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Tiffany Watt Smith: The history of human emotions
Tiffany Watt Smith: A historia das emocións humanas
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Segundo a historiadora Tiffany Watt Smith, as palabras que empregamos para describir as nosas emocións afectan á maneira en que sentimos e teñen mudado ao longo do tempo (ás veces de maneira radical) en resposta a novas ideas e expectativas culturais. Se tomamos como exemplo a nostalxia, esta pasou de ser definida por vez primeira en 1688 como unha doenza considerada mortal a entenderse nos nosos días coma un mal de moita menor seriedade. Esta fascinante charla sobre a historia das emocións amósanos como a linguaxe que empregamos para describir como nos sentimos segue a evolucionar, e ensínanos novas palabras usadas en diferentes culturas para poñer nome a algúns sentimentos fugaces
Tiffany Watt Smith - Cultural historian
Tiffany Watt Smith investigates the hidden cultural forces which shape our emotions. Full bio
Tiffany Watt Smith investigates the hidden cultural forces which shape our emotions. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:12
I would like to begin
with a little experiment.
with a little experiment.
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Gustaríame comezar
por un pequeno experimento.
por un pequeno experimento.
00:15
In a moment, I'm going to ask
if you would close your eyes
if you would close your eyes
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A continuación,
pedireilles que pechen os ollos
pedireilles que pechen os ollos
00:18
and see if you can work out
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e intenten precisar
00:20
what emotions you're feeling right now.
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que emocións están a sentir neste momento.
00:23
Now, you're not going
to tell anyone or anything.
to tell anyone or anything.
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Non llelo van ter que dicir
a ninguén, nin nada.
a ninguén, nin nada.
00:25
The idea is to see how easy
or perhaps hard you find it
or perhaps hard you find it
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A idea é ver como de fácil
ou difícil lles parece
ou difícil lles parece
00:29
to pinpoint exactly what you're feeling.
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concretar o que senten exactamente.
00:32
And I thought I'd give you
10 seconds to do this.
10 seconds to do this.
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Dareilles 10 segundos para facelo.
00:35
OK?
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De acordo?
00:37
Right, let's start.
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Ben, vamos alá.
00:48
OK, that's it, time's up.
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Vale, xa está.
00:49
How did it go?
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Como foi?
00:51
You were probably feeling
a little bit under pressure,
a little bit under pressure,
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Poida que se sentisen
un pouco presionados,
un pouco presionados,
00:53
maybe suspicious
of the person next to you.
of the person next to you.
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ou sospeitasen da persoa ao seu carón.
00:55
Did they definitely
have their eyes closed?
have their eyes closed?
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Seguro que pechou os ollos?
00:58
Perhaps you felt some
strange, distant worry
strange, distant worry
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Se cadra sentiron un asomo de inquietude
01:01
about that email you sent this morning
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ao lembrar ese correo
que mandaron esta mañá,
que mandaron esta mañá,
01:04
or excitement about something
you've got planned for this evening.
you've got planned for this evening.
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ou emoción por algún plan
para esta tarde.
para esta tarde.
01:07
Maybe you felt that exhilaration
that comes when we get together
that comes when we get together
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Talvez, ese xúbilo
que nos embarga ao reunírmonos
que nos embarga ao reunírmonos
en grandes grupos de persoas coma este.
01:10
in big groups of people like this;
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01:12
the Welsh called it "hwyl,"
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Os galeses chámano "hwyl"
pola palabra que designa
as velas dun barco.
as velas dun barco.
01:14
from the word for boat sails.
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01:17
Or maybe you felt all of these things.
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Ou quizais sentiron todo iso.
01:20
There are some emotions
which wash the world in a single color,
which wash the world in a single color,
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Algunhas emocións
tinxen o mundo dunha soa cor,
tinxen o mundo dunha soa cor,
01:23
like the terror felt as a car skids.
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coma o terror que se sente
ao derrapar un coche,
ao derrapar un coche,
01:27
But more often, our emotions
crowd and jostle together
crowd and jostle together
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pero, máis decotío,
as nosas emocións mestúranse
as nosas emocións mestúranse
01:29
until it is actually quite hard
to tell them apart.
to tell them apart.
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ata que mesmo
se fai difícil distinguilas.
se fai difícil distinguilas.
01:33
Some slide past so quickly
you'd hardly even notice them,
you'd hardly even notice them,
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Algunhas sucédense tan rápido
que nin reparamos nelas,
que nin reparamos nelas,
01:37
like the nostalgia
that will make you reach out
that will make you reach out
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como a nostalxia que che fai achegarte
01:39
to grab a familiar brand
in the supermarket.
in the supermarket.
