TED英语演讲：故事的真相是什么

TED SisonkeMsimang Soearlierthisyear,IwasinformedthatIwouldbedoingaTEDTalk.SoIwasexcited,thenIpanicked,thenIwasexcited,thenIpanicked,andinbetweentheexcitementandthepanicking,Istartedtodomyresearch,andmyresearchprimarilyconsistedofGooglinghowtogiveagreatTED 今年年初，我被告知要发表一场TED的演说。一开始我很兴奋，然后变成紧张，然后又很兴奋，然后又很紧张，就在兴奋与紧张之间，我开始进行一些研究，我的研究主要是用Google搜寻：如何发表一场完美的TED演说。 Andinterspersedwiththat,IwasGooglingChimamandaNgoziAdichie.Howmanyofyouknowwhothat SoIwasGooglingherbecauseIalwaysGoogleherbecauseI'mjustafan,butalsobecauseshealwayshasimportantandinterestingthingstosay.Andthecombinationofthosesearcheskeptleadingmetohertalkonthedangersofasinglestory,onwhathappenswhenwehaveasolitarylensthroughwhichtounderstandcertaingroupsofpeople,anditistheperfecttalk.It'sthetalkthatIwouldhavegivenifIhadbeenfamousfirst. 我Google了她因为我经常Google她，因为我是她的粉丝，而且因为她总是讲了重要又有趣的事情。所有搜寻到的结果 Youknow,andyouknow,like,she'sAfricanandI'mAfrican,andshe'safeministandI'mafeminist,andshe'sastorytellerandI'mastoryteller,soIreallyfeltlikeit'smy 你知道，就 SoIdecidedthatIwasgoingtolearnhowtocode,andthenIwasgoingtohacktheinternetandIwouldtakedownallthecopiesofthattalkthatexisted,andthenIwouldmemorizeit,andthenIwouldcomehereanddeliveritasifitwasmyownspeech.Sothatplanwasgoingreallywell,exceptthecodingpart,andthenonemorningafewmonthsago,Iwokeuptothenewsthatthewifeofacertainpresidentialcandidatehadgivenaspeechthat--thatsoundedeerilylikeaspeechgivenbyoneofmyotherfaves,Michelle AndsoIdecidedthatIshouldprobablywritemyownTEDTalk,andsothatiswhatIamheretodo.I'mheretotalkaboutmyownobservationsaboutstorytelling.Iwanttotalktoyouaboutthepowerofstories,ofcourse,butIalsowanttotalkabouttheirlimitations,particularlyforthoseofuswhoareinterestedinsocialjustice. 于是我决定应该写一篇自己的TED演讲稿，这就是你故事的力量，但是我也想谈它的局限性，特别是对于我们之中，某些 SosinceAdichiegavethattalksevenyearsago,therehasbeenaboominstorytelling.Storiesareeverywhere,andiftherewasadangerinthetellingofonetiredoldtale,thenIthinktherehasgottobelotstocelebrateabouttheflourishingofsomanystoriesandsomanyvoices.Storiesaretheantidotetobias.Infact,today,ifyouaremiddleclassandconnectedviatheinternet,youcandownloadstoriesatthetouchofabuttonortheswipeofascreen. Youcanlistentoapodcastaboutwhatit'sliketogrowupDalitinKolkata.YoucanhearanindigenousmaninAustraliatalkaboutthetrialsandtriumphsofraisinghischildrenindignityandinpride.Storiesmakeusfallinlove.Theyhealriftsandtheybridgedivides.Storiescanevenmakeiteasierforustotalkaboutthedeathsofpeopleinoursocietieswhodon'tmatter,becausetheymakeuscare. 你可以藉由收听Podcast，了解加尔各答地区的贱民阶层如何生活。你可以听到澳洲的原住民谈论关于教育出端庄、具有自尊的孩子，所需要进行的尝试与成功经验。故事让我们相爱。故事能治愈裂痕，弭平分歧。故事甚至能让我们更容易谈论社会上某些市井小民的死亡，因为故事让我们关注这些事。对吗? I'mnotsosure,andIactuallyworkforaplacecalledtheCentreforStories.AndmyjobistohelptotellstoriesthatchallengemainstreamnarrativesaboutwhatitmeanstobeblackoraMuslimorarefugeeoranyofthoseothercategoriesthatwetalkaboutallthetime. 我不是很确定，事实上我在一个叫「故事中心」的地方工作。我的工作是帮助人们说出一些挑战主流论述的故事，例如我们经常讨论的议题：身为黑人，穆斯林，难民以及其他族群，背后所代表的含 ButIcometothisworkafteralonghistoryasasocialjusticeactivist,andsoI'mreallyinterestedinthewaysthatpeopletalkaboutnonfictionstorytellingasthoughit'saboutmorethanentertainment,asthoughit'saboutbeingacatalystforsocialaction.It'snotuncommontohearpeoplesaythatstoriesmaketheworldabetterplace.Increasingly,though,Iworrythateventhemostpoignantstories,particularlythestoriesaboutpeoplewhonooneseemstocareabout,canoftengetinthewayofactiontowardssocialjustice.Now,thisisnotbecausestorytellersmeananyharm. 