TED Talks India
Javed Akhtar: The gift of words
Javed Akhtar: 词语的力量
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“你懂我的意思吧？”著名诗人、作词家和编剧 Javed Akhtar 向我们提出疑问——为什么我们似乎正在渐渐失去使用词语的能力。他启示我们应该使用这一近乎神奇的工具去理解其他人，与其他人交流，并且由此将我们的文化代代相传。
Javed Akhtar - Poet, lyricist, screenwriter
Javed Akhtar is an eminent Indian film scriptwriter, lyricist and poet, whose lineage can be traced back to seven generations of renowned Urdu writers, poets and freedom fighters. Full bio
Javed Akhtar is an eminent Indian film scriptwriter, lyricist and poet, whose lineage can be traced back to seven generations of renowned Urdu writers, poets and freedom fighters. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:12
Shah Rukh Khan: The speaker
you are about to meet is
you are about to meet is
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Shah Rukh Khan：
你们即将见到的演讲者是
你们即将见到的演讲者是
00:16
someone who knows and understands
the value of words like no one else does.
the value of words like no one else does.
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一个比任何人都更了解语言的价值的人。
00:23
In his writing career
spanning over four decades,
spanning over four decades,
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在超过40多年的写作生涯中，
00:27
this man has chosen words
with beauty and versatility,
with beauty and versatility,
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这位作家使用的优美的辞藻，
00:31
like a flower springing to life ...
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就像是生命中绽放的花朵...
00:34
like Mr. Bachchan’s memorable punches ...
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像是巴强有力的拳头一般...
00:37
(Laughter)
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（笑声）
00:39
like a best-selling book of Urdu poetry ...
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就像是乌尔都语诗歌畅销书一般...
00:42
like well ... what do I say,
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就像是...该怎么说呢，
00:43
only Javed Akhtar Sahab.
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他就是绝无仅有的 Javed Akhtar Sahab。
00:45
(Applause)
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（掌声）
00:49
Please welcome onstage,
the one and only Javed Akhtar Sahab.
the one and only Javed Akhtar Sahab.
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现在请欢迎著名的 Javed Akhtar Sahab 上台。
00:53
(Cheers and applause)
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（欢呼和掌声）
01:05
Javed Akhtar: Friends, this topic --
the power of words --
the power of words --
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朋友们，今天的主题是语言的力量——
01:08
is an interesting one,
and one that's very close to my heart.
and one that's very close to my heart.
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这是一个很有趣的话题，
也是我最喜欢的话题。
也是我最喜欢的话题。
01:10
It’s strange
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有一件事情很奇怪，
01:12
how we often overlook things
that are so close to us, near us.
that are so close to us, near us.
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我们经常会忽略那些与我们息息相关的事情。
01:17
How many people question,
"Why is air transparent?"
"Why is air transparent?"
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有多少人曾发问“为什么空气是透明的？”
01:20
Or, "Why is water wet?"
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或者“为什么水是湿的？”
01:23
How many think about
what is it that has passed?
what is it that has passed?
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又有多少人思考过“过去是什么？”
01:26
Time has passed. What came?
What went away?
What went away?
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哪些东西伴随着时间而来，又随着时间而逝？
01:28
How many of us wonder?
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有多少人对此感到好奇？
01:30
Similarly ...
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同样，
01:31
the words that we speak and hear all day,
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那些我们每天用来交流和倾听的词语，
01:36
how many times have we really thought,
"What exactly are these words?"
"What exactly are these words?"
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我们有多少次真正的思考过“这些词语到底是什么？”
01:39
Words are a strange thing.
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词语是非常不可思议的。
01:41
You once saw
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你看到一只动物，
01:43
an animal and decided it’s a "cat."
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然后就认为那是“猫”。
01:48
But cat is a sound.
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但是“猫”只是声音而已。
01:50
This cat has nothing
to do with the animal.
to do with the animal.
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“猫”和动物没有任何实际的联系。
01:52
But I have decided it’s a cat.
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但我们把这个动物称为“猫”。
01:55
So a cat it is.
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因而这个动物就是“猫”。
01:56
So I gave the sound
the identity of this animal.
the identity of this animal.
