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LorenzoGarciaAmaya_Hesitation_2020E-_为什么在…呃…说话时，我们会…那个…犹豫？_-
For as long as we’ve had language, some people have tried to control it. 自从我们有语言以来, 就有些人想要控制它。
And some of the most frequent targets of this communication regulation are the ums, ers, and likes that pepper our conversations. 这种沟通管控的常见目标 包括对谈中无所不在的 「嗯」、「呃」等用语。
Ancient Greek and Latin texts warned against speaking with hesitation , modern schools have tried to ban the offending terms, and renowned linguist Noam Chomsky dismissed these expressions as “errors” irrelevant to language. 古希腊及拉丁文本中都有警告 不得在说话时犹豫, 现代的学校也尝试禁止 这些令人厌恶的用语, 知名的语言学家诺姆杭士基 将这些表述方式视为「错误」, 对语言毫无意义,不用理睬。
as long as:conj.只要;长达;如果;既然; frequent:adj.频繁的;经常发生的;v.常到(某处); regulation:n.规则;法规;控制;规章制度;adj.规定的;必须穿戴的;必须使用的; pepper:n.胡椒;辣椒;胡椒粉;v.加胡椒粉于;使布满; Latin:adj.拉丁语的;用拉丁语写成的;n.拉丁语; hesitation:n.犹豫; ban:v.下令禁止;查禁;n.禁令; offending:adj.烦人的;令人不安的;有罪的;v.得罪;犯罪;(offend的现在分词) renowned:adj.著名的;闻名的;有名的;受尊敬的 linguist:n.语言学家;学多种外语的人; Chomsky:n.乔姆斯基(美国语言学家,转换生成语法的创始人); dismissed:v.不予考虑;摒弃;去除,消除;解雇;(dismiss的过去分词和过去式) expressions:表达,表情(expression的复数) irrelevant:adj.不相干的;不切题的;
Historically , these speech components had been lumped linguistic fillers which distract from useful speech. 在历史上,这些说话的元素被归併为 让人分心、填补说话停顿的用词。
However, none of this controversy has made these so-called disfluencies less common. 然而,这类争议都没有 让这些所谓的不流畅词减少。
They continue to occur roughly 2 to 3 times per minute in natural speech. 在自然说话的状态下,不流畅词 每分钟仍会出现二到三次。
Historically:adv.历史上地;从历史观点上说; components:n.部件;组件;成份(component复数); lumped:adj.集中的;总集的;成块的; linguistic:adj.语言的;语言学的; fillers:n.[涂料]填充料,[涂料]填料(filler复数形式); distract:v.转移(注意力);分散(思想);使分心; controversy:n.争论;论战;辩论; so-called:adj.所谓的;号称的; occur:v.发生;出现;存在于;出现在; roughly:adv.粗糙地;概略地;
And different versions of them can be found in almost every language, including sign language . 且几乎每种语言中都有 不同版本的不流畅词, 连手语也有。
So are ums and uhs just a habit we can’t break? 所以「嗯」和「呃」 是我们无法打破的习惯吗？
Or is there more to them than meets the ear? 或者它们的意义不只是如此而已？
To answer this question, it helps to compare these speech components to other words we use in everyday life. 要回答这个问题,可以将这些说话的元素拿来 和我们其他日常用词做比较。
sign language:n.手势语; compare:v.比较;对比;n.比较;
While a written word might have multiple definitions , we can usually determine its intended meaning through context . 虽然一个书面文字可能会有多重定义, 我们通常可以透过前后文 来判断它的本意。
In speech however, a word can take on additional layers of meaning. 然而在言谈中,一个词 可能还有其他层面的意思。
Tone of voice, the relationship between speakers, and expectations of where a conversation will go can imbue even words that seem like filler with vital information. 语调、交谈者彼此的关系, 以及对于谈话目标的期望, 都可能让看似填补停顿的用词 充满重要的资讯。