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a un produto de marca familiar
no supermercado.
no supermercado.
01:42
And then there are others
that we hurry away from,
that we hurry away from,
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E hai outras das que escapamos
01:45
fearing that they'll burst on us,
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por medo a que nos manquen,
01:47
like the jealousy that causes you
to search a loved one's pockets.
to search a loved one's pockets.
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coma os celos que nos empurran
a remexer nos petos dun ser querido.
a remexer nos petos dun ser querido.
01:52
And of course, there are some emotions
which are so peculiar,
which are so peculiar,
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E, dende logo,
hai emocions tan peculiares
hai emocions tan peculiares
01:55
you might not even know what to call them.
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que poida que non saiban
nin como chamalas.
nin como chamalas.
01:57
Perhaps sitting there, you had
a little tingle of a desire
a little tingle of a desire
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Se cadra, aí sentados sentiron
ese formigo de degoiro
ese formigo de degoiro
02:00
for an emotion one eminent
French sociologist called "ilinx,"
French sociologist called "ilinx,"
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pola emoción que
un gran sociólogo francés chamou "ilinx"
un gran sociólogo francés chamou "ilinx"
02:05
the delirium that comes
with minor acts of chaos.
with minor acts of chaos.
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--o delirio que acompaña
situacións menores de caos.
situacións menores de caos.
02:08
For example, if you stood up right now
and emptied the contents of your bag
and emptied the contents of your bag
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Por exemplo, se se erguesen agora
e baleirasen os seus bolsos,
e baleirasen os seus bolsos,
02:12
all over the floor.
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ciscando todo polo chan.
02:13
Perhaps you experienced one of those odd,
untranslatable emotions
untranslatable emotions
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Quizabes experimentaron
unha desas estrañas emocións intraducíbeis
unha desas estrañas emocións intraducíbeis
02:17
for which there's no obvious
English equivalent.
English equivalent.
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para as que non hai
un equivalente claro en inglés.
un equivalente claro en inglés.
02:20
You might have felt the feeling
the Dutch called "gezelligheid,"
the Dutch called "gezelligheid,"
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É posible que sentisen
o que os holandeses chaman "gezelligheid",
o que os holandeses chaman "gezelligheid",
02:23
being cozy and warm inside with friends
when it's cold and damp outside.
when it's cold and damp outside.
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--estar dentro, quentiño e en boa compaña
mentres fóra chove e vai frío.
mentres fóra chove e vai frío.
02:28
Maybe if you were really lucky,
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Quizais, con moita sorte,
02:30
you felt this:
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sentiron isto:
02:32
"basorexia,"
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"Basorexia",
02:33
a sudden urge to kiss someone.
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unha súbita urxencia por bicar alguén
02:35
(Laughter)
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(Risas)
02:38
We live in an age
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Vivimos nun tempo
02:40
when knowledge of emotions
is an extremely important commodity,
is an extremely important commodity,
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no que o coñecemento sobre as emocións
é un ben sumamente precioso,
é un ben sumamente precioso,
02:45
where emotions are used
to explain many things,
to explain many things,
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no que se bota man das emocións
para explicar moitas cousas.
para explicar moitas cousas.
02:49
exploited by our politicians,
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Son explotadas polos nosos políticos
02:51
manipulated by algorithms.
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e manipuladas por algoritmos.
02:53
Emotional intelligence, which is the skill
of being able to recognize and name
of being able to recognize and name
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A intelixencia emocional,
a habilidade para recoñecer e poñer nome
a habilidade para recoñecer e poñer nome
02:58
your own emotions
and those of other people,
and those of other people,
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ás propias emocións e ás doutras persoas
03:00
is considered so important, that this
is taught in our schools and businesses
is taught in our schools and businesses
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considérase tan importante
que se ensina nos colexios e empresas
que se ensina nos colexios e empresas
03:04
and encouraged by our health services.
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e se fomenta dende os servizos de saúde.
03:07
But despite all of this,
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Pero, a pesar de todo,
03:09
I sometimes wonder
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ás veces pregúntome
03:11
if the way we think about emotions
is becoming impoverished.
is becoming impoverished.
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se o xeito que temos de concibir
as emocións se está a empobrecer.
as emocións se está a empobrecer.
03:15
Sometimes, we're not even that clear
what an emotion even is.
what an emotion even is.
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Ás veces, nin sequera
temos tan claro o que é unha emoción.
temos tan claro o que é unha emoción.
03:21
You've probably heard the theory
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Probablemente oíron a teoría
03:23
that our entire emotional lives
can be boiled down
can be boiled down
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de que toda a nosa vida emocional
se pode reducir
se pode reducir
03:26
to a handful of basic emotions.
