or more precisely,

更確切地說 or more precisely,

a high-functioning

我是具超智商的 a high-functioning

autistic savant.

自閉症認知障礙者。 autistic savant.

It's a rare condition.

有學者症的人是很稀少的。 It's a rare condition.

And rarer still when accompanied,

而我的情況更是罕見， And rarer still when accompanied,

as in my case,

因為我還具有 as in my case,

by self-awareness

自我認知和 by self-awareness

and a mastery of language.

能掌握語言的能力。 and a mastery of language.

Very often when I meet someone

常常當很多人與我初次相遇， Very often when I meet someone

and they learn this about me

當他們知道我的行情時， and they learn this about me

there's a certain kind of awkwardness.

場面就會變得有些尷尬。 there's a certain kind of awkwardness.

I can see it in their eyes.

我從他們的眼神中可讀到 I can see it in their eyes.

They want to ask me something.

他們有問題要問我。 They want to ask me something.

And in the end, quite often,

通常到最後 And in the end, quite often,

the urge is stronger than they are

他們不法再忍耐下去， the urge is stronger than they are

and they blurt it out:

於是就會脫口而出的問到： and they blurt it out:

"If I give you my date of birth,

「假如我告訴你--我的出生日期， "If I give you my date of birth,

can you tell me what day of the week I was born on?"

你能告訴我--我是星期幾出生的嗎？」 can you tell me what day of the week I was born on?"

(Laughter)

（笑） (Laughter)

Or they mention cube roots

或者跟我討論數學立方根， Or they mention cube roots

or ask me to recite a long number or long text.

或要求我背誦很長的數字或文章。 or ask me to recite a long number or long text.

I hope you'll forgive me

我希望你們能原諒我， I hope you'll forgive me

if I don't perform

如果我今天沒有表演 if I don't perform

a kind of one-man savant show for you today.

這種學者症獨角戲給你們欣賞。 a kind of one-man savant show for you today.

I'm going to talk instead

我將要談 I'm going to talk instead

about something

的話題是比 about something

far more interesting

出生年月日 far more interesting

than dates of birth or cube roots --

或立方根更有趣-- than dates of birth or cube roots --

a little deeper

帶你們更深入更接近我的內在世界; a little deeper

and a lot closer, to my mind, than work.

而不是只看我超智商的表面相。 and a lot closer, to my mind, than work.

I want to talk to you briefly

我想和你們簡短的談談 I want to talk to you briefly

about perception.

什麼是認知。 about perception.

When he was writing the plays and the short stories

安東契訶夫是以他寫的戲劇和 When he was writing the plays and the short stories

that would make his name,

短篇小說而聞名， that would make his name,

Anton Chekhov kept a notebook

他總是在隨身 Anton Chekhov kept a notebook

in which he noted down

攜帶的筆記本中 in which he noted down

his observations

記下所觀察到的 his observations

of the world around him --

周遭世界-- of the world around him --

little details

一些其他人 little details

that other people seem to miss.

似乎沒注意到的小細節。 that other people seem to miss.

Every time I read Chekhov

每次當我讀到契訶夫的書， Every time I read Chekhov

and his unique vision of human life,

與他的獨特眼光來品味人生， and his unique vision of human life,

I'm reminded of why I too

就再次提醒我自己這也是 I'm reminded of why I too

became a writer.

為什麼我也成了一名作家的原因。 became a writer.

In my books,

在我的書中， In my books,

I explore the nature of perception

我探索認知的本質， I explore the nature of perception

and how different kinds of perceiving

經由各種不同類型的察覺 and how different kinds of perceiving

create different kinds of knowing

進而創造不同的知識 create different kinds of knowing

and understanding.

和理解。 and understanding.

Here are three questions

我準備了三個問題 Here are three questions

drawn from my work.

告訴您們我的世界， drawn from my work.

Rather than try to figure them out,

與其要你們試著去解答， Rather than try to figure them out,

I'm going to ask you to consider for a moment

我要你們考慮片刻，利用你們的 I'm going to ask you to consider for a moment

the intuitions

立即直覺 the intuitions

and the gut instincts

和本能的反應， and the gut instincts

that are going through your head and your heart

就是那種當一入眼簾後，通過你的頭跟心（身體） that are going through your head and your heart

as you look at them.

之後的直覺來回答問題。 as you look at them.

For example, the calculation.

舉例來說，這個計算題， For example, the calculation.

Can you feel where on the number line

是否你可以大約推測出它 Can you feel where on the number line

the solution is likely to fall?

最可能的數字？ the solution is likely to fall?

Or look at the foreign word and the sounds.