multiple:adj.数量多的;多种多样的;n.倍数; definitions:n.[数]定义(definition的复数形式); determine:v.决定;确定;测定;查明;形成;影响;裁决;安排; intended:adj.预定的;计划的;v.打算;计划;想要;(intend的过去分词和过去式) context:n.环境;上下文;来龙去脉; additional:adj.附加的,额外的; layers:n.层;表层;层次;阶层;v.把…分层堆放;(layer的第三人称单数和复数) Tone:n.语气:风格:特色:声音信号:v.使更结实:与…协调: expectations:n.预料;预期;期待;希望;指望;(expectation的复数) imbue:vt.灌输;使感染;使渗透; vital:adj.至关重要的;生死攸关的;有活力的;
Linguists call these filled pauses, which are a kind of hesitation phenomenon . 语言学家把它们称为填补停顿词,
And these seemingly insignificant interruptions are actually quite meaningful in spoken communication. 这些似乎不重要的中断 在言谈沟通中其实颇具意义。
For example, while a silent pause might be interpreted as a sign for others to start speaking, a filled pause can signal that you’re not finished yet. 比如,无声的停顿可能可以诠释为 暗示其他人可以开始发言, 填补停顿词可以暗示你还没有讲完。
Linguists:[语]语言学家(linguist的复数); phenomenon:n.现象;杰出的人;非凡的人(或事物); seemingly:adv.看来似乎;表面上看来; insignificant:adj.无关紧要的; interruptions:n.阻断物;中断时间;打扰;插嘴;(interruption的复数) meaningful:adj.严肃的;重要的;重大的;意味深长的; interpreted:v.诠释;说明;把…理解为;领会;口译;(interpret的过去式和过去分词)
Hesitation phenomena can buy time for your speech to catch up with your thoughts, or to fish out the right word for a situation. 犹豫现象可以幫你争取时间, 或者找出适合这个情境的用词。
And they don’t just benefit the speaker— a filled pause lets your listeners know an important word is on the way. 且受益的不只是发言者—— 填补停顿词可以让听者知道
Linguists have even found that people are more likely to remember a word if it comes after a hesitation. 语言学家甚至发现, 大家比较容易记住 在犹豫之后说出来的话。
phenomena:n.现象(phenomenon的复数); buy time:拖延时间;争取时间; catch up with:赶上,追上;逮捕;处罚; listeners:n.听众;监听器(listener的复数);
Hesitation phenomena aren’t the only parts of speech that take on new meaning during dialogue. 除了犹豫现象之外, 言语还有一些其他部分 也在对话中有其他意义。
function as discourse markers , ignoring their literal meaning to convey something about the sentence in which they appear. 具有言谈标记的功能, 不用它们的字面意思 来传达所属句子的讯息。
Discourse markers direct the flow of conversation, and some studies suggest that conscientious speakers use more of these phrases to ensure everyone is being heard and understood. 言谈标记能引导谈话, 有些研究指出,费心的演说者 会使用较多这些词,以确保每个人说的话 都能被听见、听懂。
discourse:n.论述;谈话;演讲;vi.演说;谈论;讲述;vt.说出;演奏出; markers:n.(表示方位的)标记,记号;标识;表示;记号笔;(marker的复数) ignoring:v.忽略,忽视;(ignore的现在分词); literal:adj.文字的;逐字的;无夸张的; convey:vt.传达;运输;让与; conscientious:adj.勤勉认真的;一丝不苟的; ensure:vt.保证,确保;使安全;
For example, starting a sentence with “Look...” can indicate your attitude and help you gauge the listener’s agreement. 比如,用「听着……」 来当句子的开头, 能够点出你的态度, 并协助你评估听者是否认同。
“I mean” can signal that you’re about to elaborate on something. 「我的意思是」暗示 你接下来要说明某件事。
And the dreaded “like” can perform many functions, such as establishing a loose connection between thoughts, or introducing someone else's words or actions. 大家最常听到的「然后」 具有许多功能, 如:在两个想法之间 建立鬆散的连结, 或者提出别人的说法或做法。
indicate:v.表明;显示;象征;暗示; attitude:n.态度;看法;意见;姿势; gauge:n.计量器;标准尺寸;容量规格;vt.测量;估计;给…定规格; elaborate on:详细说明; dreaded:adj.令人畏惧的,可怕的;v.惧怕(dread的过去分词); perform:v.表演;执行;履行;演出;工作,运转(好/不好); establishing:v.建立;创立;设立;使稳固;(establish的现在分词) loose:adj.宽松的; v.释放; v.松散地; n.放纵;
