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Well, we chose the second option, and language is the result.
我們選了第二條路，語言就是產物
Language evolved to solve the crisis of visual theft.
語言的進化解決了觀察性竊取的危機
Language is a piece of social technology for enhancing the benefits of cooperation
語言是社會技術用于加強合作的益處
for reaching agreements, for striking deals and for coordinating our activities.
達成共識，買賣交易以及協調活動
And you can see that, in a developing society that was beginning to acquire language,
你可以看到，處于發展中形態的社會剛剛開始習得語言
not having language would be a like a bird without wings.
還沒有完全掌握就像一個沒有翅膀的鳥兒
Just as wings open up this sphere of air for birds to exploit,
就像翅膀之于鳥兒扇動空氣去探索天空
language opened up the sphere of cooperation for humans to exploit.
語言之于人類開啟合作來探索未來
And we take this utterly for granted, because we're a species that is so at home with language,
我們以為這是理所當然，因為我們是純熟掌握語言的物種
but you have to realize that even the simplest acts of exchange that we engage in are utterly dependent upon language.
但是你應當意識到，甚至我們最簡單的交換行為也完全依賴于語言
And to see why, consider two scenarios from early in our evolution.
為了弄清為什么，請假想進化早期的兩個場景
Let's imagine that you are really good at making arrowheads,
假設你擅長制造箭頭
but you're hopeless at making the wooden shafts with the flight feathers attached.
但是完全不會制造嵌著飛羽的箭桿
Two other people you know are very good at making the wooden shafts,
你知道另外兩人擅長制箭桿
but they're hopeless at making the arrowheads.
但他們不會造箭頭
So what you do is -- one of those people has not really acquired language yet.
那么，那兩人中一個還沒真正學會使用語言
And let's pretend the other one is good at language skills.
另外一個熟練語言技巧
So what you do one day is you take a pile of arrowheads,
有一天你帶了一堆箭頭
and you walk up to the one that can't speak very well,
去找那個不太會說話的人
and you put the arrowheads down in front of him,
你把箭頭放在他面前
hoping that he'll get the idea that you want to trade your arrowheads for finished arrows.
希望他明白你想用箭頭交換做好的箭
But he looks at the pile of arrowheads, thinks they're a gift, picks them up, smiles and walks off.
但他看著一堆箭頭，以為是禮物，就撿起來沖你一笑就走了
Now you pursue this guy, gesticulating.
你追上他連比帶劃地解釋
A scuffle ensues and you get stabbed with one of your own arrowheads.
結果打起來了，被他用你自己的箭頭捅傷了
Okay, now replay this scene now, and you're approaching the one who has language.
好的，現在再重復這個場景，你去找有語言的那個人
You put down your arrowheads and say, "I'd like to trade these arrowheads for finished arrows. I'll split you 50/50."
你放下箭頭說，“我想用這些跟你交換做好的箭，我們對半分”
The other one says, "Fine. Looks good to me. We'll do that." Now the job is done.
那人說：“沒問題。就這么辦。”交易做成了。