或是看到這些外國語或聽到它的發音。 Or look at the foreign word and the sounds.

Can you get a sense of the range of meanings

你能感覺到它們所要表達出 Can you get a sense of the range of meanings

that it's pointing you towards?

的意義嗎？ that it's pointing you towards?

And in terms of the line of poetry,

在這首詩的章節中， And in terms of the line of poetry,

why does the poet use the word hare

為什麼詩人用「野兔」 why does the poet use the word hare

rather than rabbit?

而不用「兔子」這個詞呢？ rather than rabbit?

I'm asking you to do this

我要求你們這樣做， I'm asking you to do this

because I believe our personal perceptions, you see,

是因為我認為我們個人對事物的認知 because I believe our personal perceptions, you see,

are at the heart

是我們如何獲取 are at the heart

of how we acquire knowledge.

知識的主要方式。 of how we acquire knowledge.

Aesthetic judgments,

用對感觀上的感受（審美觀）， Aesthetic judgments,

rather than abstract reasoning,

取代依靠抽象推理， rather than abstract reasoning,

guide and shape the process

引導和塑造的過程來 guide and shape the process

by which we all come to know

認識學習知識。然後 by which we all come to know

what we know.

瞭解事務。 what we know.

I'm an extreme example of this.

而我個人就是一個極佳的例子。 I'm an extreme example of this.

My worlds of words and numbers

在我的世界裡，文字和數字 My worlds of words and numbers

blur with color, emotion

是混雜帶有顏色，有情感 blur with color, emotion

and personality.

和個性的。 and personality.

As Juan said,

就像關（Juan）所說的 As Juan said,

it's the condition that scientists call synesthesia,

是科學家們稱之的「聯覺」症狀， it's the condition that scientists call synesthesia,

an unusual cross-talk

也就是一種感覺和另一種感覺之間 an unusual cross-talk

between the senses.

不尋常的交際。 between the senses.

Here are the numbers one to 12

這是數字1至12的圖， Here are the numbers one to 12

as I see them --

但我看它們是-- as I see them --

every number with its own shape and character.

每一個數字有專屬的形狀和特色。 every number with its own shape and character.

One is a flash of white light.

1是閃爍的白光。 One is a flash of white light.

Six is a tiny and very sad black hole.

6是一個憂傷微小的黑洞。 Six is a tiny and very sad black hole.

The sketches are in black and white here,

呈現你們眼前的這圖只有黑色和白色， The sketches are in black and white here,

but in my mind they have colors.

但在我心中，他們有顏色。 but in my mind they have colors.

Three is green.

3是綠色。 Three is green.

Four is blue.

4是藍色的。 Four is blue.

Five is yellow.

5是黃色的。 Five is yellow.

I paint as well.

我也畫畫。 I paint as well.

And here is one of my paintings.

這是我的其中一個作品。 And here is one of my paintings.

It's a multiplication of two prime numbers.

顯示兩個質數的乘法。 It's a multiplication of two prime numbers.

Three-dimensional shapes

呈三次空間的形狀， Three-dimensional shapes

and the space they create in the middle

而在兩個質數中間的空間中有 and the space they create in the middle

creates a new shape,

另一個新的形狀， creates a new shape,

the answer to the sum.

也就是解答。 the answer to the sum.

What about bigger numbers?

那麼如果是較大的數字呢？ What about bigger numbers?

Well you can't get much bigger than Pi,

沒有任何數字比Pi（π，圓周率）更無限， Well you can't get much bigger than Pi,

the mathematical constant.

π是數學常數。 the mathematical constant.

It's an infinite number --

是一個無限的數字-- It's an infinite number --

literally goes on forever.

理論上是永無止境的延伸。 literally goes on forever.

In this painting that I made

在此畫中我畫出的π是 In this painting that I made

of the first 20 decimals of Pi,

直到小數點後的第20位為止， of the first 20 decimals of Pi,

I take the colors

我用了許多色彩， I take the colors

and the emotions and the textures

情緒和質感 and the emotions and the textures

and I pull them all together

一同來顯現出一種 and I pull them all together

into a kind of rolling numerical landscape.

滾動的數字景觀。 into a kind of rolling numerical landscape.

But it's not only numbers that I see in colors.

對我而言，不是只有數字具有顏色。 But it's not only numbers that I see in colors.

Words too, for me,

對我來說，字也一樣 Words too, for me,

have colors and emotions

有顏色，情感 have colors and emotions

and textures.

和質感紋路。 and textures.

And this is an opening phrase

納博科夫知名小說 And this is an opening phrase

from the novel "Lolita."

