It's not a rhetorical question.

這不是個修辭學上的問題

I'd like everyone to take a moment and get a number in your head.

我希望大家花點時間，想出一個數字

How many languages do you speak?

你會說幾種語言呢？

Some of you are like, "That's easy. I'm done. It's one, you're talking it."

你們有些人可能會想說：「很簡單啊，我已經想好了，就一個，就是你正在講的那個。」

Others of you need a little more time, you're kind of counting your languages,

其他人則是需要一些時間，你大概正在計算你會幾種語言

maybe deciding whether that language your ex-boyfriend or girlfriend taught you

或許正在判斷你前男友或前女友教過你的語言

or you just learned the curse words, whether it counts or not.

或者你只是學了些髒話，不知道要算還是不算

Go ahead and count it. (Laughter)

就把它算進去吧！（笑聲）

Be nice to yourself.

對自己好一點

When I asked myself this question, I came up with four,

當我問我自己這個問題，我想到四種

arguably five if I've been drinking.

也可以說五，如果我醉了的話

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

But then on closer...

但是比較接近的...

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

...on closer examination, I realized that that number was closer to 83

...較接近考試的，我發現數字接近 83

83 languages, at which point I just got tired and I stopped counting.

算到 83種語言，就在我覺得累的時候，我就不算了

And it forced me to revisit that definition that we have of "language."

而這迫使我再看一下我們關於「語言」的定義

We can scroll through this, but the first part says,

我們可以滑一下這個頁面，但第一段提到

"The method of human communication, either spoken or written,

「人類溝通的方式，無論是說話還是寫字

consisting of the use of words in a structured and conventional way."

都包括了結構化跟慣用的方式使用字詞

At the bottom we see, "the phraseology and vocabulary of a certain profession."

在最底下，我們看到「特定職業的用語跟詞彙」

We know that specialized field, like medicine, science.

我們知道那些專業領域，像是醫學、科學

But I'm most concerned with this secondary definition, number 2,

但是我比較關心的是第二種定義，第二項

"The system of communication used by a particular community or country."

「用於特定社群或國家的溝通系統」

And I'm not interested in altering this definition.

我對修改這個定義並不感興趣

I'm interested in applying it to everything we do,

我對怎麼用在所有我們所做的事情上比較感興趣

because I believe we speak far more languages than we realize.

因為我相信我們說的語言比我們意識到的更多

And for the rest of our time, I'm going to speak in one language

在接下來的時間，我要用一種語言來演講

that is native to everyone here.

是這裡所有人的母語

So if you came to see a TED Talk, I'm sorry to disappoint you,

所以如果你來看 TED talk，我很抱歉要讓你失望了

TED is not here, it's me, and you're stuck with me.

TED 不在這裡，是我，而你跟我在一起

And if you came to hear a talk, I'm sorry to disappoint you there too,

如果你是來聽演講的，我也很抱歉要讓你失望了

because we're going to have a conversation.

因為我們將要進行的是一場對話

And as in any conversation,

且就如同任何對話

it's not a real conversation unless there is an interaction.

除非有互動，否則也不是真正的對話

At various points, I'm going to ask you to interact.

我會在不同的時間點要求你們進行互動

You can ask any woman on whether or not it's a real conversation:

你可以問任何一個女性這到底是不是真正的對話：

if you're not interacting, it doesn't count.

如果你們沒有互動，那就不算

And I agree with that definition.

然後我同意那樣的定義

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

So before we can get started, I need to do a test to make sure

所以在我們可以開始之前，我需要做個測驗以便確認

we're clear on what this participation, this conversation looks like.

我們對於所要參與的、所要進行的對話夠清楚

If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands.

如果你感到很開心，就拍一下你們的手

(Applause)

（鼓掌）

Very good. We can proceed.

很好，我們可以繼續下去了

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

(Spanish) If you speak Spanish, please, stand up.

（西班牙文）如果你說西班牙文，請起立

OK.

好

We're going to make a joke, an experiment, OK?

我們要來講個笑話，一個實驗，好嗎？

Please, look at the person on your right, at somebody who is sitting,

請看向做在你右邊的人

and start laughing.

然後開始大笑

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

Thank you so much.

非常感謝

Go ahead and take a seat.

可以找個位置坐下了

If you felt a little bit uncomfortable,

如果你覺得有點不舒服

I can assure you there was no joke being had at your expense.

我可以向你保證，剛剛並沒有嘲弄你們的意思

I simply asked the Spanish-speaking population to stand up,

我只有要求說西班牙文的人站起來

look at the person to their right that was sitting, and to laugh.

看向坐在他們右手邊的人，然後大笑

And I know that wasn't nice, I'm sorry.