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因此我便认为这一语音便是这只动物的身份。
02:00
After that I made a semicircle,
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然后，我画了一个半圆，
02:03
a pyramid, cut into half,
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一个椎体，把它对半分，
02:05
then a straight line,
then another below it, and wrote: "cat."
then another below it, and wrote: "cat."
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然后画一条直线，
在下面又加了一条，然后写上“猫”。
在下面又加了一条，然后写上“猫”。
02:10
In these criss-crossed lines,
I filled a sound
I filled a sound
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在这个十字交叉线中，
我放入了一个语音，
我放入了一个语音，
02:12
and into that sound, a meaning.
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然后给这个语音赋予了意义。
02:15
Now like with this cat,
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不仅仅是猫这个例子，
02:16
even with love, anger, a thought,
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甚至爱情、愤怒、思想、
02:20
an idea, pain, suffering,
happiness, surprise,
happiness, surprise,
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概念、疼痛、苦楚、幸福、惊喜，
02:26
everything has been linked with a sound.
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所有事物的都和语音有着联系。
02:29
And then sounds were fit
into some criss-crossed lines
into some criss-crossed lines
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然后这些语音又被写入十字交叉线中，
02:32
that we call a script.
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我们称之为字母。
02:35
So three things that had nothing in common
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因而我们将这三件
完全毫无共同之处的事物，
完全毫无共同之处的事物，
02:38
were joined by us to create a word.
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组合在了一起，然后创造了单词。
02:41
A sound that is actually gibberish
has been added onto it.
has been added onto it.
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有一些实际上模糊不清的
语音也被添加进去。
语音也被添加进去。
02:46
And the lines, crooked lines,
they formed a word.
they formed a word.
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然后这些线条，
这些歪歪斜斜的线条便形成了单词。
这些歪歪斜斜的线条便形成了单词。
02:51
Incredible!
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令人难以置信！
02:52
And I have come to believe that with time,
these words have become like human beings.
these words have become like human beings.
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并且我渐渐的开始相信，
这些单词在某些方面如同人类一样。
这些单词在某些方面如同人类一样。
02:58
A man is known by the company he keeps.
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我们可以从他所交的朋友去了解他的为人。
03:02
Similarly, with words,
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同样，单词也是这样，
03:04
what is the company it has been keeping?
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它同哪些单词为伴？
03:06
What are the other words
being used with it?
being used with it?
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它和哪些其它的单词一起使用？
03:08
For an average noun
or an average verb, an average mind
or an average verb, an average mind
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在获取一个普通的名词和
一个普通的动词的情况下，
一个普通的动词的情况下，
03:14
can quickly create reference.
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一个普通的大脑可以
很快联想到对应的东西。
很快联想到对应的东西。
03:16
Where did they hear it? See it?
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他们是在哪里听过？哪里见过？
03:18
What does it remind them of?
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这让他们联想起什么？
03:20
What is its connection?
When was it last used in conversation?
When was it last used in conversation?
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之间有着什么联系？
最后一次在谈话中使用到这个单词是在什么时候？
最后一次在谈话中使用到这个单词是在什么时候？
03:23
What has been my experience with it?
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这个单词让我有着怎样的体验呢？
03:27
A host of memories appear
when you hear a word you remember.
when you hear a word you remember.
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当你听到一个熟悉单词的时候，
会有很多回忆涌上来。
会有很多回忆涌上来。
03:29
And a good writer or orator is one
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好的作家或者演说家，
03:31
who knows that when
he uses a certain word,
he uses a certain word,
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他们很清楚，
当他们使用一个特定的单词的时候，
当他们使用一个特定的单词的时候，
03:35
an average mind will associate it
with a certain reference,
with a certain reference,
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一个普通的大脑会由此联想到什么，
03:38
specific memories will be evoked.
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会激发怎样的记忆。
03:41
Then he can create a world around a word.
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然后，他用单词创造了一个世界。
03:46
What is the power of a word?
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单词的力量是什么呢？
03:49
Be it a mother’s lullaby,
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它是母亲的摇篮曲，
03:51
a politician’s speech,
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政治家的演说，
03:53
love letters from your beloved,
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你的爱人给你的情书，
03:58
or a complaint against someone,
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或者是一封对别人的投诉，
04:00
a protest call ...
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一通抗议电话...
