TEDWomen 2017
Lera Boroditsky: How language shapes the way we think
Lera Boroditsky: 语言如何塑造我们的思维方式
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世界上有大约7000种语言，它们有着不同的发音、词汇和结构。但是它们会影响我们的思维方式吗？认知科学家 Lera Boroditsky 分享了几个语言学的例子。从澳大利亚土著用“东南西北”代替“左右”，到俄语中用不同的词汇描述蓝色——告诉我们问题的答案无疑是“是的”。”语言多样性的美丽之处在于它向我们揭示了人类大脑的巧妙和灵活“，Boroditsky 说，”人类大脑创造的不是一个认知体系，而是7000个。“
Lera Boroditsky - Cognitive scientist
Lera Boroditsky is trying to figure out how humans get so smart. Full bio
Lera Boroditsky is trying to figure out how humans get so smart. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:12
So, I'll be speaking to you
using language ...
using language ...
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我们通过语言交流，
00:16
because I can.
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因为我可以说话。
00:17
This is one these magical abilities
that we humans have.
that we humans have.
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这是我们人类拥有的一种神奇能力，
我们可以互相传递非常复杂的思想。
00:21
We can transmit really complicated
thoughts to one another.
thoughts to one another.
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00:25
So what I'm doing right now is,
I'm making sounds with my mouth
I'm making sounds with my mouth
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我现在正在做的是，一边呼气，
一边用我的嘴巴发出声音。
00:29
as I'm exhaling.
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我在发出各种语调、嘶嘶声、呼气，
00:30
I'm making tones and hisses and puffs,
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而这些引起周边的空气振动。
00:32
and those are creating
air vibrations in the air.
air vibrations in the air.
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这些空气振动传到你那里，
00:35
Those air vibrations are traveling to you,
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它们到达你的耳鼓，
00:38
they're hitting your eardrums,
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然后你的大脑会
将你耳鼓接收到的振动
将你耳鼓接收到的振动
00:40
and then your brain takes
those vibrations from your eardrums
those vibrations from your eardrums
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转化成思想。
00:44
and transforms them into thoughts.
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00:48
I hope.
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至少我希望是这样的，
00:49
(Laughter)
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（笑声）
我希望如此。
00:50
I hope that's happening.
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正是因为这种能力，
人类能够将我们的思想
人类能够将我们的思想
00:51
So because of this ability,
we humans are able to transmit our ideas
we humans are able to transmit our ideas
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跨越时间和空间，传递下去
00:56
across vast reaches of space and time.
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我们能够将知识互相传递。
00:58
We're able to transmit
knowledge across minds.
knowledge across minds.
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比如，我现在就可以给你传递一个奇怪的想法。
01:03
I can put a bizarre new idea
in your mind right now.
in your mind right now.
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我可以说，
01:06
I could say,
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01:08
"Imagine a jellyfish waltzing in a library
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“想象一只水母在一个图书馆里
一边跳着华尔兹，
一边跳着华尔兹，
一边思考着量子力学。”
01:11
while thinking about quantum mechanics."
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（笑声）
01:13
(Laughter)
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当然如果大家的生活
到目前为止都还比较顺利的话，
到目前为止都还比较顺利的话，
01:15
Now, if everything has gone
relatively well in your life so far,
relatively well in your life so far,
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你之前应该没有这样想过。
01:18
you probably haven't had
that thought before.
that thought before.
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（笑声）
01:20
(Laughter)
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而我现在让你们有了这个想法，
01:21
But now I've just made you think it,
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01:23
through language.
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正是通过语言做到的。
01:24
Now of course, there isn't just
one language in the world,
one language in the world,
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当然，世界上不是只有一种语言，
全球有大约7000种语言。
01:27
there are about 7,000 languages
spoken around the world.
spoken around the world.
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这些语言有着各式各样的区别。
01:30
And all the languages differ
from one another in all kinds of ways.
from one another in all kinds of ways.
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有些语言有不同的发音，
01:33
Some languages have different sounds,
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不同的词汇，
01:36
they have different vocabularies,
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还有不同的结构——
01:38
and they also have different structures --
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不同的结构很重要。
01:40
very importantly, different structures.
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01:42
That begs the question:
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于是，我们会问：
我们说的语言是否
塑造了我们的思维方式？
塑造了我们的思维方式？
01:44
Does the language we speak
shape the way we think?
shape the way we think?