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a unha manchea de emocións.
03:29
This idea is actually
about 2,000 years old,
about 2,000 years old,
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Esta idea data de hai 2000 anos
03:31
but in our own time,
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mais, nos nosos días,
03:33
some evolutionary psychologists
have suggested that these six emotions --
have suggested that these six emotions --
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algúns psicólogos evolucionistas
suxiren que estas seis emocións
suxiren que estas seis emocións
03:37
happiness, sadness, fear,
disgust, anger, surprise --
disgust, anger, surprise --
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--ledicia, tristura, medo,
noxo, ira e sorpresa--
noxo, ira e sorpresa--
03:42
are expressed by everyone across the globe
in exactly the same way,
in exactly the same way,
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son expresadas por todo o mundo
exactamente do mesmo xeito
exactamente do mesmo xeito
03:45
and therefore represent
the building blocks
the building blocks
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e, xa que logo, constitúen os piares
03:48
of our entire emotional lives.
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de toda a nosa vida emocional.
03:51
Well, if you look at an emotion like this,
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Se interpretamos
as emocións desta maneira
as emocións desta maneira
03:53
then it looks like a simple reflex:
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semellan ser un simple reflexo:
03:55
it's triggered by an external predicament,
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desencadeadas por un estímulo externo,
03:57
it's hardwired,
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programadas bioloxicamente,
03:59
it's there to protect us from harm.
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a súa función é protexernos.
04:02
So you see a bear,
your heart rate quickens,
your heart rate quickens,
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De maneira que se ven un oso,
o seu pulso acelérase
o seu pulso acelérase
04:04
your pupils dilate, you feel frightened,
you run very, very fast.
you run very, very fast.
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as súas pupilas dilátanse,
senten medo e corren moi, moi rápido.
senten medo e corren moi, moi rápido.
04:09
The problem with this picture is,
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O problema deste relato
04:11
it doesn't entirely capture
what an emotion is.
what an emotion is.
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é que non capta con exactitude
o que é unha emoción.
o que é unha emoción.
04:16
Of course, the physiology
is extremely important,
is extremely important,
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A fisioloxía é de vital importancia,
por suposto,
por suposto,
04:19
but it's not the only reason
why we feel the way we do
why we feel the way we do
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pero non abonda para explicar
o por que dunha emoción
o por que dunha emoción
04:22
at any given moment.
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nun momento dado.
04:26
What if I was to tell you
that in the 12th century,
that in the 12th century,
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Que pensarían se lles dixese
que no século XII
que no século XII
04:29
some troubadours didn't see yawning
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algúns trobadores non crían que bocexar
04:32
as caused by tiredness
or boredom like we do today,
or boredom like we do today,
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estivese causado pola fatiga
ou o aburrimento como cremos hoxe,
ou o aburrimento como cremos hoxe,
04:36
but thought it a symbol
of the deepest love?
of the deepest love?
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senón por mor dun profundo amor?
04:40
Or that in that same period,
brave men -- knights --
brave men -- knights --
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Ou que no mesmo período,
afoutos homes --cabaleiros--
afoutos homes --cabaleiros--
04:45
commonly fainted out of dismay?
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adoitaban desmaiarse de consternación?
04:49
What if I was to tell you
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Que me din do feito
04:50
that some early Christians
who lived in the desert
who lived in the desert
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de que os primeiros cristiáns,
que vivían no deserto,
que vivían no deserto,
04:53
believed that flying demons
who mainly came out at lunchtime
who mainly came out at lunchtime
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cresen que diaños voadores,
que aparecían sobre todo á hora de xantar,
que aparecían sobre todo á hora de xantar,
04:57
could infect them with an emotion
they called "accidie,"
they called "accidie,"
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podían infectalos cunha emoción
que chamaban "accidie"?
que chamaban "accidie"?
05:02
a kind of lethargy
that was sometimes so intense
that was sometimes so intense
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Unha sorte de letargo,
ás veces tan intenso,
ás veces tan intenso,
05:04
it could even kill them?
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que podía custarlles a vida.
05:07
Or that boredom,
as we know and love it today,
as we know and love it today,
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Ou que o aburrimento, tal é como
o coñecemos e amamos a día de hoxe,
o coñecemos e amamos a día de hoxe,
05:11
was first really only felt
by the Victorians,
by the Victorians,
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ao principio só era experimentado
polos victorianos
polos victorianos
05:14
in response to new ideas
about leisure time and self-improvement?
about leisure time and self-improvement?
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en resposta ás novas ideas
sobre o lecer e a superación persoal?
sobre o lecer e a superación persoal?
