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Let’s Talk About Nothing 一切从「零」开始

课文朗读

课文讲解 

繁體中文譯本

It is everywhere and nowhere at the same time. For millennia, the mere thought of it has stumped philosophers and mathematicians alike. Through the ages, it has inspired some to great heights and driven others to madness. It seems the more we think about it, the deeper the riddle becomes. In the past few years, it has had not one, but two biographies written about it. Although we use it every day, we never realize the complexity and wonder behind the number zero.

它同时随处可见却又不存在于任何地方。数千年以来，光是想到它就让哲学家和数学家都百思不得其解。历史上，它启发许多人达成辉煌成就，却又将某些人逼至疯狂。我们想得越深，这谜题似乎也越艰难。近几年来就有不只一本，而是两本传记介绍它。虽然我们每天都使用，却从未意识到这个数字「零」，背后的复杂性和惊人之处。

Before there was anything, there was zero – at least in theory. But in regard to math, zero was somewhat of a late innovation. Before zero, civilizations were handicapped by their inability to represent empty spaces or the state of having nothing. In roughly 300 B.C., the ancient Babylonians began using zero, but just as a placeholder. In 300 A.D., the Mayans discovered the true concept of zero. They used a symbol that meant “a hole in the roof.” The Mayans looked at zero with great reverence and awe. To them, Zero was the god of death, and the day of zero was the day when time would stop.

在任何事物出现之前就有「零」了（至少理论上是如此）。但就数学而言，零是较晚的发明。在零出现之前，各个文明因为没有能力标示虚无的空间或状态而受到阻碍。在大约公元前300年，古代巴比伦人开始使用零，但只是作为代替某变量的占位符号。到了公元300年，马雅人发现了真正零的概念。他们以「屋顶上的洞」的符号来表示零，并以尊崇敬仰的心看待零这个概念。对他们而言，零是死亡之神，而零之日就是时间停止的那一天。

When zero was introduced in Ancient Greece, it sparked an intellectual debate. At first, philosophers struggled with the idea that “nothing could actually be something.” But this same concept would later fit perfectly in India, where Hindus believed that the universe begins and returns to a void of nothingness. In the 9th century, India became the first to effectively incorporate zero and use it in everyday mathematics.

零被引进古希腊时引发了一场知识性的辩论。起初，哲学家们不断苦想，想了解为何「没有任何东西也是种东西」。但之后这个概念却完全适合印度。印度教徒相信整个宇宙起始于虚无，也将回归至虚无。9世纪时，印度成为第一个在日常数学中加入并灵活运用零的国家。

Vocabulary

单词发音

mere [mɪr]adj. 仅仅; 纯粹的

stump [stʌmp] v. 难住；使迷惑

riddle [ˋrɪd!] n. 谜，谜语

in regard to 关于 concerning someone or something

handicap [ˋhændɪ͵kæp] v. 妨碍，使不利

inability [͵ɪnəˋbɪlətɪ] n. 无能；无力；不能

reverence [ˋrɛvərəns] n. 敬爱，崇敬

awe [ɔ] n. 敬畏；畏怯

intellectual [͵ɪnt!ˋɛktʃʊəl] adj. 智力的；理智的

incorporate [ɪnˋkɔrpə͵ret] v. 包含；加上；吸收

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单词发音

millennium [mɪˋlɛnɪəm] n.1000年; 千年期

mathematician [͵mæθəməˋtɪʃən] n. 数学家

biography [baɪˋɑgrəfɪ] n. 传记

Babylonian [͵bæbɪˋlonjən] n. 巴比伦人

placeholder [ˈples͵holdɚ] n. 占位符  in a mathematical or logical expression, a symbol that may be replaced by the name of any element of a set

Mayan [ˋmɑjən] n. 马雅人

Hindu [ˋhɪndu] n. 印度教徒

void [vɔɪd] n. 真空；空白

课文朗读

课文讲解 

During the Middle Ages, zero spread from Asia to Western Europe. It was brought over by Arab traders, who routinely used it to balance their books. Soon, European bankers and merchants latched onto the idea and began using zero in their accounting systems. But not everyone was thrilled by its arrival. The church viewed zero as a direct threat to its power. The idea that there could be nothing went against its doctrines about creation. Hence, it considered zero to be a tool for sorcerers and the number of the devil. Its argument against zero was the classic Aristotle quote that “nature abhors a vacuum.” But in the long run, zero would prove to be too powerful and valuable to ignore.