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这其实是个很古老的问题。
01:46
Now, this is an ancient question.
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人们一直以来都在思考这个问题。
01:48
People have been speculating
about this question forever.
about this question forever.
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神圣罗马帝国的查理曼大帝曾说，
01:51
Charlemagne, Holy Roman emperor, said,
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“学会了第二种语言
就拥有了第二个灵魂”——
就拥有了第二个灵魂”——
01:53
"To have a second language
is to have a second soul" --
is to have a second soul" --
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这是相信语言会创造现实。
01:56
strong statement
that language crafts reality.
that language crafts reality.
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01:59
But on the other hand,
Shakespeare has Juliet say,
Shakespeare has Juliet say,
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但另一方面，
莎士比亚笔下的朱丽叶又说，
莎士比亚笔下的朱丽叶又说，
“名字本来没有意义，
02:03
"What's in a name?
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一朵玫瑰花换个名字也照样芬芳。”
02:04
A rose by any other name
would smell as sweet."
would smell as sweet."
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02:07
Well, that suggests that maybe
language doesn't craft reality.
language doesn't craft reality.
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这就指也许语言不能创造现实。
02:10
These arguments have gone
back and forth for thousands of years.
back and forth for thousands of years.
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这些争论已经持续了几千年。
02:15
But until recently,
there hasn't been any data
there hasn't been any data
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但一直以来，都没有任何数据
能够帮助我们确定孰是孰非。
02:18
to help us decide either way.
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02:20
Recently, in my lab
and other labs around the world,
and other labs around the world,
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最近，在我的实验室
和全球其它一些实验室，
和全球其它一些实验室，
我们开始做研究，
02:22
we've started doing research,
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现在我们有真实的科学数据，
可以帮助回答这个问题。
可以帮助回答这个问题。
02:24
and now we have actual scientific data
to weigh in on this question.
to weigh in on this question.
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02:28
So let me tell you about
some of my favorite examples.
some of my favorite examples.
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让我给大家举一些我喜欢的例子。
02:31
I'll start with an example
from an Aboriginal community in Australia
from an Aboriginal community in Australia
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先从澳大利亚的一个土著社群开始，
我有机会跟他们接触过。
02:35
that I had the chance to work with.
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他们是 Kuuk Thaayorre 人，
02:37
These are the Kuuk Thaayorre people.
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他们住在约克角城最西边的 Pormpuraaw。
02:38
They live in Pormpuraaw
at the very west edge of Cape York.
at the very west edge of Cape York.
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02:43
What's cool about Kuuk Thaayorre is,
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Kuuk Thaayorre 人有意思的一点是，
在这个土著文化里面，
他们没有“左”和“右”这样的词，
他们没有“左”和“右”这样的词，
02:45
in Kuuk Thaayorre, they don't use
words like "left" and "right,"
words like "left" and "right,"
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所有的东西都是
通过基本方向来表达的：
通过基本方向来表达的：
02:48
and instead, everything
is in cardinal directions:
is in cardinal directions:
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东南西北，
02:51
north, south, east and west.
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02:53
And when I say everything,
I really mean everything.
I really mean everything.
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是的，我说的是“所有的东西”。
比如，你可以说：
02:55
You would say something like,
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“哦，你西南方的那条腿上有一只蚂蚁”，
02:57
"Oh, there's an ant
on your southwest leg."
on your southwest leg."
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03:01
Or, "Move your cup
to the north-northeast a little bit."
to the north-northeast a little bit."
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或者“把你的杯子往东北偏北边移一下。”
03:04
In fact, the way that you say "hello"
in Kuuk Thaayorre is you say,
in Kuuk Thaayorre is you say,
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事实上，他们打招呼的方式也是：
“你往哪里去？”
03:07
"Which way are you going?"
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而回答会是：
03:09
And the answer should be,
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03:11
"North-northeast in the far distance.
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“远处东北偏北处，你呢？”
03:12
How about you?"
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03:14
So imagine as you're walking
around your day,
around your day,
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想象一下，你走在路上，
你遇见每一个人
03:17
every person you greet,
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都要报告一下你朝什么方向前进。
03:18
you have to report your heading direction.
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（笑声）
03:20
(Laughter)
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但这会让你很快获得方向感，不是吗？
03:22
But that would actually get you
oriented pretty fast, right?
oriented pretty fast, right?
