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第六章
I
had
now
the
key
to
all
language,
and
I
was
eager
to
learn
to
use
it.
如今，我已经掌握了学习所有语言的关键，而且我渴望学以致用。
Children
who
hear
acquire
language
without
any
particular
effort;
对那些正常的孩子而言，他们学习语言并不需要特别的努力，
and
the
words
that
fall
from
others'
lips
they
catch
on
the
wing,
as
it
were,
delightedly,
就能够领会从别人唇间吐出的词汇，这是一个令人欣喜的过程。
while
the
little
deaf
child
must
trap
them
by
a
slow
and
often
painful
process.
而对于一个聋哑小孩而言，掌握语言必须要经过一番缓慢而痛苦的学习过程。
But
whatever
the
process,
the
result
is
wonderful.
但无论是哪一种过程，其结果都会令人无比愉悦。
Gradually
from
naming
an
object
we
advance
step
by
step
渐渐地，我们从说出一种物体的名字，一步步发展到在更广阔的疆域里自由驰骋——
until
we
have
traversed
the
vast
distance
between
our
first
stammered
syllable
and
the
sweep
of
thought
in
a
line
of
Shakespeare.
从第一次发出结结巴巴的音节，到在莎士比亚的诗行间沉思，我们穿越了遥远的征途。
At
first,
when
my
teacher
told
me
about
a
new
thing
I
asked
very
few
questions.
起初，当我的老师讲解一件新事物时，我几乎问不出什么问题。
My
ideas
were
vague,
and
my
vocabulary
was
inadequate;
我的意识是模糊的，我的词汇也是贫乏的，
but
as
my
knowledge
of
things
grew,
and
I
learned
more
and
more
words,
my
field
of
inquiry
broadened,
但是随着接触事物的增加，我学会的词汇也越来越多。我问询的范围变宽广了，
and
I
would
return
again
and
again
to
the
same
subject,
eager
for
further
information.
我一次又一次地周旋于同一个主题，我渴望深入了解事物的方方面面。
Sometimes
a
new
word
revived
an
image
that
some
earlier
experience
had
engraved
on
my
brain.
有时候，一个新词会勾起我对早期经历的一些记忆。
I
remember
the
morning
that
I
first
asked
the
meaning
of
the
word, "
love."
我记得有一天早上，我第一次询问“爱”这个词的含义，
This
was
before
I
knew
many
words.
这是我早就知道的一个词。
I
had
found
a
few
early
violets
in
the
garden
and
brought
them
to
my
teacher.
当时，我在花园里发现了几株刚刚开放的紫罗兰，于是我把花朵带给了我的老师。
She
tried
to
kiss
me:
but
at
that
time
I
did
not
like
to
have
any
one
kiss
me
except
my
mother.
老师试图吻我，但是在那个时候，除了母亲，我不喜欢被任何人亲吻。
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