is because I am myself a descendant of a speech community

很大一部份是因為我本身就是這類語言族群的後代，

that even today is struggling to survive.

這個語言至今都還在努力求生存

Look at the name over there,

看看那裏的名字，

you can probably guess which one it is.

你大概可以猜出是哪一個

But, for many of my friends,

但是，對我的許多朋友而言，

language loss is much more immediate,

語言失傳來得更立即，

much more intense.

也更嚴重

For them, it's loss of a chunk of their sovereignty.

對他們來說，這代表喪失了一大塊國家主權

A connection to their past.

喪失了與過去的連結

A connection to their cultural wealth.

喪失了與文化遺產的連結

A grounding in their history.

喪失了歷史的根本

In my work, I've seen time and time again,

在我的工作中，我看過一次又一次

just how wrenching it can be

明白這有多沉痛

for parent and child,

父母與子女、

a grandparent and a grandchild,

祖父母與孫兒

to become disconnected in a way that goes

彼此失去連結

far beyond any kind of natural generation gap.

這種影響遠比任何自然產生的代溝都更深遠

But even if you care,

但即使你在意，

even if you sympathize, you may think,

即使你覺得同情，你也可能會想

"Well, endangered languages just aren't worth saving."

「嗯，即將失傳的語言實在不值得拯救。」

Because you probably think they'll cost a fair bit to save.

因為你可能會覺得要保存它所費不貲

Not just money, but also time, energy and attention.

不只是錢，也包含時間、精力及注意力

And these are things that're all in short supply these days.

這些都是當前很缺乏的

Especially so for a lot of these communities,

尤其對大多數這類族群而言，

which are often faced with even more immediate,

他們往往面臨更迫切

even more material challenges. But what if it cost next to nothing?

甚至更物質的挑戰。但假如幾乎不必花費什麼就能達到呢？

Next to nothing to learn a new language?

幾乎什麼都不必花費就能學一個新語言？

What if we could radically reduce

假如我們能根本地去除

linguistic entry costs?

語言的入門成本？

Well then the arguments against sustaining linguistic diversity,

那麼，那些反對維護語言多樣性的論述

would not sound so reasonable.

就不再聽起來合理了

Because all of us

因為我們每個人

could easily jump from language to language,

都可以輕易地從一個語言跳到另一個語言，

just to show respect to our host or our guest.

只為了對主人或客人表示敬意

Or to enjoy the expressive capacities

或是為了享有

that this particular language allows us.

這個特定語言帶給我們的表達空間

Or simply because between you and me,

或只是因為在你我之間，

this language is the one I feel the most like home.

這個語言是最像家一樣有親切感的

So the obvious question is,

所以，問題顯然在於，

how long does it take to learn a new language?

學一個新語言要花多久時間？

Not perfectly,

不用完美

not you know, without a single error,

不需要毫無錯誤

not even fluently, but just enough to get your foot in the door.

甚至不用很流利，只需要能讓你踏入門檻就夠了

Enough to get started,

足以開始對話，

to get going, enough to join that speech community and be part of it.

足以持續，能夠加入那個語言族群並成為其中一份子

Well, in my experience,

嗯，在我的經驗裡，

it's about a week or so.

這只需要一個星期左右

And you know,

你知道，

I was just as shocked as you to discover this.

我發現這件事時跟你一樣驚訝

In the summer of 2003, after just 10 days in Bulgaria

2003年夏天，我在保加利亞待了十天

with my new in-laws,

跟我新婚的親家相處後，

I was able to talk well enough

我的對話能力已經足以

to translate for my sister when she came.

在我妹妹來時幫她翻譯了

And then the same thing happened again the next summer.

隔年夏天同樣的事情再度發生

I went to the Czech Republic for my cousin's wedding,

我到捷克參加表親的婚禮

showed up about a week early, and by the time the wedding rolled around,

我大約提早一週抵達，而到婚禮進行時，

I was just chatting away with all my new Czech relatives.

我已經在跟所有捷克的新親戚聊天了

I wasn't fluent and I wasn't flawless but I was effective.

我講得不流利，也非毫無瑕疵，但我能有效溝通

Now real fluency, in my experience,

依我的經驗，要達到真正流利

does take a long time,

確實需要很長一段時間

does take hanging out with the speech community.