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因为如果你不知道你前行的方向的话，
03:25
Because you literally
couldn't get past "hello,"
couldn't get past "hello,"
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你连打招呼都没法进行。
03:28
if you didn't know
which way you were going.
which way you were going.
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03:31
In fact, people who speak languages
like this stay oriented really well.
like this stay oriented really well.
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事实上，说这类语言的人
他们的方向感非常好，
他们的方向感非常好，
远比我们以为人类可以做到的要好。
03:35
They stay oriented better
than we used to think humans could.
than we used to think humans could.
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03:38
We used to think that humans
were worse than other creatures
were worse than other creatures
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我们曾经以为人类的方向感
要比其他生物差，
要比其他生物差，
而我们也找了生物原因方面的借口：
03:41
because of some biological excuse:
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“哦，我们没有
可以感测磁场的鸟嘴或鱼鳞”。
可以感测磁场的鸟嘴或鱼鳞”。
03:43
"Oh, we don't have magnets
in our beaks or in our scales."
in our beaks or in our scales."
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事实并非如此。如果你的语言和文化
给了你这方面的训练，
给了你这方面的训练，
03:46
No; if your language and your culture
trains you to do it,
trains you to do it,
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你是可以做到的。
03:49
actually, you can do it.
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世界上有些人的方向感就非常好。
03:51
There are humans around the world
who stay oriented really well.
who stay oriented really well.
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为了确保我们大家都同意
03:54
And just to get us in agreement
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在这点上我们的思维方式有多大差异，
03:56
about how different this is
from the way we do it,
from the way we do it,
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请大家闭上眼睛，
03:58
I want you all to close
your eyes for a second
your eyes for a second
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04:02
and point southeast.
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然后指向东南方。
（笑声）
04:04
(Laughter)
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先不要睁开眼睛，请指向东南方。
04:05
Keep your eyes closed. Point.
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04:10
OK, so you can open your eyes.
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现在，你们可以睁开眼睛了。
我看到你们有指向
那儿、那儿、那儿、那儿的……
那儿、那儿、那儿、那儿的……
04:12
I see you guys pointing there,
there, there, there, there ...
there, there, there, there ...
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04:16
I don't know which way it is myself --
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我自己也不知道哪边是东南方，
（笑声）
04:18
(Laughter)
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你们也没能帮到我。
04:20
You have not been a lot of help.
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（笑声）
04:21
(Laughter)
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暂且就说，在座的大家
在这个问题上的准确度不是很高。
在这个问题上的准确度不是很高。
04:23
So let's just say the accuracy
in this room was not very high.
in this room was not very high.
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这就是不同语言之间的
认知能力的巨大差异，
认知能力的巨大差异，
04:26
This is a big difference in cognitive
ability across languages, right?
ability across languages, right?
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一群像在座的各位一样
非常优秀的人
非常优秀的人
04:29
Where one group -- very
distinguished group like you guys --
distinguished group like you guys --
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分不清哪里是哪里，
04:32
doesn't know which way is which,
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而如果换做另一群人，
04:34
but in another group,
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一个5岁的孩子也知道答案。
04:35
I could ask a five-year-old
and they would know.
and they would know.
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（笑声）
04:38
(Laughter)
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人们思考时间的方式也非常不同。
04:39
There are also really big differences
in how people think about time.
in how people think about time.
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这里是几张我的祖父
在不同年龄段的照片。
在不同年龄段的照片。
04:42
So here I have pictures
of my grandfather at different ages.
of my grandfather at different ages.
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如果我让一个英语使用者
将它们按时间进行排列，
将它们按时间进行排列，
04:46
And if I ask an English speaker
to organize time,
to organize time,
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他们可以会这样排，
04:49
they might lay it out this way,
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从左到右。
04:51
from left to right.
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这跟写字的方向有关。
04:52
This has to do with writing direction.
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如果你说的是希伯来语或阿拉伯语，
04:54
If you were a speaker of Hebrew or Arabic,
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你则可能会以相反的方向排列，
04:56
you might do it going
in the opposite direction,
in the opposite direction,
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从右到左。
04:58
from right to left.
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05:01
But how would the Kuuk Thaayorre,
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那 Kuuk Thaayorre 人——
我刚才提到的土著民会怎么排呢？
05:03
this Aboriginal group I just
told you about, do it?
told you about, do it?
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他们没有“左”和“右”的概念。
05:05
They don't use words
like "left" and "right."
like "left" and "right."