纪实故事」时所持的态度和方式，认为它不只是娱乐，认为它是社会行动的催化剂。我们常听到人们说：故事能让世界更美好。不过我开始担心：即使是最让人感动的故事，特别是那些市井小民的故事，也经常会妨碍到社会正义的进行。这不是因为说故事的人故意要造成伤害。Quitethecontrary.Storytellersareoftendo-gooderslikemeand,Isuspect,yourselves.Andtheaudiencesofstorytellersareoftendeeplycompassionateandempatheticpeople.Still,goodintentionscanhaveunintendedconsequences,andsoIwanttoproposethatstoriesarenotasmagicalastheyseem.Sothree--becauseit'salwaysgottobethree--threereasonswhyIthinkthatstoriesdon'tnecessarilymaketheworldabetter 好的动机也会导致意想不到的后果，所以我想强调的是，说故事并不 Firstly,storiescancreateanillusionofsolidarity.Thereisnothinglikethatfeel-goodfactoryougetfromlisteningtoafantasticstorywhereyoufeellikeyouclimbedthatmountain,right,orthatyoubefriendedthatdeathrowinmate.Butyoudidn't.Youhaven'tdoneanything.Listeningisanimportantbutinsufficientsteptowards 首先，故事能产生一种「共同一致」的幻觉。没有其他东西能够像听了奇幻故事一样，能带给你更好的感觉了;就彷佛是你自己征服了那座山，是的。或者是你和一位死刑犯成为朋友。但是你并没有真的去做。你没有完成任何事。倾听故事是很重要的一步，但 Secondly,Ithinkoftenwearedrawntowardscharactersandprotagonistswhoarelikableandhuman.Andthismakessense,ofcourse,right?Becauseifyoulikesomeone,thenyoucareaboutthem.Buttheinverseisalsotrue.Ifyoudon'tlikesomeone,thenyoudon'tcareaboutthem.Andifyoudon'tcareaboutthem,youdon'thavetoseeyourselfashavingamoralobligationtothinkaboutthecircumstancesthatshaped 第二，我认为人们经常会被那些令人喜、具有人性化的角色和主人公所吸引。而且这也符合常理，是不是?因们，你自然也不会关心他们。如果你不关心他们，你自然也不会认为自 IlearnedthislessonwhenIwas14yearsold.Ilearnedthatactually,youdon'thavetolikesomeonetorecognizetheirwisdom,andyoucertainlydon'thavetolikesomeonetotakeastandbytheirside.SomybikewasstolenwhileIwasridingit--whichispossibleifyou'reridingslowlyenough,whichIwas. 14岁时学到了这一点。我学到的是，实际上你不一定要喜欢某个人，才能认可他的智慧;而且你也不需要喜欢某个人，才能和他站在同一阵线。我的脚踏车被偷了，在我骑着它的的时候──这是可能的，如果你骑得够慢，我当时就是这样。 SooneminuteI'mcuttingacrossthisfieldintheNairobineighborhoodwhereIgrewup,andit'slikeaverybumpypath,andsowhenyou'reridingabike,youdon'twanttobelike,youknow-- 就在内罗毕附近，我生长的地方，因为路非常崎岖不平，所以当你骑车时，你不会想要......你知道的── AndsoI'mgoinglikethis,slowlypedaling,andallofasudden,I'monthefloor.I'montheground,andIlookup,andthere'sthiskidpeddlingawayinthegetawayvehicle,whichismybike,andhe'sabout11or12yearsold,andI'monthefloor,andI'mcryingbecauseIsavedalotofmoneyforthatbike,andI'mcryingandIstandupandIstartscreaming.Instinctstepsin,andIstartscreaming,"Mwizi,mwizi!"whichmeans"thief"inSwahili.Andoutofthewoodworks,allofthesepeoplecomeoutandtheystarttogivechase.ThisisAfrica,somobjusticeinaction.Right?所以我就骑得很慢。突然间，我摔倒在地上。当我躺在地上时，抬头一看，有个小孩正骑着车逃跑，他骑着我的脚踏车。他大概11或12岁，我还倒在地上，然后我大哭，因为我存了很久的钱才买了这辆脚踏车，于是我一边哭，一边站起来大喊。出于本能，我开始大喊："Mwizi,mwizi!"这在斯瓦希里语中代表「小偷」的意思。这时候许多人从伐木场跑出来，他们开始追赶。这是在非洲，当时暴民政治正在 AndIroundthecorner,andthey'vecapturedhim,they'vecaughthim.Thesuspecthasbeenapprehended,andtheymakehimgivememybikeback,andtheyalsomakehimapologize.Again,youknow,typicalAfricanjustice,right?Andsotheymakehimsaysorry.Andsowestandtherefacingeachother,andhelooksatme,andhesayssorry,buthelooksatmewiththisunbridledfury.Heisvery,veryangry.AnditisthefirsttimethatIhavebeenconfrontedwithsomeonewhodoesn'tlikemesimplybecauseofwhatIrepresent.Helooksatmewiththislookasiftosay,"You,withyourshinyskinandyourbike,you'reangryatme?" 