| 本次翻译的目的是了解英汉词汇及句法差异,侧重于词的层面,翻译过程随教学过程走,不求质量,只求体验. 三周时间,终稿递交日期为11月21日.
Time and Language
How do we sense time? There is a paradox here that could make time a very variable thing. If you ask a scientist how many fundamentally things there are in the universe, he or she will probably answer 'four'. Not four dimensions, but four things that spell STEM: Space, Time, Energy and Matter. Space, energy and matter can be sensed directly with one or more of our five senses, but how are these used to sense time? Problem, eh?
The strange reality is that we construct time internally, by taking sequential experiences and noticing that they are different. We thus, literally, create time internally, making it a unique experience for each of us. Yes, we can look at a watch, but time is still the collation of the sequential images of looking at the watch. This creates a strange scientific and philosophical dilemma. If we construct something internally, does it exist at all?
One distinct effect of time as a construct is that we experience it very differently at different times. Time flies when we are having fun and drags by when we are not. The tick of a clock can be a moment or joy or an eternity of pain.If you can manage the construction of time in yourself and other people, you can manage a significant element of their experience.
A key secret of time management is in breaking it down. If you look at the clock often, then time will seem to go slowly. If, on the other hand, you become engaged in an interesting task or enjoyable pastime, then time will fly by.
When you use time in a statement, it forces the listener to cognitively move to the time indicated. All three time-zones are widely used in persuasive conversation.
Future: Talking about the future gets people to think of possibilities. This can distract them away from current problems that are keeping them in the here and now. Possibilities can be positive, which will keep them thinking about the future. They can also be negative, which may scare them into acting.
Present: Using words like 'now' and 'today' gives immediacy and urgency, making the present more important. This can be used to encourage decision-making without further thinking.
Past: Talking of the past gets people to relive past experiences. It also causes them to re-experience the emotions associated with the past memories. This can be both pleasant nostalgia (if you want them to feel good) or less comfortable thoughts (if you want them to stop doing something).
Switching back and forth between time zones can have multiple effects. First, it causes confusion, which can lead to openness to persuasion. It also merges together past, present and future, giving a sense of continuity and timelessness.
You an also play with many different tenses (perfect, future perfect, pluperfect and so on). Tenses have subtle effects, typically adding completion or continuity to time effects. The perfect tense ('I ran') says an action was completed, whilst the imperfect ('I was running') gives a sense of continuing action.For example:
What will happen if you keep on smoking?
What can I do for you today?
Remember when you were young and carefree.
Now, then, remember how you will have worked hard tomorrow evening.
When you talk about something, in order to understand that thing, the other person has to think about it. Thus, when talking in varying tenses, the other person will seek to follow along. If you put time into your language, they will, in thinking about it, will move themselves in time.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Adapted from changingminds.org~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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