05:20
What if we were to think again
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E se reflexionamos de novo
05:22
about those odd,
untranslatable words for emotions
untranslatable words for emotions
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acerca desas palabras intraducíbeis
que designan emocións
que designan emocións
05:24
and wonder whether some cultures
might feel an emotion more intensely
might feel an emotion more intensely
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e nos preguntamos se unhas culturas
senten máis que outras unha emoción dada
senten máis que outras unha emoción dada
05:29
just because they've bothered
to name and talk about it,
to name and talk about it,
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só polo feito de molestárense
en nomeala e falar sobre ela?
en nomeala e falar sobre ela?
05:33
like the Russian "toska,"
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Como a palabra rusa "toska",
05:35
a feeling of maddening dissatisfaction
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un sentimento
de exasperante insatisfacción
de exasperante insatisfacción
05:38
said to blow in from the great plains.
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que disque descendía das grandes chairas.
05:43
The most recent developments
in cognitive science show
in cognitive science show
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Os avances máis recentes
nas ciencias cognitivas amosan
nas ciencias cognitivas amosan
05:47
that emotions are not simple reflexes,
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que as emocións non son simples reflexos,
05:50
but immensely complex, elastic systems
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senón sistemas
de enorme complexidade e elasticidade
de enorme complexidade e elasticidade
05:53
that respond both to the biologies
that we've inherited
that we've inherited
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que responden tanto á herdanza xenética
05:56
and to the cultures that we live in now.
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como ás culturas en que nos desenvolvemos.
05:59
They are cognitive phenomena.
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Son fenómenos cognitivos
06:01
They're shaped not just by our bodies,
but by our thoughts,
but by our thoughts,
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moldeados polo noso corpo
e os nosos pensamentos,
e os nosos pensamentos,
06:04
our concepts, our language.
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os nosos conceptos, a nosa lingua.
06:07
The neuroscientist Lisa Feldman Barrett
has become very interested
has become very interested
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A neurocientífica Lisa Feldman Barrett
amosou un grande interese
amosou un grande interese
06:12
in this dynamic relationship
between words and emotions.
between words and emotions.
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por esta relación dinámica
entre palabras e emocións.
entre palabras e emocións.
06:16
She argues that when we learn
a new word for an emotion,
a new word for an emotion,
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Sostén que cando aprendemos
unha nova palabra para unha emoción,
unha nova palabra para unha emoción,
06:20
new feelings are sure to follow.
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sobreveñen inevitablemente
novos sentimentos.
novos sentimentos.
06:24
As a historian, I've long suspected
that as language changes,
that as language changes,
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Como historiadora, sempre sospeitei que,
igual que cambian as linguas,
igual que cambian as linguas,
06:28
our emotions do, too.
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tamén o fan as nosas emocións.
06:30
When we look to the past, it's easy
to see that emotions have changed,
to see that emotions have changed,
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Se botamos unha ollada ao pasado,
vemos que as emocións foron mudando,
vemos que as emocións foron mudando,
06:34
sometimes very dramatically,
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ás veces de maneira radical,
06:36
in response to new cultural expectations
and religious beliefs,
and religious beliefs,
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en resposta a novos estándares culturais
e crenzas relixiosas,
e crenzas relixiosas,
06:39
new ideas about gender, ethnicity and age,
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novas ideas sobre o xénero, etnia e idade,
06:43
even in response to new political
and economic ideologies.
and economic ideologies.
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e mesmo en resposta
a novas ideoloxías políticas e económicas.
a novas ideoloxías políticas e económicas.
06:48
There is a historicity to emotions
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As emocións están ligadas
á historia dun xeito
á historia dun xeito
06:51
that we are only recently
starting to understand.
starting to understand.
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que non comezamos a comprender
ata hai ben pouco.
ata hai ben pouco.
06:56
So I agree absolutely that it does us good
to learn new words for emotions,
to learn new words for emotions,
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Concordo plenamente con que nos fai ben
aprender palabras para emocións,
aprender palabras para emocións,
07:00
but I think we need to go further.
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pero penso que temos que ir alén diso.
07:02
I think to be truly
emotionally intelligent,
emotionally intelligent,
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Penso que para ser de verdade
intelixentes emocionalmente,
intelixentes emocionalmente,
07:05
we need to understand
where those words have come from,
where those words have come from,
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temos que entender
cal é a orixe desas palabras
cal é a orixe desas palabras
07:09
and what ideas about how
we ought to live and behave
we ought to live and behave
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e que ideas sobre o modo
en que debemos vivir e actuar
en que debemos vivir e actuar
07:14
they are smuggling along with them.
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agochan dentro de sí.