在欧洲中世纪期间，阿拉伯商人频繁地使用零来清算账目，数学上的零也因此由亚洲传入西欧。很快地，欧洲的银行家及商人便理解零的概念，并将之运用在他们的会计系统中。但不是每个人都乐见零的出现。教会视零为对神权的直接挑战，因为虚无这个概念直接抵触了有关创世论的教义。因此，教会将零看作是术士的工具与撒旦的数字。他们抵制零的论点是从亚里士多德说过的经典名言：「自然憎恨真空」。但长久下来，零终究证明了，它的威力与价值不容忽视。

Nowadays, zero plays an important role in nearly every aspect of life. In physics, zero is used as a benchmark to measure important points. For example, 0 degrees Celsius is the freezing point of water. Yet 0 degrees Kelvin is even colder than that. It’s known as absolute zero: the coldest temperature that is possible. In language, the expression “Year Zero” is used to describe a significant event when everything changes. The use and concept of zero also play a vital role in enabling computers to function. At their root level, computers work by interpreting just two numeric characters: 1 and 0.

现今，几乎在生活的各个层面中，零都扮演着举足轻重的角色。物理学上，零被当作各种重要数值的指标。举例来说，摄氏零度是水的冰点。不过0 K甚至比它更低温。一般人称之为「绝对零度」，是理论上物质能达到的最低温度。在语言方面，「零年」这个词被用来表示一件改变一切的重要事件。零的使用与概念也是让计算机运作的关键。在最基础的层面中，计算机借着辨识两种数字（0与1）来运作。

In the end, whether zero is frustrating mathematicians or leading philosophers into eternity, there is next to nothing that captivates minds like the concept of zero.

最后，不管零是让数学家受挫，还是引领哲学家找到永恒，没有什么东西像零这个概念一样令人着迷的了。

−by Jamie Blacker

Vocabulary

单词发音

routinely [ruˋtinlɪ] adv. 常规地，惯常地

latch [lætʃ] v. 抓住；占有；理解[（+on/upon）] to obtain something; to begin to understand something

doctrine [ˋdɑktrɪn] n.（宗教的）教义

hence [hɛns] adv. 【书】因此

in the long run 从长远来看, 最后

absolute [ˋæbsə͵lut] adj. 绝对的

expression [ɪkˋsprɛʃən] n. 表达；表示

vital [ˋvaɪt!] adj. 极其重要的，必不可少的

interpret [ɪnˋtɝprɪt] v. 解释，诠释

eternity [ɪˋtɝnətɪ] n. 永远，永恒; 永恒的真理

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片语发音

bring over 带来 to take someone or something from one place to the place where someone else is, especially their home

balance the books 结算账簿,  结账 to make the debits match the credits in a set of accounting books thereby providing balanced books

sorcerer [ˋsɔrsərɚ] n. 男巫师;  术士; 魔法师

abhor [əbˋhɔr] v. 厌恶；憎恶

benchmark [ˋbɛntʃ͵mɑrk] n. 水平点；基准

next to nothing 几乎没有,  非常少 hardly anything; almost nothing

captivate [ˋkæptə͵vet] v. 迷住; 吸引

mind [maɪnd] n. 注意力; 想法

Reading Questions 

1. According to the article, which of these societies first used zero?

A. The Mayans.

B. The Indians.

C. The Babylonians.

D. The Ancient Greeks.

2. How did the Mayans regard zero?

A. With respect.

B. With fear.

C. With confusion.

D. With delight.

3. Which of the following is NOT true?

A. The church embraced the concept of zero.

B. The concept of zero appears in more areas than math alone.

C. Arabian tradesmen introduced zero to Europe.

D. Zero degrees Celsius and Zero degrees Kelvin are not the same temperatures.

4. Who would most likely read this article?

A. A schoolboy trying to complete his math homework.

B. A student studying for a philosophy exam.

C. A teacher preparing a lesson on difficult concepts.

D. A reporter working on an article about economics.

Answer