Hi. Hi. I want to ask you guys a question. How many languages do you speak?
嗨。嗨。我想问大家一个问题。你会讲多少种语言？
This is not a rhetorical question. I actually want you to think of a number. For some of you, it's pretty easy.
这不是一个设问。大家都想一下，多少种。对于你们中的一些人，答案很简单。
Inside your head, you're like, "It's one. You're speaking it, buddy. I'm done."
你可能会想：“就一种，你正在说的这种。哥们，数好了。”
Others of you maybe are wondering if the language an ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend taught you,
其他人或许在纠结，前男友或前女友教你的语言，
where you learned all the cusswords, if it counts -- go ahead and count it.
那些你学到外语的脏话，到底算不算--对自己好点，把它算进去吧。
When I asked myself the question, I came up with four, arguably five, if I've been drinking.
当我问自己这个问题时，我数出了四种，如果我喝醉了，可能会是五种。
Cheers! But on closer examination, I came up with 83 -- 83 languages, and I got tired and I stopped counting.
谢谢！但近一步细数，我意识到了83--83种语言，数到这，我都懒得数下去。
And it forced me to revisit this definition that we have of language.
它促使我重新反思我们对语言的定义。
The first entry said, "The method of human communication, either spoken or written,
第一个定义是，“语言是人类沟通的方式，可以是口头或是书面形式，
consisting of the use of words in a structured or conventional way."
并受一定规则的语法的制约。”
The definition at the bottom refers to specialized fields, like medicine, science, tech.
下面的释义解释其在特定领域的定义，像医学，科学，科技。
We know they have their own vernacular, their own jargon.
我们知道他们有自己的术语，他们自己的行话。
But what most interested me was that definition right in the center there:
但最让我感兴趣都是中间右侧的那个释义：
"the system of communication used by a particular community or country."
“由某一个特定群体或国家使用的沟通交流体系。”
And I'm not interested in altering this definition.
我并非想要修改这个定义。
I'm interested in applying it to everything we do, because I believe that we speak far more languages than we realize.
而是想把它应用到我们做的所有事情上，因为我相信我们会讲的语言远远比我们意识到的多。
And for the rest of our time together, I'm going to attempt to speak in one language
而接下来我们在一起的时间，我要尝试说一种语言，
that is native to every single human being in this room.
一种与在座每一位都共通的语言。
But that changes things a little bit, because then it's no longer a presentation.
但这会改变一些事情，因为这将不再是一个演讲。
It becomes a conversation, and in any conversation, there must be some sort of interaction.
它变成了一个对话，而在任何对话中，必须要有些互动。
And for any interaction to happen, there has to be a degree of willingness on both parties.
对于任何成功的互动，必须要双方都乐于参与。
And I think if we just are willing, we will see the magic that can happen with just a little bit of willingness.
我想我们只要愿意参与，我们就会看见神奇的产生，只需要怀有一丝乐意。
So I've chosen a relatively low-risk common denominator that can kind of gauge if we're all willing.
所以我选择了一个相对低风险的共同语，如果我们都愿意，那便可以由此确认。
If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands. Now you're talking!
如果开心，你知道的，你就拍拍手。现在，你就在讲话！
Thank you so much. Please be seated.
非常感谢，请坐。
Now, if that felt a little bit awkward, I promise there was no joke being had at your expense.
现在，如果你们感觉有点尴尬，我可以保证刚才没有取笑你们。
I simply asked the Spanish-speaking audience to stand up, look at a person that was sitting close to them and laugh.
我只是请会讲西班牙语的观众起立，看着坐在他们右边的人，并大笑。
And I know that wasn't nice, and I'm sorry, but in that moment, some of us felt something.
我知道这样做不好，我很抱歉，但就在刚刚那一刻，我们中有些人感受到了些东西。
You see, we're often aware of what language does when we speak somebody's language, what it does to connect, what it does to bind.
你看，当我会说某人的语言时，我通常会意识到语言的作用，它能用以联系彼此，它能用以连结你我。
But we often forget what it does when you can't speak that language, what it does to isolate, what it does to exclude.
但是当我们不会说那种语言时，我们往往会忘了它的作用，它会带来隔阂，它会带来排斥。
And I want us to hold on as we journey through our little walk of languages here.