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我来提示一下大家。
05:07
Let me give you hint.
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当我们让他们面朝南方的时候，
05:09
When we sat people facing south,
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他们将时间顺序从左向右排；
05:11
they organized time from left to right.
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05:14
When we sat them facing north,
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当面朝北方的时候，
他们将时间顺序从右到左排；
05:16
they organized time from right to left.
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05:19
When we sat them facing east,
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当他们面朝东方的时候，
他们将时间从远到近排。
05:21
time came towards the body.
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05:23
What's the pattern?
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发现规律了么？
05:26
East to west, right?
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从东到西，对吗？
因此对他们来说，
时间跟身体的方向无关，
时间跟身体的方向无关，
05:27
So for them, time doesn't actually
get locked on the body at all,
get locked on the body at all,
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而是跟地理有关。
05:31
it gets locked on the landscape.
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对我来说，如果我面向这边，
时间就是这样走的；
时间就是这样走的；
05:32
So for me, if I'm facing this way,
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05:34
then time goes this way,
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如果我面向这边，
时间就是这样走的；
时间就是这样走的；
05:35
and if I'm facing this way,
then time goes this way.
then time goes this way.
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如果我面向这边，
时间就是这样走的——
时间就是这样走的——
05:38
I'm facing this way, time goes this way --
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完全以我为中心，
我每次一转身，
我每次一转身，
05:40
very egocentric of me to have
the direction of time chase me around
the direction of time chase me around
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时间也要跟着我改变方向。
05:44
every time I turn my body.
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05:46
For the Kuuk Thaayorre,
time is locked on the landscape.
time is locked on the landscape.
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对 Kuuk Thaayorre 人来说，
时间是跟地理有关的。
时间是跟地理有关的。
这是一种思考时间的
截然不同的方式。
截然不同的方式。
05:49
It's a dramatically different way
of thinking about time.
of thinking about time.
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再给大家说一个人类的聪明之处。
05:52
Here's another really smart human trick.
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假设我问你，这里有多少只企鹅，
05:54
Suppose I ask you
how many penguins are there.
how many penguins are there.
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05:56
Well, I bet I know how you'd solve
that problem if you solved it.
that problem if you solved it.
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我敢说我知道你会怎么解决这个问题。
你会“一二三四五六七八”地
06:00
You went, "One, two, three,
four, five, six, seven, eight."
four, five, six, seven, eight."
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数过去。
06:02
You counted them.
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你让每一只企鹅对应一个数字，
06:04
You named each one with a number,
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你念出的最后一个数字就是企鹅的总数。
06:05
and the last number you said
was the number of penguins.
was the number of penguins.
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这是你小时候就学会了的技巧，
06:08
This is a little trick
that you're taught to use as kids.
that you're taught to use as kids.
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你学会了数数，
你也学会了怎么用它。
你也学会了怎么用它。
06:11
You learn the number list
and you learn how to apply it.
and you learn how to apply it.
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06:14
A little linguistic trick.
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这是一种语言学的技巧。
06:16
Well, some languages don't do this,
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但有些语言不是这样的，
因为有些语言没有精确的数字词汇。
06:18
because some languages
don't have exact number words.
don't have exact number words.
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06:22
They're languages that don't have
a word like "seven"
a word like "seven"
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有一些语言是没有比如“七”
或者“八”之类的数字的。
06:24
or a word like "eight."
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事实上，对那些使用没有数字的语言的
人来说，他们不会数数，
人来说，他们不会数数，
06:27
In fact, people who speak
these languages don't count,
these languages don't count,
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06:29
and they have trouble
keeping track of exact quantities.
keeping track of exact quantities.
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计算精确的数量
对他们来说是很难的。
对他们来说是很难的。
06:32
So, for example, if I ask you
to match this number of penguins
to match this number of penguins
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比如，如果我让你把这么多的企鹅
跟同一数量的鸭子匹配起来，
06:36
to the same number of ducks,
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你数一下就可以做到了。
06:38
you would be able to do that by counting.
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但对那些没有这一语言特征的人来说
却无法做到。
却无法做到。
06:41
But folks who don't have
that linguistic trait can't do that.
that linguistic trait can't do that.
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06:47
Languages also differ in how
they divide up the color spectrum --
they divide up the color spectrum --
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语言的差异还体现在
我们如何分辨颜色，
我们如何分辨颜色，
那些视觉的东西。
06:50
the visual world.
