For years man has dreamt of being able to communicate directly with animals. And now it appears that it could be a step closer thanks to a group of American scientists.

　　千百年來人類一直夢想有朝一日能同動物直接對話，直到今天，一群美國科學家的研究也許能使我們更接近這個夢想。

They are in the process of developing an underwater computer that attempts to recognize dolphin sounds and then respond in real time.

　　他們正在研發一種水下電腦，這種儀器能識別海豚的聲音，并據此及時做出回應。

　　They are hoping to test the machine off the Florida coast in the next few weeks, and, if successful, it will be a huge step in establishing communication between humans and animals.

　　科學家們計劃幾個星期后在佛羅里達海域對該儀器進行檢測，如果成功的話，他們將取得人類與動物交流領域的重大突破。

　　The machine works by using hydrophones to pick up the dolphin sounds and LEDs to show the direction they came from. When they receive a sound, the divers will then play back one of eight 'words' and see if dolphins mimic them.

　　這臺儀器通過水聽器采集海豚的聲音，并用LED燈標明聲音采自何方。當水聽器收聽到海豚的叫聲，潛水員們會在八種不同的聲音中選擇一種進行播放，看看海豚是否會對"這句話"做出回應。