我也知道這不太好，我很抱歉

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

But in that one moment,

但就在那一刻

you got to experience a part of language we're often unaware of.

你體驗了在語言中我們常常忽略的部份

We know when somebody speaks our language, it automatically connects us, it binds us.

當有人說我們的語言，他自動就跟我們產生連結，它把我們綑綁在一起了

But we often forget that if you don't speak that language,

但我們常常忘記，如果你不會說那種語言

what it does to isolate, and what it does to exclude?

它孤立了什麼，又排除了什麼？

And that's a very important thing to remember as we go on with this journey of languages.

在繼續我們在語言之旅時，要記住這一點很重要

(Farsi) For everybody who speaks Persian:

（波斯語）對所有說波斯語的人：

I'd like to explain the meaning of "t'aarof."

我想要來解釋 " t'aarof. " 的意思

As you can see, the translation of this word is complicated.

如你所見，翻譯這個字會很複雜

(English) If you heard some chuckles,

（英文）如果你聽到一些咯咯的笑聲

that was the Farsi-speaking population laughing a little bit inside

那是說波斯語的人在偷笑

because I'm going to attempt to explain the word "t'aarof" in our culture,

因為我要試圖用我們的文化來解釋 " t'aarof " 這個字

which has no equivalent in the English language.

在英文根本就沒有相符的字

The best way we can describe it is a combination of words,

要描述它的最好的方式是運用一個複合字

things like an extreme humility, or an extreme grace, extreme politeness.

像是極端的謙卑，或極端的恩典，極端的禮貌

And really, the only way I can get you to understand how deep this goes

且說真的，我唯一可以讓你們了解這個字有多深的方式是

is to give you an example.

舉一個例子

If two guys were to see each other in the street,

如果有兩個人在路上遇見了對方

it'll be very common for one to walk up to the other one and say,

一個人走向另一個人會是件很普通很常見的事

(Speaks in Farsi)

（用波斯語說）

That means, "I am indebted to you."

也就是說「我很感激你」

To which the second guy would respond back

而另外一位就會回覆

(Speaks in Farsi)

（用波斯語說）

which means, "I tear my shirt open for you."

指的是「我為你撕開襯衫」

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

To which the first guy would respond back

第一個人又會回覆

(Speaks in Farsi)

（用波斯語說）

(English) which means, "I am your servant."

（英文）意思是「我是你的僕人」

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

The second guy would then respond back if it went that far

如果真的講到那個地步，另外一個人又會回覆

(Speaks in Farsi)

（用波斯語說）

which literally means, "I am the dirt beneath your feet."

它文學上的意思是「我是你腳下的汙垢」

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

Exhibit A.

示意圖 A

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

This extreme humility has no parallel in the English lexicon.

這種極端的謙卑在英語詞彙中是沒有詞彙可與之相比的

And I share this example with you just for you to know

我舉這個例子只是想要讓你知道

that merely speaking another language can introduce a new concept into our lives

僅僅只是說一種語言，就可以在我們的生活中增添新的概念

that previously didn't exist.

是以前從未（在我們的生活中）存在過的

And that's one example from one language.

這是一種語言的其中一個例子

If I would have flashed this series of coded words on the screen,

如果我在屏幕上閃過這一系列的編碼字

some of you right away can recognize and know exactly what it is,

你們有些人可以馬上辨識出來並確切的知道它是什麼

others of you would have no clue.

其他人則是毫無頭緒

And I can probably make a pretty clear cut right around the age of 35 and younger

我大概可以切成 35 歲左右跟比 35 歲年輕

and 35 and older, unless you really hit 35.

和比 35 歲年長，除非你真的達到 35 歲

But some of you who are maybe in that bracket that understand this,

你們有些人可能就落在可以理解這個東西的區間

you know exactly what this is.

你很明確知道這個是什麼

And others might be staring at the screen, like, "WTH?" - "What the heck?" Right?

然後其他人可能就盯著螢幕，像是「啥？」「什麼鬼啊？」

And, of course, for those of us that know, this is textspeak or SMS language;

當然，對於那些知道的人，這是簡訊或者是 SMS 的用語

it's a series of mobile phone text encoded words

是一系列手機訊息編碼

that seek to use the least number of letters

去找出用最少字母

to convey the most amount of meaning,

去傳達最多的意義

which sounds very similar to our definition of language.

聽起來很像我們對語言的定義

And to show that applies even further,

為了表示這點應用的範圍甚至更遠更廣

what if I were to tell you this is, in fact, a modern day love letter?

如果我跟你們說這個事實上是一封現代人的情書？

Follow with me as I go through these letters.

