評論
打印
Is it simply the byproduct of a crude mechanical action?
它僅僅是一個粗糙機械制作的副產品？
Or is it an imitation of one half the set of sounds we make to express disappointment?
或者對我們抒發不滿的一種聲音的一半所進行的模仿？
The often dental consonant of no Indo-European language.
我們不滿的時候經常用它在印歐語系中可找不到詞源。
Or is it the amplified sound of a synapse firing in the brain of a cockroach?
還是，那其實是蟑螂大腦中觸突閃現火花那一剎那所產生的聲響的放大？
In the 1950s they tried their best to muffle this sound with mercury switches and silent knob controls.
在二十世紀五十年代，科學家們曾盡力用汞制的開關和靜音的按鈕來消除這聲響。
But today these improvements seem somehow inauthentic.
但在今天開來，這些改進倒顯得不地道。
The click is the modern triumphal clarion proceeding us through life,announcing our entry into every lightless room.
這“咯嗒”聲 其實是現代社會勝利的號角。讓我們的生活向前邁進，宣告我們向每一個無光的暗房進軍。
The sound made flicking a wall switch off is of a completely different nature.
而我們把墻上開關關上的那一聲響內涵就完全不同了。
It has a deep melancholy ring.
它蘊含著深深地抑郁聲調。
Children don't like it.
孩子們不喜歡它。
It's why they leave lights on around the house.
所以總愛讓房間亮著。
Adults find it comforting.
大人們卻能聊以慰藉。
But wouldn't it be an easy matter to wire a wall switch?
但把墻上的開關接通電源不是很容易的事兒嗎？
so that it triggers the muted horn of a steam ship?
這樣就能夠啟動蒸汽船靜默的汽笛？
Or the recorded crowing of a rooster?
或喚醒公雞清晨的報曉？
Or the distant peel of thunder?
還是爆破遠方的一聲驚雷？
Thomas Edison went through thousands of unlikely substances before he came upon the right one for the filament of his electric light bulb.
愛迪生也是在嘗試過，成千上萬不同的物質之后才找到了真正適合做燈絲的物質，從而完成了他的電燈發明。
Why have we settled so quickly for the sound of its switch?
為什么我們要如此迅速地屈就于那開關不完美的“咯嗒”聲響呢？