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06:52
Some languages have
lots of words for colors,
lots of words for colors,
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有些语言有很多的颜色词汇，
有的则很少，就只有“浅色”和“深色”。
06:54
some have only a couple words,
"light" and "dark."
"light" and "dark."
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这些语言差异体现在
不同颜色之间的界限在哪里。
不同颜色之间的界限在哪里。
06:56
And languages differ in where they put
boundaries between colors.
boundaries between colors.
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比如，在英语里面，
我们有蓝色这个词，
我们有蓝色这个词，
07:00
So, for example, in English,
there's a world for blue
there's a world for blue
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它包含了
你在屏幕上看到的所有颜色。
你在屏幕上看到的所有颜色。
07:03
that covers all of the colors
that you can see on the screen,
that you can see on the screen,
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但是在俄语里面，
却没有这样的一个词。
却没有这样的一个词。
07:06
but in Russian, there isn't a single word.
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相反，俄语使用者要把
07:08
Instead, Russian speakers
have to differentiate
have to differentiate
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浅蓝色 “goluboy” 和
07:11
between light blue, "goluboy,"
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深蓝色 “siniy” 区别开来。
07:12
and dark blue, "siniy."
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07:15
So Russians have this lifetime
of experience of, in language,
of experience of, in language,
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所以俄语使用者一生都会在语言上
区别这两种颜色。
07:19
distinguishing these two colors.
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当我们测试人们
辨别这些颜色的能力的时候，
辨别这些颜色的能力的时候，
07:21
When we test people's ability
to perceptually discriminate these colors,
to perceptually discriminate these colors,
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我们发现俄语使用者能够更快地
07:25
what we find is that
Russian speakers are faster
Russian speakers are faster
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进行这种概念切换，
07:27
across this linguistic boundary.
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他们能够更快地分辨
07:29
They're faster to be able
to tell the difference
to tell the difference
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浅蓝色和深蓝色。
07:31
between a light and dark blue.
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07:33
And when you look at people's brains
as they're looking at colors --
as they're looking at colors --
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当你观察人们在看这些颜色的大脑时，
假设你给他们看
从浅蓝色到深蓝色的渐变，
从浅蓝色到深蓝色的渐变，
07:36
say you have colors shifting slowly
from light to dark blue --
from light to dark blue --
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07:40
the brains of people who use
different words for light and dark blue
different words for light and dark blue
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那些用不同词形容
“浅蓝”和“深蓝”的人的大脑
“浅蓝”和“深蓝”的人的大脑
会在颜色从浅到深的转换时
表现出惊讶，
表现出惊讶，
07:45
will give a surprised reaction
as the colors shift from light to dark,
as the colors shift from light to dark,
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仿佛“哦，某些事情发生了根本的变化”，
07:48
as if, "Ooh, something
has categorically changed,"
has categorically changed,"
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而不做这种分辨的英语使用者的大脑
07:52
whereas the brains
of English speakers, for example,
of English speakers, for example,
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07:54
that don't make
this categorical distinction,
this categorical distinction,
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则不会表现出惊讶，
07:56
don't give that surprise,
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因为没发生什么根本的变化。
07:57
because nothing is categorically changing.
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08:02
Languages have all kinds
of structural quirks.
of structural quirks.
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语言还有各种各样的结构特征。
这个是我最喜欢的。
08:04
This is one of my favorites.
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很多语言都有语法上的词性，
08:05
Lots of languages have grammatical gender;
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每个名词都有一个指定的词性，
通常是阳性或阴性。
通常是阳性或阴性。
08:08
every noun gets assigned a gender,
often masculine or feminine.
often masculine or feminine.
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这些词性在不同语言中有所不同。
08:13
And these genders differ across languages.
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比如，太阳在德语中是阴性的，
在西班牙语中则是阳性的，
在西班牙语中则是阳性的，
08:15
So, for example, the sun is feminine
in German but masculine in Spanish,
in German but masculine in Spanish,
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月亮则相反。
08:19
and the moon, the reverse.
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08:21
Could this actually have any
consequence for how people think?
consequence for how people think?
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那这会不会影响人们的思考方式呢？
德语使用者会觉得太阳更女性化，
08:25
Do German speakers think of the sun
as somehow more female-like,
as somehow more female-like,
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而月亮更男性化吗？
08:29
and the moon somehow more male-like?
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08:31
Actually, it turns out that's the case.
