TED演讲:一段无人了解的经历(6)

（单词翻译）

In myself, I had a ready audience, and I believed that by expressing my thoughts and wishes, others would listen, too.

在我身体里有一个现成的观众，我相信只要表达思想和愿望，其他人也可以听到。

But as I began to communicate more, I realized that it was in fact only just the beginning of creating a new voice for myself.

但随着交流的增多，我意识到这其实只是创造一个新的表达方式的开始。

I was thrust into a world I didn't quite know how to function in. I stopped going to the care home and managed to get my first job making photocopies¹.

我被推到了一个我不知道如何运作的世界里，我结束了在护理中心的生活，并找到了第一份复印的工作。

As simple as this may sound, it was amazing. My new world was really exciting but often quite overwhelming and frightening.

虽然听起来很简单，但是着实令人惊叹，我的新世界使我兴奋，但经常繁重不堪，让人恐惧。

I was like a man-child, and as liberating² as it often was, I struggled.

我就像一个男孩，如此自由，我为自己的新世界不断努力。

I also learned that many of those who had known me for a long time found it impossible to abandon the idea of Martin they had in their heads.

我发现认识我很久的人，发现他们无法忽视我的想法。

While those I had only just met struggled to look past the image of a silent man in a wheelchair.

虽然我刚认识的人在努力想象这个沉默地坐在轮椅上的人，他的过去是什么样子的。

I realized that some people would only listen to me if what I said was in line with what they expected.

我意识到有些人可以听进去我的意见，如果我说的正中他们下怀。

Otherwise, it was disregarded and they did what they felt was best.

然而，我说的话会被无视，他们自行其是。

I discovered that true communication is about more than merely physically³ conveying a message. It is about getting the message heard and respected.

我发现真正的交流不只是传递信息，而是让信息被听取和尊重。

Still, things were going well. My body was slowly getting stronger.

然而，我的恢复情况很好，我的身体慢慢强壮起来。

I had a job in computing⁴ that I loved, and had even got Kojak, the dog I had been dreaming about for years.

我有了一份我喜欢的计算工作，还养了一只我梦寐以求的小狗Kijak。