07:17
Let me tell you a story.
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Deixen que lles conte unha historia.
07:19
It begins in a garret
in the late 17th century,
in the late 17th century,
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Comeza nun faiado a finais do século XVII
07:23
in the Swiss university town of Basel.
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na cidade universitaria suíza de Basilea.
07:26
Inside, there's a dedicated student
living some 60 miles away from home.
living some 60 miles away from home.
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Nel, vive un aplicado estudante
a uns 100 km da casa.
a uns 100 km da casa.
07:31
He stops turning up to his lectures,
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Empeza a faltar a clase
07:33
and his friends come to visit
and they find him dejected and feverish,
and they find him dejected and feverish,
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e entón os seus amigos vano visitar
e encóntrano apesarado e febril,
e encóntrano apesarado e febril,
07:38
having heart palpitations,
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con palpitacións,
07:40
strange sores breaking out on his body.
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e o corpo sumido en estrañas dores.
07:43
Doctors are called,
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Chaman os médicos
e estes veno tan grave
que se empeza a rezar por el
que se empeza a rezar por el
07:44
and they think it's so serious
that prayers are said for him
that prayers are said for him
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na igrexa parroquial.
07:47
in the local church.
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Non será ata que todo se dispón
para devolver o doente á súa casa
para devolver o doente á súa casa
07:48
And it's only when they're preparing
to return this young man home
to return this young man home
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para que poida morrer,
07:51
so that he can die,
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07:53
that they realize what's going on,
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cando se decaten do que acontece.
07:54
because once they lift him
onto the stretcher,
onto the stretcher,
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Porque ao deitalo na padiola,
07:57
his breathing becomes less labored.
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o seu alento volveuse máis folgado,
07:58
And by the time he's got
to the gates of his hometown,
to the gates of his hometown,
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e para cando chegou ás portas da súa vila
08:01
he's almost entirely recovered.
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case se recuperara de todo.
08:04
And that's when they realize
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Así decátaronse
08:05
that he's been suffering
from a very powerful form of homesickness.
from a very powerful form of homesickness.
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de que estivera padecendo
unha forma aguda de morriña.
unha forma aguda de morriña.
08:09
It's so powerful,
that it might have killed him.
that it might have killed him.
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Tan aguda que puido matalo.
08:13
Well, in 1688, a young doctor,
Johannes Hofer,
Johannes Hofer,
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En 1688, un médico mozo,
Johannes Hofer
Johannes Hofer
08:16
heard of this case and others like it
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soubo deste caso e doutros semellantes
08:18
and christened the illness "nostalgia."
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e bautizou a doenza como "nostalgia".
08:22
The diagnosis quickly caught on
in medical circles around Europe.
in medical circles around Europe.
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A diagnose non tardou en callar
nas esferas médicas europeas.
nas esferas médicas europeas.
08:26
The English actually thought
they were probably immune
they were probably immune
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Os ingleses pensaron
que probablemente eran inmunes
que probablemente eran inmunes
08:28
because of all the travel they did
in the empire and so on.
in the empire and so on.
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por todo o que viaxaran
co Imperio e demais,
co Imperio e demais,
08:31
But soon there were cases
cropping up in Britain, too.
cropping up in Britain, too.
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pero axiña xurdiron casos
tamén en Gran Bretaña.
tamén en Gran Bretaña.
08:34
The last person to die from nostalgia
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A última persoa que morreu de "nostalgia"
08:37
was an American soldier fighting
during the First World War in France.
during the First World War in France.
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foi un soldado americano
combatendo en Francia na I Guerra Mundial.
combatendo en Francia na I Guerra Mundial.
08:43
How is it possible
that you could die from nostalgia
that you could die from nostalgia
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Como é posible que se morrese de nostalxia
08:46
less than a hundred years ago?
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hai menos de cen anos?
08:48
But today, not only does the word
mean something different --
mean something different --
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Nos nosos días, non só a palabra
significa algo diferente
significa algo diferente
08:51
a sickening for a lost time
rather than a lost place --
rather than a lost place --
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--a señardade dun tempo perdido
máis ca dun lugar perdido.
máis ca dun lugar perdido.
O propio sentimento de nostalxia
concíbese como algo menos serio,
concíbese como algo menos serio,
08:55
but homesickness itself
is seen as less serious,
is seen as less serious,
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un chanzo por debaixo
de algo que te poida matar,
de algo que te poida matar,
08:58
sort of downgraded from something
you could die from
you could die from
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algo que como moito
podes temer que sufra o teu fillo
podes temer que sufra o teu fillo
09:01
to something you're mainly worried
your kid might be suffering from
your kid might be suffering from
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unha noite fóra da casa.