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事实的确如此。
如果你让德语使用者和西班牙语使用者
描述一座桥，
描述一座桥，
08:33
So if you ask German and Spanish speakers
to, say, describe a bridge,
to, say, describe a bridge,
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就像这一座，
08:39
like the one here --
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“桥”在德语中是阴性的，
08:40
"bridge" happens to be grammatically
feminine in German,
feminine in German,
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在西班牙语中则是阳性的。
08:43
grammatically masculine in Spanish --
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德语使用者更倾向于说桥
“美丽”或“优雅”
“美丽”或“优雅”
08:46
German speakers are more likely
to say bridges are "beautiful," "elegant"
to say bridges are "beautiful," "elegant"
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以及其他很女性化的词，
08:50
and stereotypically feminine words.
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而西班牙语使用者则倾向于说桥
08:52
Whereas Spanish speakers
will be more likely to say
will be more likely to say
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“强壮”或“绵长”，
08:55
they're "strong" or "long,"
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那些更男性化的词。
08:56
these masculine words.
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09:00
(Laughter)
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（笑声）
09:03
Languages also differ in how
they describe events, right?
they describe events, right?
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语言的差异还体现在
它们对事件的描述上。
它们对事件的描述上。
09:08
You take an event like this, an accident.
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以这件事为例，一个意外。
在英语里面，
你可以说“他打碎了花瓶”。
你可以说“他打碎了花瓶”。
09:10
In English, it's fine to say,
"He broke the vase."
"He broke the vase."
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09:13
In a language like Spanish,
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在西班牙语里面，
你更可能会说“花瓶碎了”，
09:16
you might be more likely
to say, "The vase broke,"
to say, "The vase broke,"
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或者“花瓶自己碎了”。
09:19
or, "The vase broke itself."
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09:21
If it's an accident, you wouldn't say
that someone did it.
that someone did it.
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如果这是一个意外，你不会说
是谁打碎的。
是谁打碎的。
在英语里面，很奇怪的是，
我们甚至会说，
我们甚至会说，
09:24
In English, quite weirdly,
we can even say things like,
we can even say things like,
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”我弄伤了我的手臂“。
09:28
"I broke my arm."
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09:29
Now, in lots of languages,
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在很多语言里面，
你完全不会这样说，
除非你是一个疯子，
除非你是一个疯子，
09:31
you couldn't use that construction
unless you are a lunatic
unless you are a lunatic
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你试图弄伤自己的手臂，
而且还成功了。
而且还成功了。
09:35
and you went out
looking to break your arm --
looking to break your arm --
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09:37
(Laughter)
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09:38
and you succeeded.
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如果它是一场意外，
你会使用不一样的语言结构。
你会使用不一样的语言结构。
09:39
If it was an accident,
you would use a different construction.
you would use a different construction.
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这会造成不同的结果。
09:42
Now, this has consequences.
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09:44
So, people who speak different languages
will pay attention to different things,
will pay attention to different things,
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使用不同语言的人
关注的点会不一样，
关注的点会不一样，
这取决于他们的语言是怎么要求的。
09:48
depending on what their language
usually requires them to do.
usually requires them to do.
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如果我们让英语使用者和西班牙语使用者
看同样的意外事件，
看同样的意外事件，
09:52
So we show the same accident
to English speakers and Spanish speakers,
to English speakers and Spanish speakers,
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英语使用者会记得这件事是谁干的，
09:56
English speakers will remember who did it,
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10:00
because English requires you
to say, "He did it; he broke the vase."
to say, "He did it; he broke the vase."
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因为英语需要你说
“是他做的，他打碎了花瓶”；
“是他做的，他打碎了花瓶”；
而西班牙语使用者则
不太可能会记得是谁干的——
不太可能会记得是谁干的——
10:03
Whereas Spanish speakers might be
less likely to remember who did it
less likely to remember who did it
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如果这是一个意外事件的话，
10:07
if it's an accident,
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他们更可能会记得这是一个意外，
10:08
but they're more likely to remember
that it was an accident.
that it was an accident.
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他们更可能记得意图。
10:11
They're more likely
to remember the intention.
to remember the intention.
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所以两个人看同样的事件，
10:13
So, two people watch the same event,
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目睹同样的罪行，
10:16
witness the same crime,
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但记得的却不一定一样。
10:18
but end up remembering
different things about that event.
different things about that event.
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10:22
This has implications, of course,
for eyewitness testimony.
for eyewitness testimony.