在我们继续探索语言之旅中，我想要大家要始终记住它。
I said in Farsi, "I'd like to translate this idea of 'taarof' in the Persian culture,"
我刚用波斯语说，“我想要解释下Taarof在波斯文化里的意义，”
which, really -- it has no equivalent in the English lexicon.
在英语里完全没有与它匹配的词汇。
The best definition would be something like an extreme grace or an extreme humility.
能最好定义它的是类似一种极其的优雅，或者极其的谦恭。
But that doesn't quite get the job done. So I'll give you an example.
但是这还不算完，那我给大家举个例子。
If two gentlemen were walking by each other, it'd be very common for the first one to say, which means, "I am indebted to you."
如果两位绅士在路上遇见，通常一个人会说，它的意思是，“我亏欠你很多。”
The other gentlemen would respond back, which means, "I open my shirt for you."
另一位绅士会回答，意思是，“我为你敞开衬衫。”
The first guy would respond back, which means, "I am your servant."
第一位家伙就会回道，意思是，“我是你的仆人。”
And then the second guy would respond back to him, which literally means, "I am the dirt beneath your feet."
接着，第二位家伙又会回他，字面意思就是，“我就是你脚下的尘埃。”
Here's an exhibit for you guys, in case you didn't get the picture.
如果你们还是想象不到，大概就是图里这个样子。
And I share that with you, because with new languages come new concepts that didn't exist before.
而我与大家分享，是因为新的语言会带来你从前不了解的新概念。
And the other thing is, sometimes we think language is about understanding the meaning of a word,
另外，有时我们认为语言就是了解单词的含义，
but I believe language is about making a word meaningful for yourself.
但我相信语言就是让一个单词对你有意义。
If I were to flash this series of words on the screen, some of you, you'd know exactly what it is right away.
如果我在屏幕上闪过这一段话，你们中有些人，会很快知道它的涵义。
Others of you, you might struggle a little bit.
而另外的人，却完全没有头绪。
And I could probably draw a pretty clear-cut line right around the age of 35 and older, 35 and younger.
我大概可以清楚的划分年纪大概是35岁及以上，和35岁及以下。
And for those of us that are in the know, we know that's text-speak, or SMS language.
对于那些知道的人来说，我们知道这就是短信用语，或者SMS语言。
It's a series of characters meant to convey the most amount of meaning with the least amount of characters,
这是一系列符号，能用最少的字符，表达最多的含义，
which sounds pretty similar to our definition of languages: "system of communication used by a community."
这听起来和我们语言的定义非常相近：“由某一个特定群体使用的沟通体系。”
Now, anyone who's ever got into an argument via text can make a case for how it's maybe not the best method of communication,
现在，如果有谁曾用短信语言吵架，就知道它不是最好的沟通方法，
but what if I told you that what you saw earlier was a modern-day love letter?
但是如果我告诉你，你刚刚看到的是一封现代情书呢？
If you follow along: "For the time being, I love you lots, because you positively bring out all the best in me,
跟我一起读：“就目前来讲，我非常爱你，因为你真的使我把内心最好的东西表现出来，
and I laugh out loud, in other words, let's me know what's up.
而我畅快大笑，换句话，让我知道这是怎么了。
'Cause you are a cutie in my opinion, and as far as I know to see you, if you're not seeing someone, would make happy.
因为以我所见，据我所知，你是个小可爱，如果你还没有遇见其他人，和你交往，会让我很开心。
For your information, I'll be right there forever.
告诉你，我会永远在那里。
In any case, keep in touch, no response necessary, all my best wishes, don't know, don't care if anyone sees this.
不论怎样，保持联系，无需回复，送上我最好的祝愿，不知道也不在乎，如果其他人看到这个。
Don't go there, see you later, bye for now, hugs and kisses, you only live once."
别找我，待会儿见，先小别，拥抱你，吻你，人生不再重来。”
Kind of a modern-day Romeo or Juliet.
有点现代的罗密欧或朱丽叶。
In that moment, if you laughed, you spoke another language that needs no explanation: laughter.
如果刚才，你笑了，你就在说另一种语言，不需要解释：那就是笑。
It's one of the most common languages in the world.
它是世界上最通用的一种语言。
We don't have to explain it to each other, it's just something we all feel,
我们无需向彼此解释，它只是我们都有的感受，
and that's why things like laughter and things like music are so prevalent,
这就是为什么笑和音乐是如此流行，
because they seem to somehow transcend explanation and convey a profound amount of meaning.