需要與該語言族群長期交流相處

But still, just one week and change

但確實只要一週的改變

to get a foot in the door.

就能踏入門檻

To be able to party with the Czechs.

能跟捷克人開派對

To be able to hang out in Bulgarian cafes

能在保加利亞咖啡店與人閒聊

and order French fries with aplomb.

能泰然自若地點薯條來吃

That seemed like an idea worth sharing.

這似乎是個值得分享的點子

Now of course, I'm a trained field linguist,

當然，我是受過訓練的語言學家，

so you probably think, "You're self selected.

所以你可能會想，「你是在自我取樣。」

You've got experience. You've got talent." Right?

「你有經驗。你有天賦。」對吧？

But when I do it,

但當我這麼做時，

it doesn't feel at all like talent,

我一點也不覺得像天賦，

and not much like experience either.

也不怎麼像是經驗

All it feels like is a really clear sense of what to do.

而像是有清楚概念，知道該怎麼做

How to handle vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar,

如何處理詞彙、發音、文法，

and more than anything else,

以及最重要的，

how to make it through any conversation.

如何將之運用在任何對話中

And this is what I think we're missing

我認為我們缺乏的就是這個，

when we struggle with languages.

所以我們艱辛地學習語言

When we fall to learn languages.

在學語言時感到挫敗

We all get taught languages,

我們都有受語言教育

but we don't get taught how to learn languages.

但我們並沒有被教導如何學語言

And that's what I've been working on for quite some time right now.

而這就是我這陣子致力在推動的事

On how to translate the experience,

如何演繹這種經驗，

the skill set of a trained field linguist into a form that anybody,

將受過訓練的語言學家具備的能力

any of you can pick up quickly

演繹成你們任何人都能快速獲得的形式，

and use to become active learners, confident learners,

並能加以運用，成為主動、有自信的學習者，

who can step right out into the street, the scary street of real-life language use

能夠立刻走入街頭，走入實際運用語言的可怕街頭

with very little fear.

而幾乎不帶恐懼

And if we can do this,

如果我們能做到，

then it doesn't just change

這不僅改變了

how you and me learn languages,

你我學習語言的方式，

but it also has the potential to radically reshape

更有可能根本地重塑

how linguistic majorities and linguistic minorities

語言多數族群及語言少數族群

can live and work together in the same world.

在同一個世界中共同生活與工作的模式

Because now, separate linguistic traditions

因為現在，不同的語言傳統

are no longer communicative obstacles,

不再是溝通時的障礙，

but actually resources.

而是資源

Social, cultural, intellectual,

社會、文化、知能，

even emotional resources that we can all share and enjoy together.

甚至情感方面的資源，我們都得以共享

So, how do we do it? How do we get that foot in the door?

所以，我們該怎麼做？我們該怎麼跨過這個門檻？

At least that foot in the door.

至少跨過一隻腳

First and foremost,

首先最重要的，

what we need to understand is our own psychology.

我們需要了解自己的心理

We need to understand that it's the social and the emotional aspects

我們必須了解，在語言學習中，社會和情緒這兩個面向

of language learning that decide everything.

決定了一切

Because when we first start to learn a language,

因為我們剛開始學語言時，

it's humiliating. It's embarrassing. It's frustrating.

會感到很丟臉、很不好意思、很挫折

So this gets you guys all rushing at the door to go learn a language.

所以這使你們全部都急著要衝破語言的門

But this is because as adults, as teenagers,

但這是因為身為成人、身為青少年，

we measure ourselves on how well we can present ourselves with our words.

我們以自己能運用語言表達自我的能力來看待自己

And in a new language we lose that control,

而在我們使用新語言時，卻失去這種掌控能力，

and we run screaming away from that.

所以我們想大叫著逃離現場

We dodge conversations.

我們逃避對話

We hide on a linguistic sideline.

我們躲到語言界線之後

We do anything to avoid a simple face-to-face conversation,

我們想盡辦法避免基本的面對面交談

which is the one thing, the only thing that's going to make us better.

而這卻是一個唯一能讓我們進步的機會

And as English speakers in today's world, the world is very accommodating of that.