09:04
at a sleepover.
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09:05
This change seems to have happened
in the early 20th century.
in the early 20th century.
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Esta mudanza semella producirse
a comezos do século XX.
a comezos do século XX.
09:09
But why?
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Mais por que?
09:11
Was it the invention of telephones
or the expansion of the railways?
or the expansion of the railways?
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Se cadra pola invención do teléfono
ou a expansión do ferrocarril?
ou a expansión do ferrocarril?
09:15
Was it perhaps the coming of modernity,
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Talvez a chegada da modernidade,
09:18
with its celebration of restlessness
and travel and progress
and travel and progress
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e a conseguinte exaltación do dinamismo,
o movemento e o progreso
o movemento e o progreso
09:22
that made sickening for the familiar
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propiciou que a añoranza da familia
09:24
seem rather unambitious?
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resultase algo pouco ambicioso?
09:27
You and I inherit that massive
transformation in values,
transformation in values,
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Vostedes e mais eu herdamos
ese enorme cambio de valores,
ese enorme cambio de valores,
09:32
and it's one reason why we might not
feel homesickness today
feel homesickness today
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e esa é unha das razóns que explican
que non sintamos morriña
que non sintamos morriña
09:35
as acutely as we used to.
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tan intensamente como antes.
09:39
It's important to understand
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É importante entender
09:41
that these large historical changes
influence our emotions
influence our emotions
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que estes grandes cambios históricos
inflúen nas nosas emocións
inflúen nas nosas emocións
09:44
partly because they affect
how we feel about how we feel.
how we feel about how we feel.
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en parte porque afectan
a como nos sentimos sobre o que sentimos.
a como nos sentimos sobre o que sentimos.
09:48
Today, we celebrate happiness.
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Hoxe celebramos a felicidade.
09:51
Happiness is supposed
to make us better workers
to make us better workers
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Suponse que a felicidade
nos fai mellores traballadores,
nos fai mellores traballadores,
09:55
and parents and partners;
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pais e compañeiros;
09:57
it's supposed to make us live longer.
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e suponse que nos fai vivir máis.
09:59
In the 16th century,
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1825
No século XVI,
10:01
sadness was thought to do
most of those things.
most of those things.
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pensábase que era a tristeza
a que facía todo isto.
a que facía todo isto.
10:04
It's even possible to read
self-help books from that period
self-help books from that period
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Incluso se poden ler libros de autoaxuda
daquel período
daquel período
10:08
which try to encourage sadness in readers
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que tratan de inducir tristeza no lector
10:10
by giving them lists of reasons
to be disappointed.
to be disappointed.
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a través da presentación de listas
de razóns para estar triste.
de razóns para estar triste.
10:13
(Laughter)
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(Risas)
10:14
These self-help authors thought
you could cultivate sadness as a skill,
you could cultivate sadness as a skill,
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Os seus autores pensaban que a tristeza
se podía cultivar como unha habilidade,
se podía cultivar como unha habilidade,
10:19
since being expert in it
would make you more resilient
would make you more resilient
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3158
cuxo dominio facía a un máis resiliente
10:22
when something bad did happen to you,
as invariably it would.
as invariably it would.
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diante dun suceso negativo,
como de feito acontecía.
como de feito acontecía.
10:26
I think we could learn from this today.
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Creo que podemos aprender
disto a día de hoxe.
disto a día de hoxe.
10:28
Feel sad today, and you might feel
impatient, even a little ashamed.
impatient, even a little ashamed.
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616655
5171
Estade tristes hoxe e sentirédesvos
ansiosos e ata un pouco avergoñados.
ansiosos e ata un pouco avergoñados.
10:33
Feel sad in the 16th century,
and you might feel a little bit smug.
and you might feel a little bit smug.
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Sentídevos tristes no século XVI
e talvez poidades fachendear un pouco.
e talvez poidades fachendear un pouco.
10:39
Of course, our emotions
don't just change across time,
don't just change across time,
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As nosas emocións non só mudan
ao longo do tempo,
ao longo do tempo,
10:42
they also change from place to place.
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2238
senón tamén dun lugar a outro.
10:45
The Baining people of Papua New Guinea
speak of "awumbuk,"
speak of "awumbuk,"
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O pobo Baining the Papúa Nova Guinea
fala de "awumbuk",
fala de "awumbuk",
10:50
a feeling of lethargy that descends
when a houseguest finally leaves.
when a houseguest finally leaves.
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4178
un sentimento de modorra
que sobrevén cando marcha un hóspede.
que sobrevén cando marcha un hóspede.