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在目击证词方面，这是值得深思的，
10:26
It also has implications
for blame and punishment.
for blame and punishment.
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这对责备和惩罚也有影响。
如果我给英语使用者
10:28
So if you take English speakers
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看一个人不小心打碎花瓶，
10:30
and I just show you
someone breaking a vase,
someone breaking a vase,
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然后我说“他打碎了花瓶”，
而不是说“花瓶碎了”，
而不是说“花瓶碎了”，
10:32
and I say, "He broke the vase,"
as opposed to "The vase broke,"
as opposed to "The vase broke,"
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10:37
even though you can witness it yourself,
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即使你自己亲眼看到了事件的经过，
10:39
you can watch the video,
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你看了那段视频，
你可以看到花瓶的“罪行”，
10:40
you can watch the crime against the vase,
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10:44
you will punish someone more,
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但是你却会更倾向于惩罚、
责备那个人——
责备那个人——
10:45
you will blame someone more
if I just said, "He broke it,"
if I just said, "He broke it,"
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仅仅因为我说“他打碎了花瓶”，
10:48
as opposed to, "It broke."
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而不是“花瓶碎了”。
10:50
The language guides
our reasoning about events.
our reasoning about events.
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语言会引导我们对事件的认知。
10:55
Now, I've given you a few examples
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那我给了大家几个
语言如何影响我们思考的例子，
10:58
of how language can profoundly
shape the way we think,
shape the way we think,
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它主要通过几个方式。
11:02
and it does so in a variety of ways.
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语言可以造成大的影响，
11:04
So language can have big effects,
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我们举了时间和空间的例子，
11:06
like we saw with space and time,
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人们对时间和空间的排列
11:08
where people can lay out space and time
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1906
可以迥然不同。
11:10
in completely different
coordinate frames from each other.
coordinate frames from each other.
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11:14
Language can also have
really deep effects --
really deep effects --
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语言还可以有很深的影响，
我们举了数字的例子。
11:17
that's what we saw
with the case of number.
with the case of number.
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如果你的语言里有数量词，
11:19
Having count words in your language,
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2043
有数字，
11:21
having number words,
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这会开启一个全新的数学世界。
11:22
opens up the whole world of mathematics.
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如果你不能数数，
你自然也不会代数学，
你自然也不会代数学，
11:25
Of course, if you don't count,
you can't do algebra,
you can't do algebra,
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你将不能做任何
11:27
you can't do any of the things
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需要数学的事情，
像建一个这样的演讲厅，
像建一个这样的演讲厅，
11:29
that would be required
to build a room like this
to build a room like this
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或进行转播，对吧？
11:32
or make this broadcast, right?
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2004
11:34
This little trick of number words
gives you a stepping stone
gives you a stepping stone
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小小的数字给我们提供了
踏进一整个认知领域的垫脚石。
11:37
into a whole cognitive realm.
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1481
11:40
Language can also have
really early effects,
really early effects,
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语言的影响还可能很早就发生，
我们举了颜色的例子。
11:42
what we saw in the case of color.
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11:46
These are really simple,
basic, perceptual decisions.
basic, perceptual decisions.
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这是非常简单、基本、感知型的决定，
我们无时无刻不在做这样的决定，
11:48
We make thousands of them all the time,
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而语言就在那里
11:51
and yet, language is getting in there
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影响着我们做的这些小小的决定。
11:52
and fussing even with these tiny little
perceptual decisions that we make.
perceptual decisions that we make.
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11:58
Language can have really broad effects.
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1859
语言可以有很广阔的影响，
我们举了语法上的词性的例子
看似微不足道，
看似微不足道，
12:00
So the case of grammatical gender
may be a little silly,
may be a little silly,
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3228
但它却适用于所有名词。
12:03
but at the same time,
grammatical gender applies to all nouns.
grammatical gender applies to all nouns.
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3833
12:08
That means language can shape
how you're thinking
how you're thinking
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这意味着语言可以影响你
如何思考所有能用名词表达的东西。
12:10
about anything that can be
named by a noun.
named by a noun.
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那可是很多东西。
12:14
That's a lot of stuff.
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12:16
And finally, I gave you an example
of how language can shape things
of how language can shape things
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3257
最后，我举了一个语言可以如何影响
跟我们切身相关的事件的例子，
12:19
that have personal weight to us --
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1636
如责备、惩罚和目击证词。
12:21
ideas like blame and punishment
or eyewitness memory.
or eyewitness memory.