在現代世界中，身為英語使用者，這世界對我們很通融

It makes it very easy for us

這使得我們很容易

to indulge in our instinct to just bailout

就放縱自己逃避的本能

when we get linguistic stage fright.

在我們面對語言怯場的時候

So what do we do?

所以我們該怎麼辦呢？

Well, the short answer is,

嗯，答案很簡單，

we learn to check our shame at the door.

我們要學著在門口檢視這種丟臉的感覺

We learn to embrace this loss of control,

我們要學著擁抱失去掌控的狀況

enjoy the fact that we've been

享受我們在新的語言情境中

--more or less involuntarily--

--多少出於非自願的--

given a second childhood in a new language.

必須重新度過一次童年

Right?

對吧？

So, if we can do this,

所以，如果我們能夠如此，

then we have learned to shift our job,

我們就能學習轉換我們的職責，

reframe our job.

重新架構我們的職責

To not from trying to seek out perfection,

不再試著追求完美

not making any mistakes,

或是不出任何差錯，

but instead, just learning to cope well.

而是學著好好應對

And the best place to learn linguistic coping skills

而學習語言應對技巧最好的方式

is through simply learning how to improvise.

不過就是學習如何即興發揮

Learning how to use description, metaphor, analogy.

學習如何使用描述、隱喻、類比

To work around the words that we don't know.

設法繞過我們所不會的單字

So for example, if I don't know how to say tiger in your language,

舉例來說，如果我不知道要怎麼用你的語言說老虎這個單字，

I will say, "It's a thing, it's like a cat but big and orange,

我就會說，「這個東西就是像貓，但是比較大，是橘色的，

and the one behind you looks a little bit hungry."

牠在你後面看起來有點餓。」

(Laughter)

(笑聲)

It's these clunky but effective descriptions

這種笨拙但有效的描述

that actually get us through any conversation.

事實上能讓我們順利完成任何對話

And when we learn to congratulate ourselves on them,

而當我們學會恭喜自己做到這件事，

when we realize that,

當我們發現，

"Wow, this person actually understood what I said,"

「哇，這個人真的聽得懂我在講什麼耶」

then we feel good about ourselves.

我們就會覺得自己的表現還不錯

We find they understood what I said

我們發現他們了解我在說什麼

and now, even better,

而且更棒的是，

they're telling me how to say it right.

他們還會告訴我怎麼說出正確的字

That's a language lesson that we will never ever forget.

這是我們永遠不會忘記的語言課

Never.

永遠不會

So, there's actually a second lesson inside this,

所以，這之中其實隱含了第二層學習，

which is that, language is not all on you.

那就是，語言不是你一個人的責任

When you and I speak together, we make meaning together.

當你我對話時，我們是在一同創造意義

So learning to cope well

所以學著在另一個語言中應對自如

in an another language, is as much, if not more,

很高程度上也意味著

about learning to lean on the other person's

學著依靠另一個人

full and complete knowledge of the language

對該語言的完整知識

and even more on their willingness to help you

甚至是他們幫助你的意願

make this conversation happen.

使對話順利進行

So again, if we learn to reframe our task,

所以我再次強調，如果我們學著重新定義自己的任務，

reframe our job,

重新定義我們的職責，

as being effective, not perfect,

為有效溝通，而非達到完美，

then every conversation stops being this potential minefield

那麼進行一場對話就不再像是

of embarrassing mistakes and errors.

踏入充滿丟臉錯誤的雷區

Instead, it's an exciting place for us to come back to every time.

相反的，那會是個令人興奮的地方，讓我們每次都想再回來

Because you get to be your own MacGyver.

因為你能成為自己的馬蓋先

You get to rummage around in your linguistic pockets

你能在你自己的語言口袋裡翻找

and pull out a toothbrush, a button and a paperclip,

然後搜出一把牙刷、一個鈕扣和一個迴紋針，

and couple that all together

然後把它們聚集在一起

and somehow pull off the communicative job.

以某種方式完成溝通任務

Right?

對吧？

When you feel that thrill of being a linguistic hero

當你感受到成為語言英雄的樂趣後

time and time again,

一次又一次，

you come back to conversations, you seek them out, you want to be there.

你會回過頭來找尋對話機會，你會想待在對話裡

And when you approach the task like that, well pretty soon,

當你以這種方式達成任務後，很快地，

you find yourself fairly close to fluent.