「洛麗塔」的開場白。 from the novel "Lolita."

And Nabokov was himself synesthetic.

大量利用聯感詞（用某種感覺的字眼表達另一種感覺）。 And Nabokov was himself synesthetic.

And you can see here

你可以看到， And you can see here

how my perception of the sound L

在這裡因我對 L發音的感覺 how my perception of the sound L

helps the alliteration

有助於我瞭解 helps the alliteration

to jump right out.

句中的字頭押韻， to jump right out.

Another example:

另一例子： Another example:

a little bit more mathematical.

牽扯到一點數學。 a little bit more mathematical.

And I wonder if some of you will notice

我很好奇想知道是否在此有些人 And I wonder if some of you will notice

the construction of the sentence

會注意到「大亨小傳」 the construction of the sentence

from "The Great Gatsby."

中句法的結構？ from "The Great Gatsby."

There is a procession of syllables --

一連串有組織的音節---- There is a procession of syllables --

wheat, one;

麥，1個音節; wheat, one;

prairies, two;

草原，2個音節; prairies, two;

lost Swede towns, three --

失城記（消失的瑞典城鎮），3個音節-- lost Swede towns, three --

one, two, three.

1，2，3。 one, two, three.

And this effect is very pleasant on the mind,

很有節奏，讀起來心情非常愉快， And this effect is very pleasant on the mind,

and it helps the sentence

所以句子 and it helps the sentence

to feel right.

很通暢恰好。 to feel right.

Let's go back to the questions

讓我們回到我 Let's go back to the questions

I posed you a moment ago.

剛才提出的問題上。 I posed you a moment ago.

64 multiplied by 75.

64乘以75。 64 multiplied by 75.

If some of you play chess,

如果你下國際象棋， If some of you play chess,

you'll know that 64

你就會知道， you'll know that 64

is a square number,

64是一個平方數， is a square number,

and that's why chessboards,

這就是為什麼棋盤， and that's why chessboards,

eight by eight,

八乘八， eight by eight,

have 64 squares.

有64個方格。 have 64 squares.

So that gives us a form

這給了我們一個 So that gives us a form

that we can picture, that we can perceive.

們可以想像的模型， that we can picture, that we can perceive.

What about 75?

那75呢？ What about 75?

Well if 100,

就用100來想像， Well if 100,

if we think of 100 as being like a square,

如果我們認為100是廣場， if we think of 100 as being like a square,

75 would look like this.

75就是這樣的的大小。 75 would look like this.

So what we need to do now

所以我們現在 So what we need to do now

is put those two pictures

只要把那兩張照片 is put those two pictures

together in our mind --

在我們的腦海中併在一起 -- together in our mind --

something like this.

像這樣。 something like this.

64 becomes 6,400.

64變為6400。 64 becomes 6,400.

And in the right-hand corner,

而在右下角， And in the right-hand corner,

you don't have to calculate anything.

你不須要計算。 you don't have to calculate anything.

Four across, four up and down --

4個格子，上下四個格子-- Four across, four up and down --

it's 16.

所以是16。 it's 16.

So what the sum is actually asking you to do

那麼真正須要計算的總和 So what the sum is actually asking you to do

is 16,

是16， is 16,

16, 16.

16，16（3個16）。 16, 16.

That's a lot easier

很簡單吧! That's a lot easier

than the school taught you to do math, I'm sure.

我相信比學校教的計算方法容易多了。 than the school taught you to do math, I'm sure.

It's 16, 16, 16, 48,

那16，16，16，48（3個16）， It's 16, 16, 16, 48,

4,800 --

4800（48x100） 4,800 --

4,000,

-- 4800， 4,000,

the answer to the sum.

就是正確答案。 the answer to the sum.

Easy when you know how.

當你知道方法就很簡單! Easy when you know how.

(Laughter)

（笑） (Laughter)

The second question was an Icelandic word.

第二個問題是有關冰島文字。 The second question was an Icelandic word.

I'm assuming there are not many people here

我推測在座沒有多少人 I'm assuming there are not many people here

who speak Icelandic.

會說冰島話。 who speak Icelandic.

So let me narrow the choices down to two.

因此，讓我縮小你們的選擇範圍到兩個。 So let me narrow the choices down to two.

Hnugginn:

Hnugginn： Hnugginn:

is it a happy word,

這是一個表示高興的字， is it a happy word,

or a sad word?

或悲傷的字？ or a sad word?

What do you say?

你怎麼想？ What do you say?

Okay.

好! Okay.

Some people say it's happy.

有人說是快樂的字。 Some people say it's happy.