因为他们似乎能够超越解释，传达一种深刻的意义。
Every language we learn is a portal by which we can access another language.
我们学习的每一种语言都是我们通往另一种语言的门径。
The more you know, the more you can speak. And it's something common that we all do.
你知道的越多，你会说的越多。我们都经常会这样做。
We take any new concept, and we filter it through an already existing access of reality within us.
遇到任何一个新概念，我们会把它与我们心中既有的概念进行对照。
And that's why languages are so important, because they give us access to new worlds, not just people.
这就是为什么语言如此重要，因为它们给予我们通往新世界的入口，不仅仅是去了解人们。
It's not just about seeing or hearing, it's about feeling, experiencing, sharing.
不仅为了看见或听见，更为感受、体验、分享。
And despite these languages that we've covered,
除了我们已提到的这些语言，
I really don't think we've covered one of the most profound languages, and that's the language of experience.
我真的觉得我们还没有说最深刻的一种语言，那就是“经历”语言。
That's why when you're talking with someone, if they've shared something you've shared, you don't need to explain it much.
这就是为什么当你和某人分享时，如果他们和你有同样的经历，那么你就不必过多解释。
Or that's why, when you're sharing a story and you finish,
或者是为什么当你分享完一个故事时，
and the people you're talking to don't quite get it, the first thing we all say is, "Guess you had to be there."
有时人们不太明白你在讲什么，这时我们最常回应的是，“你可能得去到那里才知道。”
I guess you had to be here this week to know what this is about. It's kind of hard to explain, isn't it?
我猜这周，你们也得在这里，才会知道这到底是什么。它有点难解释，不是吗？
And for the sake of our research, I'm going to close by asking that you participate one more time in this language of experience.
为了我们的试验，我要最后请你们再一次参与到这段语言体验之旅中。
I'm going to filter through some languages, and if I'm speaking your language,
我分享一些语言，而如果我正好说到了你的语言，
I'm going to ask that you just stand and you stay standing.
我想请你站起来，并保持站立。
You don't need to ask permission, just let me know that you see me, and I can also see you if you speak this language of experience.
你不需要寻求许可，让我看到你就可以，如果你说这种经历的语言，让我也可以看见你。
Do you speak this language? When I was growing up in primary school, at the end of the year, we would have these parties,
你会讲这种语言吗？当我还在小学时，在期末，我们都会有这些聚会，
and we'd vote on whether we wanted to celebrate at an amusement park or a water park.
而我们投票决定是去游乐公园庆祝，还是去水上公园。
And I would really hope the party wasn't at a water park, because then I'd have to be in a bathing suit.
我真的不喜欢我们的聚会在水上公园，因为那样我就得穿泳衣，
I don't know about you, but sometimes when I approach a dressing room, my sweat glands start activating on their own,
我不知道你们怎样，但是有时当我走去更衣室，我不由得开始紧张起来，
because I know the garment is not going to look on me like it did on that mannequin. Or how about this?
因为我知道泳衣穿在模特身上和穿在我身上完全不是一回事。
When I would go to family functions or family gatherings, every time I wanted a second plate -- and I usually did
或者像这样？当我去参加家庭活动，或家庭聚会，每次我都想要再来一盘，而我也通常都会要，
it was a whole exercise in cost-benefit analysis, my relatives looking at me like,
这是一套需要“权衡利益”的分析，我的亲戚看着我就像，
"I don't know. Do you really need that? Looks like you're doing OK there, bud."
“你真的还要吃吗，小家伙？看起来你已经吃得够多了吧。”
Did my cheeks have a big "Pinch me" sign that I didn't see?
我的脸颊上难道写着我看不见的“捏捏我”字样吗？

And if you're squirming or you're laughing or you stood up, or you're beginning to stand,
如果你在挪动，或者你在笑，或你已经起立，或者你正在起立，
you're speaking the language that I endearingly call "the language of growing up a fat kid."
你知道我在说的语言就是“身为一个小胖墩长大的语言。”
And any body-image issue is a dialect of that language.
而任何有关体态的问题都是那种语言的方言。
I want you to stay standing. Again, if I'm speaking your language, please go ahead and stand.
我想要你继续站着。再说一次，如果我讲到了你的语言，请向前起立。
Imagine two bills in my hand. One is the phone bill, and one is the electric bill.