04:03
anger, sadness, happiness,
surprise, belonging, alienation
surprise, belonging, alienation
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愤怒，悲伤，幸福，
惊喜，归属感，疏离感，
惊喜，归属感，疏离感，
04:09
anything in the world,
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任何存在于这个世界的事物，
04:10
any feeling in the world,
any emotion, any reaction,
any emotion, any reaction,
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任何存在于这个世界中的感觉，
任何情绪，任何反应，
任何情绪，任何反应，
04:15
until it is expressed in a word,
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除非有具体的语言去表达这些东西，
04:18
it will not have any meaning for you,
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不然它们对你毫无意义，
04:20
forget getting across to anyone else.
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更不要谈去跟别人分享这些。
04:23
Words are not thoughts,
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单词不是思想，
04:26
just like bricks are not homes.
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就像砖头不是房子一样。
04:29
But houses are made with bricks.
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但是房子确实由砖砌成的。
04:32
If you have less bricks,
you will make a small house.
you will make a small house.
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如果你的砖头很少，
你的房子也相应的会很小。
你的房子也相应的会很小。
04:37
The more words you have,
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你知道越多的单词，
04:40
the clearer your thoughts,
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你的思想就会越清晰，
04:43
and the more clearly you can convey them.
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你就越能清楚的去表达自己。
04:46
Nowadays I often hear,
especially from young ones,
especially from young ones,
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现今，我经常听到有人说，特别是年轻人，
04:49
“You know what I mean?"
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“你懂我的意思吧？”
04:51
No, I don't know what you mean.
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不，我并不知道你什么意思。
04:53
(Laughter)
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（笑声）
04:55
“You know what I mean,”
is running out of words.
is running out of words.
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“你懂我的意思”是词穷的表现。
04:59
Everything is now moving fast
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当下，一切都进展得飞快，
05:02
so communication has to be fast as well.
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交流也同样变得很快。
05:04
But the tragedy is
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但是可悲的是，
05:08
that we have attained this speed
at the cost of depth of words.
at the cost of depth of words.
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我们交流速度变快了，
单词的深度却丢失了。
单词的深度却丢失了。
05:13
We want to speak faster,
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我们希望可以快速的进行交流，
05:16
so everything is faster,
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所以将所有的事情的速度加快，
05:19
so the language is also faster,
hence communication is faster.
hence communication is faster.
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语言加速了，沟通速度也加快了。
05:22
But this speed has affected depth.
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但是这一速度却影响了交流的深度。
05:25
Which means that forget
about other people,
about other people,
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暂且不管其它的人，
05:28
just look at yourself.
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先反省自身。
05:30
You are not being able
to articulate your own feelings,
to articulate your own feelings,
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你已经无法清楚而详尽地说明，
05:34
thoughts or emotions
in a detailed manner or clearly.
in a detailed manner or clearly.
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自己的感受、想法或者情绪。
05:39
And these words, as long as words exist,
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所有的这些存在着的单词，
05:43
they aren’t there just for a meaning.
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它们除了具有一定的意义之外，
05:45
They are also a conveyer belt
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还是语言和单词的
05:47
of language, words.
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输送带。
05:49
They reflect your culture,
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它们反映了你的
05:50
your traditions, your inheritance,
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通过一代代积累起来的文化、
05:54
your cultural wealth accumulated
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传统、遗产，
05:56
over generations, all of that
is carried forward with words.
is carried forward with words.
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所有的这些都是由语言作为媒介。
06:00
If you cut a man off from some words,
you cut him off from a culture, a history.
you cut him off from a culture, a history.
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如果你把一个人的某些词汇删去，
你同时删去了他部分文化和历史。
你同时删去了他部分文化和历史。
06:07
This is exactly what is happening
with us today.
with us today.
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而这一现象恰恰发生在我们这个时代。
06:09
So language is a very powerful thing.
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语言是强有力的。
06:12
Words are extremely powerful.
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而单词却更为强大。
06:14
But by themselves,
they are neither good nor bad.
they are neither good nor bad.
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词语本身并无好坏之分。
06:17
If we start loving words
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如果我们开始爱上词语，
06:20
and understand their power,
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并且了解它的力量，
06:23
we would realize
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我们会意识到
06:24
that everything that happens
in the world is because of words.
in the world is because of words.