10:54
(Laughter)
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(Risas)
10:55
Now, you or I might feel relief,
205
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Pode que vostedes ou eu
nos sintamos aliviados,
nos sintamos aliviados,
10:58
but in Baining culture,
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2117
mais na cultura dos Baining,
11:00
departing guests are thought
to shed a sort of heaviness
to shed a sort of heaviness
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3077
pénsase que os hóspedes deixan
ao marchar unha sorte de carga
ao marchar unha sorte de carga
11:03
so they can travel more easily,
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1754
para así poder viaxar máis lixeiros,
11:05
and this heaviness infects the air
and causes this awumbuk.
and causes this awumbuk.
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3128
e que esta carga invade o aire
e causa o chamado "awumbuk".
e causa o chamado "awumbuk".
11:08
And so what they do is leave
a bowl of water out overnight
a bowl of water out overnight
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Así que o que fan e deixar
un cunco de auga fóra pola noite
un cunco de auga fóra pola noite
11:11
to absorb this air,
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1176
para absorber este aire,
11:12
and then very early the next morning,
they wake up and have a ceremony
they wake up and have a ceremony
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3376
e erguerse cedo pola mañá
para celebrar unha cerimonia
para celebrar unha cerimonia
11:15
and throw the water away.
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e tirar a auga.
11:16
Now, here's a good example
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1263
Este é un bo exemplo de como
11:18
of spiritual practices
and geographical realities combining
and geographical realities combining
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4037
a sinerxía entre prácticas espirituais
e realidades xeográficas
e realidades xeográficas
11:22
to bring a distinct emotion into life
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2454
dá lugar a unha emoción diferenciada
11:24
and make it disappear again.
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1760
e a fai desaparecer de novo.
11:27
One of my favorite emotions
is a Japanese word, "amae."
is a Japanese word, "amae."
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4633
Unha das miñas emocións favoritas é
a designada pola palabra xaponesa "amae".
a designada pola palabra xaponesa "amae".
11:33
Amae is a very common word in Japan,
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2332
Trátase dunha palabra moi común no Xapón
11:35
but it is actually quite
hard to translate.
hard to translate.
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realmente difícil de traducir.
11:37
It means something like
the pleasure that you get
the pleasure that you get
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Refírese ao pracer que un experimenta
11:40
when you're able to temporarily
hand over responsibility for your life
hand over responsibility for your life
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cando pode facer recaer temporalmente
a responsabilidade sobre a súa propia vida
a responsabilidade sobre a súa propia vida
11:44
to someone else.
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noutra persoa.
11:45
(Laughter)
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(Risas)
11:46
Now, anthropologists suggest
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Agora ben, os antropólogos suxiren
11:48
that one reason why this word
might have been named and celebrated
might have been named and celebrated
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que a razón de que esta realidade
fose nomeada e enaltecida no Xapón
fose nomeada e enaltecida no Xapón
11:52
in Japan
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1188
11:53
is because of that country's
traditionally collectivist culture,
traditionally collectivist culture,
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3934
é a cultura tradicionalmente
colectivista deste país;
colectivista deste país;
11:57
whereas the feeling of dependency
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en contraste co sentimento de dependencia
12:00
may be more fraught
amongst English speakers,
amongst English speakers,
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2860
máis saliente entre os angloparlantes,
12:03
who have learned to value
self-sufficiency and individualism.
self-sufficiency and individualism.
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4259
que aprendemos a valorar
a autosuficiencia e o individualismo.
a autosuficiencia e o individualismo.
12:09
This might be a little simplistic,
232
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2387
Este discurso pode soar
un pouco simplista,
un pouco simplista,
12:11
but it is tantalizing.
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pero resulta sedutor.
12:13
What might our emotional languages
tell us not just about what we feel,
tell us not just about what we feel,
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5374
Que nos din as nosas linguaxes emocionais,
non só sobre o que sentimos
non só sobre o que sentimos
12:19
but about what we value most?
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2907
senón tamen sobre que valoramos máis?
12:24
Most people who tell us
to pay attention to our well-being
to pay attention to our well-being
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4104
Moita xente que fala
de atender ao noso benestar
de atender ao noso benestar
12:29
talk of the importance
of naming our emotions.
of naming our emotions.
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3709
fala tamén da importancia
de poñerlles nome ás nosas emocións.
de poñerlles nome ás nosas emocións.
12:32
But these names aren't neutral labels.
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3233
Pero estes nomes
non son etiquetas neutras.
non son etiquetas neutras.
12:35
They are freighted with our culture's
values and expectations,
values and expectations,
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3225
Teñen unha carga cultural,
de valores e expectativas,
de valores e expectativas,
12:39
and they transmit ideas
about who we think we are.
about who we think we are.