跟著我一起來看這些信件

"For the time being, I love you lots

「目前，我很愛你

because you positively bring out all the best in me, and I laugh out loud.

因為你確實讓我展現出最美好的一切，而我開懷大笑

In other words, let me know what's up.

換句話說，讓我知道怎麼了

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

You're a cutie, in my opinion.

對我來說，你是個可愛的傢伙

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

And as far as I know, to see you, if you're not seeing someone,

而且就我所知，和你約會（如果你沒有跟誰見面的話

would make me happy.

會讓我很開心

For your information, I'll be right there forever.

讓你知道一下，我會永遠在那裡

In any case, keep in touch. No response necessary.

不論如何，保持聯絡，不需要回應

All my best wishes.

我最真摯的祝福

Don't know, don't care if anyone sees this, so don't go there.

不知道也不在乎是否有人會看到這封信，所以別去吧！

See you later, bye for now. Hugs and kisses. You only live once.

晚點見，現在先暫時再見吧！抱你、親你一下，你只活一次

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

(Applause)

（鼓掌）

If you've just laughed right now, you just spoke another universal language,

如果你現在笑了，那你就說了另外一種世界語言

and that's laughter.

那就是笑聲

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

It's an amazing thing.

這是件不可思議的事情

We don't need to translate it, and we're born speaking it.

我們不需要去翻譯它，我們生來就會說

That's why things like music and comedy

那就是為什麼像是音樂跟喜劇

[Stop, stop! I'm gonna pee]

「暫停！暫停！我要去尿尿了」

are so prevalent in every single culture.

在每個文化中都非常流行

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

You see, everything we do is a portal to another language,

你看，我們所做的每件事情都是通往另外一個語言的入口

and the more languages we speak, the more we can learn.

而我們會說越多種語言，我們就能學到更多

It's a very common thing we all do:

這是個我們都會做的很普通的事情：

we take any new concept, and we compare it to the existing axis of reality within us,

我們接受任何的新觀念，然後我們將它與現實中的現有軸線進行比較

by which we learn that new concept.

藉由這樣來學習那個新的觀念

So the more languages that we have at our disposal,

所以我們擁有越多可支配的語言

the easier it becomes to learn these other languages.

就越容易去學習其他的語言

And despite all these languages that we've covered so far,

儘管迄今為止我們已經介紹了所有這些語言

I still believe we haven't covered what I believe to be the most profound

我仍然相信我們並未完全囊括所有，其中包括我所相信是最基本的

and important language of all, which is the language of experience.

且最重要的語言，就是經驗的語言

This is why you can get back from a trip, or you can have an amazing experience

這是你為什麼可以從旅程中回來，或者是有一段美妙的經驗

and you come and see someone you know, your best friend,

你來看到某位你認識的人，你最好的朋友

and you sit down, and you go into detail about all these things, about this experience

然後你坐下，然後你開始盤點這些所有細節，關於這趟經驗

and they just give you this blank look, "I guess you had to be there, right?"

然後他們只會給你無法理解的空白臉。我想應該要親自到過那裡才能感受，對吧？

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

And that's why you can go up to a stranger,

且這是為什麼你可以向一位陌生人走上前去

and before you're even two words in, they start finishing your sentences

然後在你說才說沒兩個字時，他們開始幫你訴說你想講的

if they've had this experience, if they speak that language.

如果他們有過這樣的經驗，如果他們說那個語言

Because that language, that experience is the most binding one that we have.

因為那個語言，那個經驗是我們所擁有最具聯繫力的一種

You don't need to tell them what languages you're speaking, they know.

你不需要告訴他們你在說什麼語言，他們知道

Just like I am not going to tell you what language I'm going to be speaking.

就像我不會告訴你們我接下來要說什麼語言

I'm going to ask for the short amount of time we have left

剩下的時間中我要利用一小段問問你們

that if I'm speaking your language - I am going to speak a few languages –

如果我所說的是你的語言－我要來說一些語言－

if I'm speaking your language, your experience,

如果我在說你的語言，你的經歷

I'm going to ask, for the sake and the spirit of what we're doing,

我要問的都是為了我們正在做的事情

that you just merely stand and you stay standing.

你只需要站起來並且繼續站著

Do you speak this language?

你說這個語言嗎？

I don't know about you, but I remember

我不認識你，但是我記得

in school, at the end of the year, we'd have these graduation parties.

在學校，在最後一年時，我們會有畢業舞會

And the whole student body would vote on where to have the party.