想象下，我手里有两张账单，一张是电话账单，而另一张是电费账单。
Eeny, meeny, miny, mo, pay one off, let the other one go, which means, "I might not have enough to pay both at the current moment."
点兵点将，点哪是哪，交一张账单，另一张随它去，意思是，“我可能此时不能同时支付两张账单。”
You've got to be resourceful. You've got to figure it out.
你必须要足智多谋，想方设法把它解决。
And if you're standing, you know the language of barely making ends meet, of financial struggle.
如果你站起来了，你知道这是为生计而挣扎的语言，财务困难的语言。
And if you've been lucky enough to speak that language, you understand that there is no motivator of greatness like deficiency.
如果你曾有幸说那种语言，你便会理解没有比一无所有能给你更大的动力。
Not having resources, not having looks, not having finances can often be the barren soil
没有资源，没有颜值，没有钱，是让你一穷二白的土壤，
from which the most productive seeds are painstakingly plowed and harvested.
从中会有生产的种子，唯有经过辛苦的耕耘才会收获。
I'm going to ask if you speak this language.
我要问你是否会说这种语言。
The second you recognize it, feel free to stand.
如果你意识到这种语言，请起立。
When we heard the diagnosis, I thought, "Not that word. Anything but that word. I hate that word."
当我们听到诊断，我想，“千万别是那个。任何事，只要不是那个。我恨那个词。”
And then you ask a series of questions: "Are you sure?" "Has it spread?" "How long?" "Doctor, how long?"
然后你会问一连串问题：“你确定吗？”“它扩散了吗？”“还有多久？”“医生，多久？”
And a series of answers determines a person's life.
而这一系列回答决定了一个人的生命。
And when my dad was hungry, we'd all rush to the dinner table to eat, because that's what we did before.
我记得我爸爸还有胃口的时候，我们会冲到餐桌前大吃一顿，因为那是我们以前常做的事。
We ate together, so we were going to continue doing that.
我们一起吃饭，我们也会一直这样。
And I didn't understand why we were losing this battle,
我不知道为什么我们没有获胜，
because I was taught if you fight and if you have the right spirit, you're supposed to win. And we weren't winning.
因为我常被教导，如果你奋斗，你乐观，你一定会赢。但我们输了。
For any of you that stood up, you know very well that I'm speaking the language of watching a loved one battle cancer.
如果你们站起来了，你一定知道我说的这种语言，看着心爱的人与癌症抗争。
Any terminal illness is a derivative of that language. I'm going to speak one last language.
任何绝症都是这种语言的派生词。我要说的最后一种语言。
Oh -- no, no, I'm listening. Yeah, yeah, yeah, no no, no no, me and you, right here, yup.
噢--不，不，我在听。耶，耶，耶，不，不，不不，我和你，在这里，耶。
No, I'm with ya. I'm with ya!
不，我在。我在！
Or, imagine the lights are all off and a blue light is just shining in your face as you're laying on the bed.
或者，想象下，灯暗下来，蓝光照在你的脸上，而你躺在床上。
And I know some of you, like me, have dropped that phone right on your face.
我知道你们中有些人，就像我，把手机砸到过你的脸上。
Or this one, right? Passenger seat freaking out, like, "Can you watch the road?"
或者是这样，对吗？乘客吓得半死说，“你可以看着路吗？”
And for anybody that stood up, you speak the language that I like to call "the language of disconnection."
对于那些站起来的人，你会说这种关于“断连的语言”。
It's been called the language of connection, but I like to call it the language of disconnection.
它被叫做连结的语言，但是我喜欢叫它断连的语言。
I don't mean disconnection, I mean disconnection, human disconnection, disconnected from each other,
我的意思不是网络掉线，我的意识是断开连结，人类断连，人与人之间的断连，
from where we are, from our own thoughts, so we can occupy another space.
从我所在的地方，从我的思想上，所以我们可以进入另一个世界。
If you're not standing, you probably know what it's like to feel left out.
如果你还是没有站着，你或许知道，被剩下是什么感觉了。
You probably -- you know what it's like when everybody's a part of something, and you're not.
你或许--你知道它，当所有人都属于某事，而你没有。
You know what it's like being the minority.
你知道作为少数人的感觉。
And now that I'm speaking your language, I'm going to ask you to stand, since we're speaking the same language.
