Are you ready for it?

準備好了嗎？

A brain fart!

大腦當機！

It happens to us all and it's totally normal.

這很正常，大家都會這樣。

But that doesn't mean that it doesn't make us feel awkward, uncomfortable, or just plain stupid.

但這並不代表這個情況不會讓我們感到尷尬、不舒服，或覺得自己很笨。

Today, I'll teach you how to handle the most common language learning brain fart:

今天，我將教大家學習語言時腦袋突然當機怎麼辦。

blanking on a word or expression in the middle of a conversation, presentation, or test.

帶大家了解如何應對對話、報告或考試時，突然腦袋空白的情況。

And how to maximize your chances that it won't happen to you.

還有如何將這個情況發生的機會降到最小。

At least, very often.

至少降低發生頻率。

Is there a word that's similar to the concept of brain fart in your native language?

你的母語中，有類似「brain fart」的說法嗎？

If there is, leave me a comment on this video to let me know what it is.

有的話，請在影片下方留言告訴我。

And don't forget to subscribe to the MosaLingua YouTube channel for more language tips and hacks.

也別忘了訂閱 MosaLingua 頻道，學習更多語言小技巧。

Even in our native language,

即便是使用母語時，

we all have moments when there's a word right on the tip of our tongue,

也會有話到嘴邊，

but it doesn't want to come out, no matter how hard we try.

但不管多努力，就是說不出口的情況。

Sometimes, it's even a person's name, which can be really embarrassing.

有時甚至是忘記人名，讓情況有點尷尬。

But it happens more often to language learners

但這更常發生在語言學習者身上，

because their target language is less familiar than their native language.

因為他們對正在學的語言不如母語熟悉。

Here are seven quick strategies to try when it happens to you during a conversation.

談話中遇到這種情況時，可以嘗試以下七種快速策略。

Remove distractions

移除干擾

First: remove distractions.

方法一，拿掉干擾。

If you're trying to watch TV, listen to the radio, or text, and have a conversation at the same time,

如果你想一邊看電視、聽收音機或發短信，一邊聊天，

your brain has less energy to focus on remembering words.

大腦就沒辦法專注於憶起單詞。

Give your brain all the help it can get!

不要拖你大腦的後腿！

Get rid of those distractions and stop trying to multitask.

遠離干擾，不要總想著要一心多用。

Use hand gestures

運用手勢

Some studies even recommend using hand gestures that are related to the word to help jog your memory.

有研究甚至建議用與單詞相關的手勢來幫助記憶。

Does that mean that Italians and Brazilians are better at remembering vocabulary?

這代表意大利人和巴西人更擅長詞彙記憶嗎？

Maybe...

有可能唷…

Associating new words to specific movements is also a good trick to help you memorize new words more easily.

將生詞與特定動作連結是個有助於單詞記憶的好方法。

Say the first sound out loud if you know it

唸出該詞開頭的音

If you can think of part of the word, especially if it's the first part, say the sound out loud.

如果你記得單字的某部分，尤其是開頭，請大聲唸出來。

Studies have shown that sounds trigger memory retrieval

研究表明，聲音能觸發記憶提取。

and usually when you have the first syllable or sound in a word,

通常如果你記得一個詞的第一個音節或第一個音，

it can be a big help for remembering the rest.

對記起後面就很有幫助。

Try different combinations of the first sound with other sounds

把其他音接在開頭的音後面試試，

and you may eventually get to the word you're thinking of, like this:

最後會發現正確的組合的，就像這樣：

Mmm...

ㄐ…

Ma...me...

ㄐ…記…

me...memory!

記…記憶！

Define or describe the word

定義或解釋那個單詞

Then, if you're totally focused and the gestures and sounds aren't working, switch strategies: 

如果你已經完全專注，手勢和開頭的音也不起作用，請轉換策略：

define or describe the word you're thinking of using other words.

用其他詞彙定義或解釋你心中想的詞。

Think of it like the game show Pyramids or the board game Taboo

想像你在參加遊戲節目「金字塔」或是玩「有口難言」

and it'll be a lot more fun and a lot less stressful.

這樣就有趣很多，也比較沒壓力。

At the beginning of your language journey,

剛開始學一個語言時，

you should study words like "person," "thing," and "place," in addition to some basic verbs

除了一些基本動詞外，也該學人、事和地方等詞彙。

so that you can more easily describe what the word is, and what it does.

可以幫你更輕鬆地描述你想說的詞是什麼意思，有什麼作用。

For example: "a place for sick people" could describe a doctor's office.

例如：「病人去的地方」說的可以是診所。

"A place for very sick people" could describe a hospital.

「病很重的人去的地方」可以形容醫院。

We learned this strategy from the famous polyglot Benny Lewis, who defines these words as "power nouns."

這個方法是著名多語者班尼·劉易斯的技巧，他稱這些詞為「強力名詞」。

Use synonyms

運用同義詞

A similar strategy is to try to come up with a synonym to get around the word.

與上一點相似，嘗試想出同義詞，繞過你想不出來的詞。

Maybe you can't remember the phrasal verb "working out," but you can remember "exercising."

也許你記不起來「健身」怎麼說，但你記得「運動」。

Sure. It's not the exact phrase you were thinking of,

沒錯，意思不完全一樣，

but it's similar enough to get your message across just fine.

但用來傳達你的意思綽綽有餘。

Give examples

舉例

Likewise, you could use examples!

同樣的，你可以給例子！

Examples of exercising could be "jogging," "lifting weights," or "going to Zumba."

運動的例子可以是「慢跑」、「舉重」或「跳尊巴」。

Let it go

別糾結了

And finally, if none of that worked, move on.

最後，如果以上方法都行不通，就算了吧。

You don't want to dwell too long on a word you can't remember

別在一個記不得的詞上卡太久，

because that will only lead to frustration.

那只會讓你很沮喪。

Besides, giving more context later on in your conversation might also help the person understand what you meant to say.

此外，在之後的談話中提供更多背景信息也可能有助於對方理解你的意思。

And one bonus strategy, just because I think it's fun:

再附贈一個小撇步給大家，因為我覺得這個很有趣。

One researcher found that

研究指出，

saying a swear word decreases the likelihood that you will have a tip of the tongue moment for the word immediately following the swear word.

說髒話能降低你忘記那之後的話的可能性。

I promise, I did not make that up!

不是我瞎編的，我發誓！

If you implement this strategy in your daily life, let me know in the comments if it works.

如果你有在日常生活中實際應用這個策略，請留言告訴我有沒有有效。

Now, it's great to have those strategies,

知道這些策略固然很好，

but wouldn't it be even better if you could avoid that brain fart in the first place?

但如果能一開始就避免腦袋當機的情況，豈不是更好？

Like I said, it probably happens to you in your native language from time to time. 

就像我說的，說母語時，腦子也可能突然空白。

It sure happens to me!

我就有這種情況！

So it's tough to avoid mental lapses altogether, but there are ways you can prevent them,

很難完全避免大腦當機，但有些方法可以防止這種情況，

especially with words you've already had trouble with in the past.

尤其是對於之前已經忘過的詞彙。

Check out Luca's video about how to never forget what you learn again.

去看看 Luca 的視頻，學習永遠不忘記學到的東西的方法。

I'll put the link in the video description for you.

我會把連結放在描述欄位。

There you have it!

送給大家！

Next time, when that word is right on the tip of your tongue but doesn't want to come out,

下次，話到嘴邊卻說不出來時，

try those different strategies.

試試這些技巧吧。

Happy learning and see you again soon!

學習愉快，下次見！