世．界．之•窗－精通多國語言的祕訣

工商時報【Cynthia Wu】 閱讀暖身有些人精通超過20種的語言，他們是怎麼做到的？其中有什麼訣竅？想一探究竟，請先看看以下幾個字怎麼說：A.發作(病症) B.纏繞 C.投射 Most of us find learning a new language is so demanding and challenging. We have many different memory systems, and mastering a different tongue requires all of them. However, that tough mental workout comes with big payoffs; it is arguably the best brain training. Studies have shown that being multilingual can improve attention and memory, and that this can provide a "cognitive reserve" that delays the (A)onset of dementia. 大部分人都覺得學習一門新語言既吃力且極富挑戰。 我們人腦有許多不同的記憶系統，要學會不同語言需用到全部的記憶體。然而，這種嚴格的鍛鍊帶來極大的回報，它可以說是最好的大腦訓練。研究顯示會多種語言可提高注意力和記憶力，並且其「認知儲備」的效果可延緩失智症發作。 How do hyperpolyglots master so many new tongues ─ and could the rest of us try to emulate them? Yes, we could. Tim Keeley, who is currently writing a book on the "social, psychological and affective factors in becoming multilingual," says: "You become a chameleon." 多語言高手如何熟悉這麼多種新的語言─我們可以模仿他們嗎？ 答案是肯定的，正在寫一本關於「成為多語言者的社會、心理和情感因素」書籍的Tim Keeley說：「你要變成一隻變色龍」！ Keeley's theory is that learning a new language causes you to re-invent your sense of self - and the best linguists are particularly good at taking on new identities. Psychologists have long known that the words we speak are (B)entwined with our identity. It's a cliche that French makes you more romantic, or Italian makes you more passionate. Importantly, various studies have found that multilingual people often adopt different behaviors according to the language they are speaking. Keeley的理論是，學習一門新的語言使你重新發展自我意識-那些最好的語言學家特別善於轉換新的身分。心理學家早就知道，我們說的話和我們的身分意識融合在一起。眾所皆知法語讓人更加浪漫，或義大利語讓人更有熱情。重要的是，許多研究發現多語言者經常根據他們所說的那門語言而採取不同的行為。 If you (1)identify with someone, you are more likely to mimic them ─ a process that would effortlessly improve language learning. But the adopted identity, and the associated memories, may also stop you from confusing the language with your mother tongue - by building neural barriers between the languages. "There must be some type of home in your mind for each language and related experiences, in order for the languages to stay active and not get all mixed together," Keeley says. 如果你認同某一個人，你會更想去模仿他-這是一種學習語言最不花力氣的過程。但是你所採用的新身分和相關的記憶會在語言間建立神經障礙，而導致混淆母語進而中斷這門新語言。Keeley說：「在你的腦海中一定要為每種語言和相關經歷區隔小空間，以便讓各種語言保持活躍而不會相互混淆」。 "It is not just the amount of time spent learning and using the languages. The quality of the time, especially emotional (C)salience, is critical." Indeed, that might explain why Keeley could switch so effortlessly between some 20-odd languages. 「這不僅僅是學習和使用語言的時間多寡。學習的質量，尤其是情感的投射更為關鍵」。確實，這可能解釋了為什麼Keeley能輕鬆轉換20種不同語言的原因。 Michael Levi Harris may demonstrate these principles the best. An actor by training, Harris also has an advanced knowledge of 10 languages, and an intermediate understanding of 12 more. Harris thinks that anyone can learn to adopt a new language in this way ─ and he has a few tips, based on his experiences of acting. Michael Levi Harris可能是這個理論的最佳代言。他是受過專業訓練的演員，精通10門語言，對另外超過12門語言也有中等程度的理解。Harris認為我們每個人都可以透過這樣的方式來學習一種新語言-基於他的演出經驗。 The important thing, he says, is to try to imitate without even considering the spelling of the words. "Everyone can listen and repeat," he says. "You may find yourself over-exaggerating, in the same way that an actor may be a little (2)over-the-top in their performance to start with - but that's a crucial part of the process" 他說，最重要的事就是模仿時不要考慮拼字，「每個人都能聆聽和重覆」， 你可能會發現自已有點誇張，就跟一位演員最開始表演時有點演過頭-但這是關鍵性的一步。 You can practice a little and often ─ perhaps just for 15-minute stints, four times a day. （下轉D11）