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e transmiten ideas
acerca do noso autoconcepto.
acerca do noso autoconcepto.
12:43
Learning new and unusual words
for emotions will help attune us
for emotions will help attune us
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4072
Aprender novas e infrecuentes palabras
para designar emocións axudaranos
para designar emocións axudaranos
12:47
to the more finely grained
aspects of our inner lives.
aspects of our inner lives.
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3487
a sintonizar cos aspectos
máis moleculares da nosa vida íntima.
máis moleculares da nosa vida íntima.
12:51
But more than this, I think these
words are worth caring about,
words are worth caring about,
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3706
Mais, alén diso, penso que paga a pena
darlles importancia
darlles importancia
12:55
because they remind us
how powerful the connection is
how powerful the connection is
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3343
porque nos lembran
o potente que é a conexión
o potente que é a conexión
12:58
between what we think
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entre o que pensamos
13:00
and how we end up feeling.
246
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1826
e o que acabamos sentindo.
13:03
True emotional intelligence
requires that we understand
requires that we understand
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4015
Unha intelixencia emocional real
esixe que entendamos
esixe que entendamos
13:07
the social, the political,
the cultural forces
the cultural forces
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4804
as forzas sociais, políticas e culturais
13:12
that have shaped what we've come
to believe about our emotions
to believe about our emotions
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3533
que moldearon o que sentimos
sobre as nosas emocións
sobre as nosas emocións
13:15
and understand how happiness
or hatred or love or anger
or hatred or love or anger
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6118
e que entendamos como
a ledicia, o odio, o amor ou a ira
a ledicia, o odio, o amor ou a ira
13:21
might still be changing now.
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2487
poderían seguir
en proceso de transformación agora.
en proceso de transformación agora.
13:24
Because if we want to measure our emotions
252
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2888
Por que se queremos medir
as nosas emocións
as nosas emocións
13:27
and teach them in our schools
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1943
e ensinalas nas nosas escolas
13:29
and listen as our politicians
tell us how important they are,
tell us how important they are,
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3609
e escoitar como os políticos nos falan
do importantes que son,
do importantes que son,
13:33
then it is a good idea that we understand
255
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2200
entón é unha boa idea que comprendamos
13:35
where the assumptions we have about them
256
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1956
de onde veñen os supostos
13:37
have come from,
257
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1180
que facemos sobre elas
13:38
and whether they still
truly speak to us now.
truly speak to us now.
258
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3304
e se seguen vixentes agora realmente.
13:43
I want to end with an emotion I often feel
259
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Rematarei cunha emoción que adoito sentir
13:45
when I'm working as a historian.
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1984
no meu traballo como historiadora.
13:47
It's a French word, "dépaysement."
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2461
Trátase dunha palabra francesa:
"dépaysement"
"dépaysement"
13:50
It evokes the giddy disorientation
that you feel in an unfamiliar place.
that you feel in an unfamiliar place.
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Refírese á sensación de desnortamento
que un sente nun lugar descoñecido.
que un sente nun lugar descoñecido.
13:55
One of my favorite parts
of being a historian
of being a historian
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2096
Algo que adoro de ser historiadora
13:57
is when something
I've completely taken for granted,
I've completely taken for granted,
264
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é que algo que xa dera por feito,
13:59
some very familiar part of my life,
265
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2571
unha parte da miña vida
que me é moi familiar
que me é moi familiar
14:02
is suddenly made strange again.
266
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2084
de súpeto se volva estraña de novo.
14:05
Dépaysement is unsettling,
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2817
Sentir "dépaysement" é desacougante
14:08
but it's exciting, too.
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1855
pero tamén emocionante.
14:09
And I hope you might be having
just a little glimpse of it right now.
just a little glimpse of it right now.
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3534
E oxalá esteades sentindo
un chisco del agora mesmo.
un chisco del agora mesmo.
14:13
Thank you.
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Grazas.
14:14
(Applause)
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2801
(Aplausos)
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Tiffany Watt Smith - Cultural historianTiffany Watt Smith investigates the hidden cultural forces which shape our emotions.
Why you should listen
Tiffany Watt Smith is the author of The Book of Human Emotions, which tells the stories of 154 feelings from around the world. It has been published in 9 countries so far. She is currently a Wellcome Trust research fellow at the Centre for the History of the Emotions at Queen Mary University of London, and she was educated at the Universities of Cambridge and London. Her writing has appeared in The Guardian, the BBC News Magazine and The New Scientist. In 2014, she was named a BBC New Generation Thinker. In her previous career, she was a theatre director.
Tiffany Watt Smith | Speaker | TED.com