你會發現自己已經接近流利了

So that's how we cope with linguistic stage fright.

我們就是這樣克服語言怯場

With linguistic performance anxiety.

以及語言焦慮的

Which is 90% of what holds us back.

此兩者正是90%造成我們裹足不前的原因

The only thing left is of course the language.

剩下的當然就是語言本身

All the pronunciation. All the grammar.

所有的發音、文法

All the vocabulary.

以及單字

It's really intimidating, but mostly because

這些真的很嚇人，但通常是因為

we're all trying to juggle it all at once.

我們總是試著要一次把它們全部搞定

We've got no way to organize it. No way to prioritize it.

我們沒有組織它的方法、沒有排列優先順序的方法

There is a way.

這是有方法的

What we need is a simple, practical understanding

我們需要的是簡單、實際的了解

of the design features of language.

語言的結構特性

So let me give you just a brief taste of that.

我稍微讓你們感受一下這件事

Take pronunciation.

以發音為例

Anybody can learn to pronounce any sound in any language of the world.

每個人都能學會發出世上任何語言中的任何聲音

Anyone of you. All of you.

你們任何人，你們全部

If you don't believe me, it's probably because

如果你不相信我，可能是因為

you've heard the following phrase, "Listen and repeat after me."

你聽過以下這句話，「注意聽，跟著我唸」

That doesn't work. It doesn't work.

那沒有用，真的沒有用

What does work, is learning the clear and simple set of instructions

有效的方法，應該是透過明確且簡單的指引

for how to move your mouth to make that weird sound.

學習如何用嘴巴做出動作來發出那個奇怪的聲音

After that, all you need is a little bit of exercise

學完之後，你所需要的就是一點練習

to work your mouth for that oral choreography.

用你的嘴巴做出口部舞蹈

And very soon you find that your muscles limber up.

很快地你就會發現你的肌肉更有彈性了

And what have seemed unfamiliar,

然後原本看似不熟悉、

unpronounceable, unreachable even,

甚至無法發出、無法達成的聲音

becomes almost as familiar as every other sound

變得幾乎跟你之前這輩子一直在說的聲音

you have been saying your whole life.

一樣熟悉了

So you don't need any special talent.

所以你不需要任何特別的才能

You don't need any special ear for language.

你也不需要任何特別的語言耳

You just don't.

你不需要

But even more importantly,

但比這更重要的，

is rhythm and melody.

是節奏和旋律

When you go after the distinct cadence of language.

當你追尋語言特殊的抑揚頓挫

When you try to internalize that,

當你試著內化

that particular languages uses,

那特定的語言用法，

and use that as the foundation of your own pronunciation,

並以此做為自己發音的基礎，

well then, it turns out that your own words come out fluently.

那麼你自己講出的話語就會變得流暢

They flow in that cadence.

它們會隨著那抑揚頓挫的方式流動

The cadence is the current that carries all your words.

抑揚頓挫就像水流一樣帶動你的話語

Even better, when you've internalized it

更棒的是，當你將它內化後

and you're waiting for it, you're expecting it,

你心中會等待、預期這種韻律，

then suddenly, something almost miraculous happens.

然後突然之間，某種幾乎像奇蹟的事發生了，

Which is that, native speaker speech

那就是母語人士所講的話

suddenly doesn’t seem so fast.

聽起來好像突然不再那麼快了

Because it's that rhythm and that melody that actually tells you

因為正是那節奏跟旋律在告訴你

where the words begin and end.

話語從何開始和結束

So that's pronunciation, but what about grammar?

所以這就是發音，那文法呢？

Grammar is terrifying. Right?

文法很可怕。是吧？

It's only because we teach grammar

那只是因為我們教文法時

as a million little disconnected arbitrary single rules,

把它分為數百萬個不相關且武斷的獨立規則

when in fact grammars are tiny little ecosystems.

但其實文法是小小的生態系統組成的

Every little part fits into every little part.

每個小部分都與其他小部分扣結

And if we look at those ecosystems from the top,

如果我們從最上層往下看這些生態系統，

we can see a very helpful simplicity,

我們就能看到一個非常有用的簡潔概念，

which is that, all of those rules

那就是，所有這些規則

fall down on one side or the other of what we do when we talk.