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这些是我们的日常生活中
非常重要的方面。
非常重要的方面。
12:23
These are important things
in our daily lives.
in our daily lives.
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12:28
Now, the beauty of linguistic diversity
is that it reveals to us
is that it reveals to us
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语言多样性的美丽在于
它向我们揭示了
它向我们揭示了
人类的大脑是多么巧妙和灵活。
12:33
just how ingenious and how flexible
the human mind is.
the human mind is.
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12:37
Human minds have invented
not one cognitive universe, but 7,000 --
not one cognitive universe, but 7,000 --
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4531
人类大脑创造的不是一个认知体系，
而是7000个，
而是7000个，
世界上有7000种语言。
12:42
there are 7,000 languages
spoken around the world.
spoken around the world.
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12:46
And we can create many more --
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而我们还可以创造更多。
语言是有生命的，
12:47
languages, of course, are living things,
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是我们可以打磨和改变
以满足我们需求的东西。
以满足我们需求的东西。
12:50
things that we can hone
and change to suit our needs.
and change to suit our needs.
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3766
12:55
The tragic thing is that we're losing
so much of this linguistic diversity
so much of this linguistic diversity
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不幸的是，这种语言多样性
正在不断丧失。
正在不断丧失。
12:59
all the time.
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13:00
We're losing about one language a week,
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大概平均每个星期
就有一种语言消失，
就有一种语言消失，
13:02
and by some estimates,
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据估计，
13:03
half of the world's languages
will be gone in the next hundred years.
will be gone in the next hundred years.
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在接下来的100年里
世界上一半的语言将会消失。
世界上一半的语言将会消失。
13:07
And the even worse news is that right now,
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更糟糕的是，现在
几乎我们所知道的
所有关于人类大脑和思维的东西
所有关于人类大脑和思维的东西
13:10
almost everything we know about
the human mind and human brain
the human mind and human brain
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都是基于大学中说美式英语的
13:14
is based on studies of usually American
English-speaking undergraduates
English-speaking undergraduates
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学生的研究。
13:19
at universities.
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13:22
That excludes almost all humans. Right?
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这就几乎排除了所有人类，不是吗？
所以其实我们对人类思维的了解
是非常狭隘和具有偏见的，
是非常狭隘和具有偏见的，
13:26
So what we know about the human mind
is actually incredibly narrow and biased,
is actually incredibly narrow and biased,
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而我们的科学应该做得更好。
13:31
and our science has to do better.
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13:37
I want to leave you
with this final thought.
with this final thought.
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最后，我想再让大家思考一个问题。
我已经讲了不同语言的使用者
思考的不同方式，
思考的不同方式，
13:40
I've told you about how speakers
of different languages think differently,
of different languages think differently,
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当然，这不是是关于
其他地方的人怎么思考，
其他地方的人怎么思考，
13:43
but of course, that's not about
how people elsewhere think.
how people elsewhere think.
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而是关于你怎么思考，
13:47
It's about how you think.
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关于你说的语言
如何影响了你的思维方式。
如何影响了你的思维方式。
13:48
It's how the language that you speak
shapes the way that you think.
shapes the way that you think.
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13:53
And that gives you the opportunity to ask,
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大家可以问问自己：
“我为什么是这样思考问题的？”
13:55
"Why do I think the way that I do?"
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“我能换种方式思考吗？”
13:57
"How could I think differently?"
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13:59
And also,
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还有，
“我想创造什么样的想法？”
14:01
"What thoughts do I wish to create?"
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14:03
Thank you very much.
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非常感谢。
（鼓掌）
14:05
(Applause)
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ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Lera Boroditsky - Cognitive scientistLera Boroditsky is trying to figure out how humans get so smart.
Why you should listen
Lera Boroditsky is an associate professor of cognitive science at University of California San Diego and editor in chief of Frontiers in Cultural Psychology. She previously served on the faculty at MIT and at Stanford. Her research is on the relationships between mind, world and language (or how humans get so smart).
Boroditsky has been named one of 25 visionaries changing the world by the Utne Reader, and is also a Searle Scholar, a McDonnell scholar, recipient of an NSF Career award and an APA Distinguished Scientist lecturer. She once used the Indonesian exclusive "we" correctly before breakfast and was proud of herself about it all day.
Lera Boroditsky | Speaker | TED.com