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世界上发生的所有的事情都起源于词语。
06:26
Or there would be nothing
between us and the rest of the creatures,
between us and the rest of the creatures,
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没有词语，我们和其它的生物之间不会有任何联系，
06:30
the rest of the animals,
although we too are animals.
although we too are animals.
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尽管我们也是动物，但和其它的动物相比。
06:32
The only difference is that
we can pass on, through our words,
we can pass on, through our words,
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我们有一个特点：
我们可以通过我们的词语去传承，
我们可以通过我们的词语去传承，
06:37
our experience, our learning
and our knowledge to the next generation.
and our knowledge to the next generation.
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将我们的经验，
学问和知识传承给下一代。
学问和知识传承给下一代。
06:46
So we don’t only live on instinct
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我们不仅是凭着本能生存，
06:48
but our slowly accumulated experience
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我们也将那些
06:53
and knowledge over generations
is passed on to the next.
is passed on to the next.
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经过每一代而积累下来的
经验和知识传承给下一代。
经验和知识传承给下一代。
06:55
Through what? Through words.
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通过什么传承呢？词语！
06:58
And if we didn’t have these words
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如果我们没有这些词语的话，
07:00
our advantage is gradually over
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我们的优势会逐渐消失，
07:04
other species would diminish over time.
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其它的物种也会逐渐减少。
07:07
We advanced only because we have language.
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我们之所以不断发展，
是因为我们有语言。
是因为我们有语言。
07:12
And if we didn’t have that
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如果我们没有语言，
07:14
we wouldn’t be here.
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我们也就不会出现在这里。
07:16
We would be right where we started.
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我们会在开始的地方止步不前。
07:18
So what does language mean?
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那么，语言究竟是什么呢？
07:20
Words!
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词语！
07:21
So learn to respect words.
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学会敬畏词语。
07:23
Love them.
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热爱词语。
07:25
Befriend them.
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与之为友。
07:27
Listen to them attentively.
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用心去聆听它们。
07:29
And speak attentively.
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用心去表达。
07:31
Thank you!
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谢谢！
07:31
(Applause)
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（掌声）
07:44
SRK: Thanks a lot, Javed Sahab,
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SRK：非常感谢您，Javed Sahab。
07:45
for coming here today
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感谢您来到这里，
07:46
and sharing such wonderful things with us.
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并且同我们分享如此精彩的演说。
07:49
I have known Javed Sahab since
I came to Mumbai about 25 years ago.
I came to Mumbai about 25 years ago.
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25年前，我来到孟买的时候，
认识了 Javed Sahab。
认识了 Javed Sahab。
07:52
I was really young then.
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那个时候我还很年轻。
07:54
JA: Yes. You are still very young, Sir.
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07:55
(Laughter)
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JA：你现在也很年轻。
（笑声）
07:56
SRK: But I have got a lot of my education,
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SRK：Javed Sahab 教给了我很多，
给我灌输了很多思想，
给我灌输了很多思想，
08:01
my ideologies and many more
things from Javed Sahab.
things from Javed Sahab.
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从他那里我还获得了很多其它的。
08:05
I’ll share a small incident.
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我想跟大家讲述一个小插曲。
08:07
He got angry with us
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那时我们在拍一部电影，
08:09
while working on a film.
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他非常的生气。
08:10
He sometimes gets angry
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他有时候会因为
08:11
when unlettered people
like us give him suggestions
like us give him suggestions
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我们这些没有文化的人
在给他建议的时候，
在给他建议的时候，
08:16
that maybe we could use
this word or that instead.
this word or that instead.
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使用了不恰当的词语而生气。
08:17
So our film was called
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我们的片名是
08:18
"Kuch Kuch Hota Hai."
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“怦然心动 (Kuch Kuch Hota Hai)”。
08:19
(Cheers)
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（欢呼声）
08:23
And he did not like the title at all.
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他完全不喜欢这个片名。
08:25
So once when he was really mad at us kids,
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所以当我们这些孩子
让他非常恼火得时候，
让他非常恼火得时候，
08:29
who are like his kids even now,
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事实上现在我们
仍然如同他的孩子一般，
仍然如同他的孩子一般，
08:32
he retorted:
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他说道：
08:33
"Now my heart remains
neither awake nor rests.
neither awake nor rests.
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“现在我的内心无法平静。
08:36
What do I do?
