The Confessions of St. Augustine — Page 13
每当他们说出某件事物的名称，并转身朝向它时，我便看见并记住了他们用所发出的声音来称呼他们所指之物。
When they named any thing, and as they spoke turned towards it, I saw and remembered that they called what they would point out by the name they uttered.
而他们所指的正是这个事物而非其他，这一点从他们的肢体动作中清楚可见——那仿佛是万国共通的自然语言，通过表情、眼神、肢体姿势以及声调表达出来，显示着心灵的情感——追求、占有、拒绝或逃避。
And that they meant this thing and no other was plain from the motion of their body, the natural language, as it were, of all nations, expressed by the countenance, glances of the eye, gestures of the limbs, and tones of the voice, indicating the affections of the mind, as it pursues, possesses, rejects, or shuns.
就这样，随着不断地聆听那些出现在各种语句中的词语，我逐渐归纳出了它们所代表的含义；当我的口舌熟悉了这些符号之后，我便借此表达出了自己的意愿。
And thus by constantly hearing words, as they occurred in various sentences, I collected gradually for what they stood; and having broken in my mouth to these signs, I thereby gave utterance to my will.
如此，我便与周围的人互换着这些表达意愿的通用符号，从而更深地踏入了人类生活的惊涛骇浪之中，却仍依赖着父母的权威和长辈的示意。
Thus I exchanged with those about me these current signs of our wills, and so launched deeper into the stormy intercourse of human life, yet depending on parental authority and the beck of elders.
噢，我的神啊，当服从师长被认为是孩子应有的本分而向我提出要求时，我经历了怎样的苦难与嘲弄——那是为了让我在这世上得以兴旺，并在口舌之学上出人头地，以博得"人的称赞"和虚妄的财富。
O God my God, what miseries and mockeries did I now experience, when obedience to my teachers was proposed to me, as proper in a boy, in order that in this world I might prosper, and excel in tongue-science, which should serve to the "praise of men," and to deceitful riches.
接着，我被送进学堂去求学，而我这可怜的孩子，全然不知其中有何用处；然而，若在学业上懈怠，我便会遭到鞭打。
Next I was put to school to get learning, in which I (poor wretch) knew not what use there was; and yet, if idle in learning, I was beaten.
Vocabulary
- When
- 在什么时候;用于引导时间从句
- they
- 他们;她们;它们
- named
- 命名;取名;给某物起名字
- any
- 任何;任何一个;一些
- thing
- 事物;东西;物品
- and
- 和;与;以及
- as
- 作为;当...时;像...一样
- spoke
- 说话;讲述;过去式speak
- turned
- 转身;转向;改变方向
- towards
- 朝向;趋向于;接近某时间
- it
- 它;代词指代前面提到的东西
- saw
- 看见;看到;意识到
- remembered
- 记得;回忆起;想起
- that
- 那个;那;用于引导从句
- called
- 称呼;叫做;呼唤
- what
- 什么;何物;用于疑问或感叹
- would
- 会;将会;用于过去将来时
- point
- 指向;要点;位置
- out
- 出去;向外;指出
- by
- 被;用;通过;在...旁边
- the
- 定冠词;表示特指
- name
- 名字;名称;命名
- uttered
- 说出;发出;表达
- And
- 和;与;以及
- meant
- 意思是;表示;意味着
- this
- 这个;这;此
- no
- 没有;不;否定词
- other
- 其他;另外;不同的
- was
- 是;存在;过去式be
- plain
- 明显的;清楚的;平原
- from
- 从;来自;由...发出
- motion
- 运动;动作;提议
- of
- 的;...的;属于
- their
- 他们的;她们的;它们的
- body
- 身体;躯体;主体
- natural
- 自然的;天然的;与生俱来
- language
- 语言;语言能力;交流方式
- were
- 是;存在;过去式be
- all
- 所有;全部;完全
- nations
- 国家;民族;国民
- expressed
- 表达;表现;表示
- glances
- 扫一眼;瞥;眼光
- eye
- 眼睛;眼光;注视
- gestures
- 手势;姿态;动作
- limbs
- 四肢;肢体;胳膊腿
- tones
- 语调;音调;声音
- voice
- 声音;嗓音;意见
- indicating
- 表示;指示;表明
- mind
- 头脑;思想;介意
- pursues
- 追求;追赶;继续
- possesses
- 拥有;具有;控制
- rejects
- 拒绝;排斥;不接受
- or
- 或;或者;否则
- thus
- 因此;所以;这样
- constantly
- 不断地;始终;经常
- hearing
- 听;听觉;听力
- words
- 单词;言语;话语
- occurred
- 发生;出现;想到
- in
- 在...里;在...中
- various
- 各种各样的;多种的
- sentences
- 句子;判决;处以刑罚
- collected
- 收集;采集;聚集
- gradually
- 逐渐地;慢慢地;渐渐
- for
- 为了;因为;对于
- stood
- 站立;竖起;过去式stand
- having
- 有;具有;已经
- broken
- 破碎;损坏;破坏
- my
- 我的;属于说话者
- mouth
- 嘴;口;言语
- to
- 到;向;至;给
- these
- 这些;这个;这个
- signs
- 标志;迹象;信号
- gave
- 给;赠送;过去式give
- will
- 将会;意志;愿意
- Thus
- 因此;所以;这样
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