当我走到转角时，他们已经抓住，而且他们还要他道歉。你知道，这是典型的非洲正义，是吧?所以他们要他说：对不起。我们当时就面对面站着，他看着我，说了对不起。但是他用非常愤怒的表情看着我，他非常，非常生气。这是我第一次直接面对着，一个只是因为我的身份而不喜欢我的人。他带着那种神情看着我，彷佛在说：「你，你有光滑的皮肤，还有一辆脚踏车，你对我 Soitwasahardlessonthathedidn'tlikeme,butyouknowwhat,hewasright.Iwasamiddle-classkidlivinginapoorcountry.Ihadabike,andhebarelyhadfood.Sometimes,it'sthemessagesthatwedon'twanttohear,theonesthatmakeuswanttocrawloutofourselves,thatweneedtohearthemost.我知道他不喜欢我，这的确不好受，但是你知道吗，他这样想是正常的在这个贫穷的国家，我是一个生长在中产阶层的小孩。我拥有一辆脚踏车，而他几乎连食物都没有。有时候，有些讯息是我们不想听的;但是那些让我们坐立难安的讯息，却正是我们最需要听的。 everylovablestorytellerwhostealsyourheart,therearehundredsmorewhosevoicesareslurredandragged,whodon'tgettostanduponastagedressedinfineclotheslikethis.Thereareamillionangry-boy-on-a-bikestoriesandwecan'taffordtoignorethemsimplybecausewedon'tliketheirprotagonistsorbecausethat'snotthekidthatwewouldbringhomewithusfromtheorphanage. 者背后，有成百上千个被忽略、疲惫不堪的声音，他们没有机会穿上这是因为，他不是我们在孤儿院想领养的那个小孩。 ThethirdreasonthatIthinkthatstoriesdon'tnecessarilymaketheworldabetterplaceisthattoooftenwearesoinvestedinthepersonalnarrativethatweforgettolookatthebiggerpicture.Andsoweapplaudsomeonewhentheytellusabouttheirfeelingsofshame,butwedon'tnecessarilylinkthattooppression.Wenodunderstandinglywhensomeonesaystheyfeltsmall,butwedon'tlinkthattodiscrimination. 而第三个原因，我认为故事不一定能让世界更美好，是因为我们经常过于投入在个人叙事中，而让我们忘记去综观全局。当某些人告诉我们他们感觉到羞辱时，我们会为他们鼓掌，但这时我们不一定会联想到压迫。当有人说他们觉得自己渺小，我们会理解地点点头，但是我们不会联想到这是歧视。 mostimportantstories,especiallyforsocialjustice,arethosethatdoboth,thatarebothpersonalandallowustoexploreandunderstandthepolitical. 的，是那些能够兼顾两方面的故事，不仅能让我们心有所感，又能让 Butit'snotjustaboutthestorieswelikeversusthestorieswechoosetoignore.Increasingly,wearelivinginasocietywheretherearelargerforcesatplay,wherestoriesareactuallyformanypeoplebeginningtoreplacethenews.Yeah?Weliveinatimewherewearewitnessingthedeclineoffacts,whenemotionsruleandanalysis,it'skindofboring,right? 喜欢的故事，以及我们所选择忽视的故事两者间的比较。逐渐的，我们取代新闻。没错吧?我们所处的时代，正在见证着：事实开始不被重视， Wherewevaluewhatwefeelmorethanwhatweactuallyknow.ArecentreportbythePewCenterontrendsinAmericaindicatesthatonly10percentofyoungadultsundertheageof30"placealotoftrustinthemedia."Now,thisissignificant.Itmeansthatstorytellersaregainingtrustatpreciselythesamemomentthatmanyinthemediaarelosingtheconfidenceinthepublic.Thisisnotagoodthing,becausewhilestoriesareimportantandtheyhelpustohaveinsightsinmanyways,weneedthemedia. 中心最近有一份报告，显示在30岁以下的年轻人当中，只有10%的 Frommyyearsasasocialjusticeactivist,Iknowverywellthatweneedcrediblefactsfrommediainstitutionscombinedwiththepowerfulvoicesofstorytellers.That'swhatpushestheneedleforwardintermsofsocialjustice. Inthefinalanalysis,ofcourse,itisjusticethatmakestheworldabetterplace,notstories.Right?Andsoifitisjusticethatweareafter,thenIthinkwemustn'tfocusonthemediaoronstorytellers.Wemustfocusonaudiences,onanyonewhohaseverturnedonaradioorlistenedtoapodcast,andthatmeansallofus. 最后的分析，当然，只有正义才能让这个世界更美好。而不是故事本身，对吧?所以说如果我们追求的是正义，我认为我们不应该聚焦在媒体或是讲故事的人身上。我们必须关注听众，关注那些打开收音机或收听podcastSoafewconcludingthoughtsonwhataudiencescandotomaketheworldabetterplace.Sofirstly,theworldwouldbeabetterplace,Ithink,ifaudiencesweremorecuriousandmoreskepticalan