Oh! I feel something strange.
Oh! I feel something strange.
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要怎么办？哦！我有些奇怪的感觉。
08:39
Is that what you want?"
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难道这就是你想要的吗？”
08:43
In fact the entire song, all the words,
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事实上，这整首歌，所有的词语，
08:46
were thrown at us by Javed Sahab in anger.
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都是 Javed Sahab 在愤怒之下
责备我们的话语。
责备我们的话语。
08:48
And that song went on to become
extremely popular.
extremely popular.
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这首歌后来变得相当的有名。
08:52
So even when Javed Sahab
throws out words in anger,
throws out words in anger,
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所以，即使是 Javed Sahab 愤怒的时候说出的话，
08:53
they turn into golden words.
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都会成为人生箴言。
08:55
That’s his gift.
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这就是他的天赋。
08:56
(Cheers)
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（欢呼声）
09:00
JA: Well, the incident that
Shah Rukh Sahab shared is indeed true.
Shah Rukh Sahab shared is indeed true.
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JA：Shah Rukh Sahab 所讲述的的确是事实。
09:04
So on hearing this title,
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当我听到
09:06
"'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai,"
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“怦然心动”这个名字的时候，
09:07
I was shocked.
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我感到非常震惊。
09:09
I felt it wasn’t dignified enough.
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我觉得他还不够“庄严高贵”。
09:12
(Laughter)
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（笑声）
09:14
Though to be honest,
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说实话，
09:16
I regret leaving such
a super hit film over its title.
a super hit film over its title.
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我很后悔仅仅因为
影片的名字而拒绝这部电影。
影片的名字而拒绝这部电影。
09:21
So I left the film.
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我离开了这部电影的制作。
09:22
Later I also felt a little embarrassed,
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后来，我觉得有点不好意思，
09:25
and he too felt bad.
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他也觉得过意不去。
09:26
So we decided to let bygones be
bygones and work on some other film.
bygones and work on some other film.
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因此，我们决定过去的就让它过去，
我们开始做别的影片。
我们开始做别的影片。
09:30
Hence, the film
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因此，有了这部电影
09:33
"Kal Ho Naa Ho."
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“爱，没有明天 (Kal Ho Naa Ho)”。
09:35
I told him that everything
else is still fine
else is still fine
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我告诉他，其它的一切都很好，
09:37
but I owe you two kuchs.
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但是我还欠你两个 Kuch。
09:39
Two kuchs.
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两个 Kuch。
09:41
(Laughter)
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（笑声）
09:42
So I’ll write a song
and return these two to you.
and return these two to you.
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所以，我要写一首歌，
然后把这两个 Kuch 归还给你。
然后把这两个 Kuch 归还给你。
09:45
I wrote a song specially
for this reason called
for this reason called
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我也因为这个原因特别写了一首，
09:47
"Kuch to hua hai, kuch ho gaya hai."
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歌名为"Kuch to hua hai, kuch ho gaya hai"的歌。
09:49
(Cheers and applause)
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（欢呼声和掌声）
09:52
and he returned his two.
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因此他获得了他的两个 Kuch。
09:53
(Applause)
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（掌声）
09:54
Ladies and gentlemen, big
round of applause for Javed Akhtar Sahab.
round of applause for Javed Akhtar Sahab.
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女士们，先生们，
再次将热烈的掌声献给 Javed Akhtar Sahab。
再次将热烈的掌声献给 Javed Akhtar Sahab。
09:58
(Applause)
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（掌声）
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Javed Akhtar - Poet, lyricist, screenwriterJaved Akhtar is an eminent Indian film scriptwriter, lyricist and poet, whose lineage can be traced back to seven generations of renowned Urdu writers, poets and freedom fighters.
Why you should listen
A respected social commentator and activist admired for his secular, liberal and progressive values, Javed Akhtar has written a large number of poems against communalism, social injustice, national integration, and for women’s rights.
His publications include his first poetry collection, Tarkash, currently in its 11th edition in Hindi and 7th in Urdu. It has been translated into English, French and a range of Indian regional languages. According to a recent survey done by a publisher’s organization, it is the most sold book of verses in the last 60 years in India. His other books Talking Films and Talking Songs are hailed as some of the most definitive works on Indian cinema.
Javed Akhtar | Speaker | TED.com