin' about it.

全世界每一个人都知道它，

I'm hurt and broke down and be flowin' about it,

我受伤心碎，我会随它流逝，

goin' about it wrong 'cause I didn't allow it.

让它犯错。不？ 因为我不曾允许它。

Can the wound or scar heal without it?

没有它的伤口或疤痕能愈合吗？

Can't the way that you feel be concealed about it?

你藏不住对它的感受吗？

Everybody has their own ideal about it,

每个人都有对它的理想，

dream about it,

对它的梦想，

appeal about it.

对它的向往。

So what's the deal about it?

那么这有什么关系呢？

Are you 'bout it to know that life is a dream

你知道生命没有了它，便如梦一场，

and unreal without it?

没有了它，一切都不再真实吗？

But I'm just a writer.

但我只是位诗人，

What can I reveal about it?

我又能揭露些什么呢？

Why is it that the most spoken-about language in the world

为什么这世上使用最多的语言，

is the one we have the toughest time speaking or expressing?

我们在谈论它或表达时却最感到艰难？

No matter how many books, how many seminars,

不论读过多少本书， 去过多少个研讨会，

how many life-coaching sessions we go to,

参加了多少次人生指导课，

we just can't get enough of it.

我们仍然觉得不够。

And I ask you now:

所以现在再问你：

Is that number that you had at the beginning, has that changed?

那个在开始的时候出现在 你脑海中的数字， 变了吗？

And I challenge you, when you see someone,

而我想向你挑战，当你见到某人时，

to ask yourself:

问问你自己：

What languages do we share?

我们有什么共同语言？

And if you don't come up with anything,

如果你没有想到任何一个，

ask yourself: What languages could we share?

问问你自己： 我们可以找到什么共同语言？

And if you still don't come up with anything,

如果你仍然没有找到，

ask yourself: What languages can I learn?

问问你自己： 我可以学习什么样的语言？

And now matter how inconsequential

无论这个自我对话， 此时此刻看起来是多么

or insignificant that conversation seems at the moment,

无关紧要、微不足道，

I promise you it will serve you in the future.

我向你保证它会在 未来的某个时刻让你受益。

My name is Poet Ali. Thank you.

我的名字是诗人阿里。谢谢大家。

(Applause)

（掌声）