Most people, a majority of people,

但很多人，大多數的人說是 Most people, a majority of people,

say sad.

悲傷的詞字。 say sad.

And it actually means sad.

它實際上意味著悲哀。 And it actually means sad.

(Laughter)

（笑） (Laughter)

Why do, statistically,

在統計學上為什麼 Why do, statistically,

a majority of people

大多數人說這一個字 a majority of people

say that a word is sad, in this case,

，在此例，是悲傷的意思， say that a word is sad, in this case,

heavy in other cases?

別的例子可能指強勢？ heavy in other cases?

In my theory, language evolves in such a way

我的理論是：語言的發展是 In my theory, language evolves in such a way

that sounds match,

與聲音相襯的方式進行， that sounds match,

correspond with the subjective,

加上相對應的主觀感覺， correspond with the subjective,

with the personal

及聽者個人的 with the personal

intuitive experience

直覺經驗 intuitive experience

of the listener.

來演化。 of the listener.

Let's have a look at the third question.

讓我們來看第三個問題。 Let's have a look at the third question.

It's a line from a poem by John Keats.

這是約翰濟慈詩中的一句。 It's a line from a poem by John Keats.

Words, like numbers,

文字就像數字一樣， Words, like numbers,

express fundamental relationships

呈現對於目標，事件之間 express fundamental relationships

between objects

的根本互動關係， between objects

and events and forces

驅動組成 and events and forces

that constitute our world.

我們的世界。 that constitute our world.

It stands to reason that we, existing in this world,

這也為什麼生存在這世界的我們， It stands to reason that we, existing in this world,

should in the course of our lives

理所當然的會在此過程中 should in the course of our lives

absorb intuitively those relationships.

直覺地承接這些關係。 absorb intuitively those relationships.

And poets, like other artists,

詩人們，像其他的藝術家一樣， And poets, like other artists,

play with those intuitive understandings.

細細把玩著對直覺的理解。 play with those intuitive understandings.

In the case of hare,

像這例子為什麼用野兔這詞， In the case of hare,

it's an ambiguous sound in English.

野兔在英語的用法有另一個含糊不清的意義。 it's an ambiguous sound in English.

It can also mean the fibers that grow from a head.

也可指長在頭上的毫毛。 It can also mean the fibers that grow from a head.

And if we think of that --

那麼如果我們想像一下-- And if we think of that --

let me put the picture up --

--讓我用圖像來告訴您們-- let me put the picture up --

the fibers represent vulnerability.

毫毛代表脆弱。 the fibers represent vulnerability.

They yield to the slightest movement

它們會被任何輕微的風吹草動 They yield to the slightest movement

or motion or emotion.

或情緒所影響。 or motion or emotion.

So what you have is an atmosphere

所以可以創造出 So what you have is an atmosphere

of vulnerability and tension.

脆弱和緊張氣氛。 of vulnerability and tension.

The hare itself, the animal --

野兔本身-- The hare itself, the animal --

not a cat, not a dog, a hare --

不是貓，不是狗，而是野兔 -- not a cat, not a dog, a hare --

why a hare?

為什麼用野兔這個詞？ why a hare?

Because think of the picture,

想像 這個情景的圖片 Because think of the picture,

not the word, the picture.

而不是字，想像圖片。 not the word, the picture.

The overlong ears,

過長的耳朵， The overlong ears,

the overlarge feet,

超大的腳， the overlarge feet,

helps us to picture, to feel intuitively,

幫助我們去想像，直觀地去感受， helps us to picture, to feel intuitively,

what it means to limp

這意味著什麼： what it means to limp

and to tremble.

跛腳，顫抖。 and to tremble.

So in these few minutes,

我希望在這幾分鐘裡 So in these few minutes,

I hope I've been able to share

我已經跟您們分享 I hope I've been able to share

a little bit of my vision of things,

一些些我視野中的世界， a little bit of my vision of things,

and to show you

並且讓你們知道 and to show you

that words can have colors and emotions,

文字有色彩和情感， that words can have colors and emotions,

numbers, shapes and personalities.

數字，形狀和個性。 numbers, shapes and personalities.

The world is richer,

這世界是比我們 The world is richer,

vaster

常以為的 vaster

than it too often seems to be.

更富麗的，更遼闊的。 than it too often seems to be.

I hope that I've given you the desire

我希望我已經挑起你們 I hope that I've given you the desire

to learn to see the world with new eyes.

用新的眼光學習看世界的動機。 to learn to see the world with new eyes.

Thank you.

謝謝。 Thank you.

(Applause)

（鼓掌） (Applause)