而现在我在说你的语言，我想邀请你起立，因为我们说着相同的语言。
Because I believe that language of being the minority is one of the most important languages you can ever speak in your life,
因为我相信少数人的语言是你生活中曾说过最重要的语言之一，
because how you feel in that position of compromise will directly determine how you act in that position of power.
因为我明白你处于妥协的位置，那会直接决定在那个权力位置你做出怎样的行为。
Thank you for participating. If you'd take a seat, I want to speak one last language.
谢谢大家的参与，请大家坐下，我想要说最后一种语言。
This one, you don't need to stand. I just want to see if you recognize it.
对于它，你们不用站着，我只想看看你们是否认得它。
Most the girls in the world are complainin' about it.
世界上大多的女孩都为它抱怨。
Most the poems in the world been written about it.
世界上大多的诗歌都为它抒写。
Most the music on the radio be hittin' about it, kickin' about it, or rippin' about it.
广播里大多的音乐都为它弹奏，它律动，或为它录制。
Most the verses in the game people spittin' about it, most the songs in the world, people talkin' about it.
游戏里大多的说辞都为它倾吐，世界上大多的歌曲都在谈论着它。
Most the broken hearts I know are walkin' without it, started to doubt it, or lost without it.
破碎的心灵，如我所知，也因失去了它而徘徊，没有了它，开始怀疑；失去了它，开始迷茫。
Most the shadows in the dark have forgotten about it.
黑暗中大片的阴影都忘却了它。
Everybody in the world would be trippin' without it.
世上每个人会因为没有它而跌倒。
Every boy and every girl will be dead without it, struggle without it, nothing without it.
每个男孩和女孩会因没有它而寻短见，没有它，会挣扎，没有它，尽是虚无。
Most the pages that are filled are filled about it. The tears that are spilled are spilled about it.
书页上大多的文字，为它而写，眼里充盈着的泪水，为它流淌。
The people that have felt it are real about it. A life without it, you'd be lost.
感受到它的人知道，它真真切切。没有它的生活，你会迷失。
When I'm in it and I feel it, I be shoutin' about it. Everybody in the whole world knowin' about it.
当我身在其中，我感受到它，我会为它呐喊。全世界每一个人都知道它。
I'm hurt and broke down and be flowin' about it, goin' about it wrong 'cause I didn't allow it.
我受伤心碎，我会随它流逝，让它犯错。不？因为我不曾允许它。
Can the wound or scar heal without it? Can't the way that you feel be concealed about it?
没有它的伤口或疤痕能愈合吗？你藏不住对它的感受吗？
Everybody has their own ideal about it, dream about it, appeal about it.
每个人都有对它的理想，对它的梦想，对它的向往。
So what's the deal about it? Are you 'bout it to know that life is a dream and unreal without it?
那么这有什么关系呢？你知道生命没有了它，便如梦一场，没有了它，一切都不再真实吗？
But I'm just a writer. What can I reveal about it?
但我只是位诗人，我又能揭露些什么呢？
Why is it that the most spoken-about language in the world is the one we have the toughest time speaking or expressing?
为什么这世上使用最多的语言，我们在谈论它或表达时却最感到艰难？
No matter how many books, how many seminars, how many life-coaching sessions we go to, we just can't get enough of it.
不论读过多少本书，去过多少个研讨会，参加了多少次人生指导课，我们仍然觉得不够。
And I ask you now: Is that number that you had at the beginning, has that changed?
所以现在再问你：那个在开始的时候出现在你脑海中的数字，变了吗？
And I challenge you, when you see someone, to ask yourself: What languages do we share?
而我想向你挑战，当你见到某人时，问问你自己：我们有什么共同语言？
And if you don't come up with anything, ask yourself: What languages could we share?
如果你没有想到任何一个，问问你自己：我们可以找到什么共同语言？
And if you still don't come up with anything, ask yourself: What languages can I learn?
如果你仍然没有找到，问问你自己：我可以学习什么样的语言？
And now matter how inconsequential or insignificant that conversation seems at the moment,
无论这个自我对话，此时此刻看起来是多么无关紧要、微不足道，
I promise you it will serve you in the future. My name is Poet Ali. Thank you.
我向你保证它会在未来的某个时刻让你受益。我的名字是诗人阿里。谢谢大家。