These markers give people a real-time view into your thought process and help listeners follow, interpret, and predict what you’re trying to say. 这些标记可以让别人 即时了解你的思考过程, 并协助听者领会、诠释, 及预测你想说什么。
Discourse markers and hesitation phenomena aren’t just useful for understanding language— they help us learn it too. 言谈标记和犹豫现象 不仅能用来协助了解语言, 也能幫助我们学习语言。
In 2011, a study showed toddlers common and uncommon objects alongside a recording referring to one of the items . 2011 年的一项研究把常见 和不常见的物品拿给学步儿童, 每件物品会搭配一段录音, 指出该物品是什么。
real-time:adj.实时的;接到指示立即执行的; process:v.处理;加工;列队行进;n.过程,进行;方法,adj.经过特殊加工(或处理)的; predict:v.预报;预言;预告; toddlers:n.初学走路的孩子;儿童短衫(toddler的复数形式); uncommon:adj.不寻常的;罕有的;adv.非常地; referring:v.引用;提到;将…归因于…;把…提交;(refer的现在分词) items:n.项目;一件商品(或物品);一则,一条(新闻)(item的复数)
When a later recording asked them to identify the uncommon object, toddlers performed better if that instruction contained a filled pause. 接着录音会再要求他们 辨识出那件不常见的物品, 如果指示中含有填补停顿词,
This may mean that filled pauses cue toddlers to expect novel words, and help them connect new words to new objects. 这可能表示,填补停顿词提示学步儿童 接下来会有新词出现, 并协助他们将新词 与新物体建立连结。
For adolescents and adults learning a second language , filled pauses smooth out awkward early conversations. 对于学习第二语言的青少年和成人, 填补停顿词能让初期生涩的对谈 变得更流畅平顺一些。
identify:v.识别:鉴定:确认:发现: performed:v.表演;执行;履行;演出;工作,运转(好/不好)(perform的过去分词和过去式) cue:n.暗示;提示;信号;(戏剧的)提示;v.给(某人)暗示(或提示); novel:adj.新奇的;异常的;n.小说; adolescents:n.[人类]青少年(adolescent复数); second language:n.第二语言; smooth out:消除;使平滑; awkward:adj.尴尬的;笨拙的;棘手的;不合适的;
And once they’re more confident , the second-language learner can signal their newfound fluency by using the appropriate hesitation phenomenon. 等到他们更有自信了, 第二语言学习者就能用 更适当的犹豫现象, 呈现他们新习得的流畅度。
Because, contrary to popular belief, the use of filled pauses doesn't decrease with mastery of a language. 因为,和一般的认知相反, 填补停顿词的使用 并不会随着精通该种语言而减少。
Just because hesitation phenomena and discourse markers are a natural part of communication doesn’t mean they’re always appropriate. 虽然犹豫现象和言谈标记 是沟通中很自然的一部分,但不表示使用它们一定很恰当。
confident:adj.自信的;确信的; newfound:adj.新发现的;新得到的; fluency:n.流畅,流利; appropriate:adj.适当的;恰当的;v.占用,拨出; contrary:adj.相反的;对立的;adv.相反地;n.相反;反面; decrease:v.降低;减少;缩小;减弱;n.减少;减小量;所减少的总量;减缩位置; mastery:n.掌握;精通;优势;征服;统治权;
Outside of writing dialogue, they serve no purpose in most formal writing. 除了撰写对白以外,它们在大部分正式书写中 都是没有功能的;
And in some contexts , the stigma these social cues carry can work against the speaker. 在某些情况下, 这些用词在社交上的汙名 反而对发言者不利。
But in most conversations, these seemingly senseless sounds can convey a world of meaning. 但在大部分的对谈中, 这些看似无谓的声音 可以传达很多意义。
formal:adj.适合正式场合的; n.(美)须穿礼服的社交集会; (口)夜礼服; contexts:n.环境,[计]上下文(context复数); stigma:n.[植]柱头;耻辱;污名;烙印;特征; cues:n.开端,线索;提示,关键;球杆;诱因(cue的复数形式); senseless:adj.愚蠢的;无知觉的;无意识的;