然後所有的學生就會投票要在哪邊舉辦這個舞會

For me, I would hope that the party wasn't at the water park,

對我而言，我希望這個舞會不會在水公園舉辦

because then I'd have to be in a bathing suit,

因為我接下來可能必須要穿泳衣了

and I didn't think anybody wanted to see me in a bathing suit.

但是我不認為有人會想要看到我穿泳衣

Or maybe this: I don't know if you've ever been in a dressing room,

或者是這個：我不知道你們是否有進去過試衣間

and you wanted to punch a hole through the door of that dressing room,

而且你曾想過在更衣間的門上打個洞

because the way things would fit on you didn't look the way they did on that mannequin.

因為衣服穿在你身上時，看起來跟你在人形模特上看到的不一樣

Or I remember our family gatherings, going to get seconds, or wanting to get seconds,

或者我記得我們的家庭聚會，準備去拿第二輪食物，或者是想要拿第二輪食物

and that was a whole exercise in cost-benefit analysis for me,

這對我來說是一個完整的成本效益分析練習

because I knew I was hungry, but in family everyone is in your business,

因為我知道我很餓，但是身在家庭中，所有人都會想要管管你

so I knew that walk of and these looks of, "I don't know, do you really need that?"

我知道那種情況，有人會跟你說「我不知道耶，但你真的有需要那個嗎？」

And did my cheeks because they were rounded, big,

然後弄我的臉頰，因為他們圓圓的，大大的

have a "Pinch Me" sign on them that no one told me about?

也沒有人跟我說過我有一個「戳我」的信號在上面（臉頰上）？

And for those of you who stand, or begin to stand or are standing,

然後對你們中站起來的那些人，或是開始要站著或是正在站著的

you know, of course, I am speaking the language of growing up as a fat kid.

你知道，當然，我在說的是作為一位胖小孩長大的語言

Any body image issue is a dialect of that language.

任何身體形象的議題都是種語言的雙關語

I'm going to ask you that you stay standing

我要來問還繼續站著的你們

and see about another language.

然後看看其他的語言

Do you speak this language?

你說這個語言嗎？

When we heard the diagnosis, I thought,

當我們聽診斷時，我會想

"Anything but that. Please not that. I hate that word."

「除了那個之外，拜託不要是那個，我討厭那個字」

And then you ask a series of questions, "Are you sure?

然後你就會問一系列的問題像是「你確定嗎？

Is it removable? Has it spread?

這是可以去除的嗎？它擴散了嗎？

How long, doctor, how long?"

多久了，醫生？多久了？」

And the pattern of those answers determines someone's life.

而這些答案的模式決定了某些人的生活

And I remember when he had an appetite, we would all rush to the table to eat,

而我還記得只要他一有胃口時，我們都會趕快衝去用餐

because, as you know, this thing takes away your appetite,

因為，如你所知的，這個東西（絕症）會讓你沒有胃口

and that wasn't very often that you felt hungry,

因此你並不常會感到飢餓

so we'd all rush because we always ate together, that's what we did.

所以每當這種時候，我們都會狂奔去用餐，因為我們總是堅持要一起用餐，那是我們所做的

And I was taught that if you fight something,

且我被教導，如果你對抗某事

you're supposed to win if you have the right spirit.

如果你有正確的精神，你應該會贏

And we had the right spirit, and I didn't understand why we're losing.

然後我們都有了正確的精神，只是我不懂為什麼我們會輸

If you're standing, you know the language I'm speaking

如果你還站著，你能知道我在說的語言

is watching a loved one battle cancer.

那就是看著所愛的人對抗癌症

And any terminal illness is a derivative or a dialect of that language.

而所有絕症都是該語言的衍生詞或方言

I am going to ask you to stay standing.

我要要求你們繼續站著

Do you speak this language?

你說這種語言嗎？

When the buildings fell,

當建築物倒塌

I wasn't in shock because I didn't really believe it.

我不驚訝，因為我並不真的相信

I heard the news, but all the words, they were like white noise.

我聽到消息，但是所有的字詞，他們就像噪音一樣

I couldn't make sense of it. And it was more of disbelief or denial.

我不能理解，更多的是不相信跟否認

And then I remember seeing the first plane

然後我記得看到第一架飛機

and the absolutely incomprehensible visual of what I was seeing.

我難以理解我到底看到什麼

And then I saw the second one, and all I could do was shake my head no,

然後我看到了第二架（飛機），然後我唯一能做的就是搖我的頭，不是嗎？

like it wasn't really happening.

就像這不是真的發生了

And then I saw the ground,

然後我回過頭來看地面

and I saw a city with more guts, more courage than any city I've ever known in the world

然後我看到了一個城市充滿勇氣，比其他任何一個我在世界上所知的城市還要多的勇氣