[ti:Free Up Mental Space With More 'Bandwidth'] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM [00:08.04]Welcome to Words and Their Stories, [00:11.04]from VOA Learning English. [00:13.36]On this program we explore common expressions in American English. [00:20.40]Like all languages, our expressions come from everywhere. [00:25.60]They come from nature, sports, and food. [00:29.40]They come from money, culture, music, history! [00:33.48]If you name the area, we can find a special word or expression that comes from it. [00:40.69]The word we will talk about today comes from technology: bandwidth. [00:47.28]The first definition of "bandwidth" is the range of frequencies within a given band, [00:55.16]especially when used for sending an electronic signal. [01:00.20]In computing, it means the largest amount of data [01:04.28]that can be passed along a specific path. [01:08.48]For example, if you are making a video on your computer, [01:12.96]it will use more bandwidth than if you were simply creating a document. [01:19.68]When we talk about ourselves (and not our computers), [01:23.64]bandwidth has a similar meaning. [01:27.40]Human "bandwidth" refers to the total number of issues [01:31.60]or amount information a person can deal with at any given moment. [01:38.36]It is the emotional or mental space you need [01:41.88]to do something or think about something. [01:46.20]When you have lots of bandwidth, [01:48.56]you can deal with anything life throws at you. [01:52.80]But, when you are really busy or seriously worried, [01:57.24]you might not have the bandwidth to deal with any additional issues. [02:02.69]You simply do not have the time or mental space. [02:08.12]We have other expressions that mean almost the same thing as being out of bandwidth. [02:15.08]I can say I've hit my limit. I'm up to my neck, up to my eyes [02:21.04]or up to my ears (you can use any of those body parts) [02:25.64]with work, responsibility or fill in the blank. I am swamped! [02:33.52]"Bandwidth" can also simply mean your attention span. [02:38.36]For example, let's say you are sitting at your dinner table [02:42.56]thinking about an all-consuming problem. [02:46.72]In this state, you are not able to focus on anything else. [02:52.00]So, if someone tries to ask you a question, you can tell them, [02:56.72]"Sorry. I do not have the bandwidth to talk to you right now. [03:01.28]Come back in about an hour!" [03:04.16]Now, sometimes we use the word "bandwidth" [03:07.20]when we talk about our brains as computers. [03:11.24]An article in Scientific American gives us a good example of this usage. [03:18.08]Writer R. Douglas Fields discusses the development of an electronic device [03:23.84]worn on the arm that permits the wearer to mentally interact with a computer. [03:30.88]He writes, "This achievement opens and expands the bandwidth of the brain's output." [03:38.92]Sometimes people use "bandwidth" to simply mean mental ability. [03:44.60]I might say: "Oh, do not to try to explain the issue to Alex. [03:48.92]He doesn't have the bandwidth for something so difficult." [03:53.52]Used this way, it means "Alex" is not intelligent enough to understand. [04:00.60]It is a clear insult. So, be careful using it that way. [04:06.40]Now, let's hear "bandwidth" used in this short conversation between two friends. [04:13.36]Okay, let's go over the shopping list. [04:16.32]We don't want to forget anything. [04:18.20]Do we have to do that right now? [04:21.40]No. But the party is next month. [04:24.68]So, time is running out. [04:27.04]There's plenty of time. And right now ... [04:30.56]I have a lot on my mind. [04:32.44]Come on. You can't be that busy. [04:36.00]Oh really? Well, today at work, I lost all my documents when my computer crashed. [04:42.44]Well, you have back-ups of all your documents, don't you? [04:46.32]No. I had just finished writing three long stories. [04:50.72]I'll have to work overtime the rest of the week or I'll miss my deadline! [04:54.56]Maybe we should change the subject. [04:56.76]Sure. This morning my sister called to tell me that my great aunt died. [05:01.20]Oh, I'm so sorry. [05:03.04]That's okay. I only met her once when I was 10. [05:07.21]But my mom can't take care of the funeral plans. [05:09.88]So, now I have to. [05:12.20]Oh. That's going to take a lot of time. [05:15.20]Yes, it is. But that's not all. [05:19.08]Last night, my apartment flooded from a leak in the pipe! [05:22.92]So, I have to fix it by tomorrow because my boss is coming over for an important dinner meeting!! [05:28.64]Wow. You are swamped! Really up to your neck. [05:33.60]Tell me about it! [05:35.40]So, please understand if I don't have the bandwidth right now to plan for a party that is a month away!! [05:42.84]Well. Sounds like someone is out of patience as well as bandwidth. [05:49.24]And that's Words and Their Stories for this week. [05:52.84]Has there been a time when you ran out of bandwidth? [05:56.56]Let us know in the Comments Section! [05:59.80]I'm Anna Matteo. [06:01.92]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM