英语即兴演讲稿3分钟（精选14篇）
英语即兴演讲稿3分钟 篇1
Good afternoon ，ladies and gentlemen!
I’m very honored to stand here and give you a short speech! To begin with ,I want to ask a question everybody dream a good dream last night? Actually ,today I want to talk about dream with you. Of course, What I want to talk is not a dream you have last night,but a dream—— about life.
Everyone has dreams about life, different dreams at different life stage,and we need dreams to support us. Dreams are like the stars we never reach in the sky,but like most mariners(水手),we can chart our course by them. With the dream,we have a direction,with a direction, we were no longer the dream, there is hope,With hope, we have the strength to fight.
But I know，life is tough,and there are always ups and downs, maybe we fail in the way to our aims,and we may feel depressed ,whenever at this time, the dream in our heart can always comfort us, encourage us ,and support us to move ahead .
Young!Fortunately, I am young now. Just due to it, I know that nothing is impossible.I firmly believe that nothing can stand in my way. If I can't realize my dream,it result from that I haven't work harder enough and I won't find other excuses. If no people believe you, you can make it to prove that you are right. If you think the god haven't blessed you and there is no truth here, you can become the god and create the truth.
"My breath swallows the sky and make the yellow river overflow, my sword is famous in Kyushu and it can collapse the five sacred mountains." At some time in the past I also had am bitious words and I had some achievements. Each achievement results from my hard work. I always believe that "If you want to have more achievements than others, you must work harder."
In some extent, the dream is the hope. If you can insist on doing something, the victory will come.
Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly. Hold fast to dreams, for when dreams go, life is a barren field frozen with snow. So my dear friends, think of your old and maybe dead dreams. Whatever it is, pick it up and make it alive from today. Let's--- move ----out!
Thank you for your listening!
英语即兴演讲稿3分钟 篇2
Let me begin my speech with a replay of scenes familiar to most, if not all, of those present here today.
"Mum, I'm sorry, but I need 3,000 yuan for my tuition this year."
"Mum, it is my friend's birthday tomorrow, I must buy her a present."
"Mum, this jacket was out of fashion long ago, would you do me a favor? "
Take. Take. Take. The relationship between a mother and a child always seems to follow such a pattern. I know my mother is always there for me, providing me with everything I need; from food to clothing, from tuition to pocket money. I never thought twice about all she did until one day she said, "Will there be a time that you'll say you have taken enough from me? "
Like a child endlessly asking, we humans, throughout history, have been continually demanding what we desire from nature. We enjoy the comfort and beauty of our furniture, yet we never bother to think about the serious soil erosion caused by deforestation. We take it for granted that we must warm ourselves in winter times, yet we seldom realize the burning away of precious natural resources. We appreciate all the prosperity from the development of modern industry, yet few would give the slightest consideration to the global air and water pollution caused by industrial wastes. Our ruthless exploitation has permanently impaired our mother earth. As we tragically learned from last summer's floods. we cannot continue our carelessness.
Finally, standing here at the threshold of the 21st century, we cannot help thinking of our posterity. Nature is not only the mother of the present generation, but also the mother of the generations to come.
How severely our descendents will criticize us if we leave them a barren and lifeless mother? How much more they will appreciate us if we give them a world of harmony to inherit? Let us start respecting and caring for nature from now on. Let us start the campaign of creating a mutually beneficial relationship between people and nature right from this moment. With this new start, I firmly believe, that our children, and our children's children will live in a brand new age of green trees, clean air, crystal water, blue sky and an even more promising world!
自然是我们的母亲
请允许我用一个我们今天在座的大部分人，就算不是全部，都很熟悉的场景来展开我的演讲。
“妈妈，不好意思，今年的学费要三千元。”
“妈妈，明天是我朋友的生日，我要给她买份礼物。”
“妈妈，这件衣服早过时了，帮我买件新的，好吗?”
索取，索取，再索取。母亲和孩子的关系似乎永远都是这一种形式。我知道母亲总是我的靠山，给我一切需要的东西，从食物到衣服，从学费到零用钱。我觉得她所做的一切都是理所当然的，直到有一天，她说:“会不会有这么一天你对我说我已经索取够了?’’
就像孩子无止境的要求一样，我们人类，从古到今，也一直在向自然索求以满足欲望。我们享受家具的美丽与舒适，但我们从来就不愿去想一想由于采伐树林而引起的严重的土壤侵蚀问题。我们认为冬天要取暖是理所当然的事情，却未曾意识到宝贵的自然资源就这样被烧掉。我们高兴地看到现代工业发展带来了繁荣，但很少人会对由于工业废物导致的全球空气和水质污染问题稍加考虑。我们无情的剥削已经永远地伤害了地球母亲。我们从去年夏天的洪灾悲剧中已经认识到，我们不能再继续漠不关心下去了。
最后，站在21世纪的门槛上，我们不禁展望着繁荣昌盛。自然不仅是现在这一代人的母亲，更是未来一代人的母亲。如果我们留给他们的是一位贫瘩、毫无生气的母亲，那么我们会受到子孙们何等严厉的批评?如果我们留给他们的遗产是一个和谐的世界，他们会对我们作出何等的称赞?让我们从现在开始尊重、关爱自然。让我们立刻开展一场建立人类与自然互惠互利关系的运动。我坚信，有了这个新的开始，我们的孩子、孩子的孩子必将生活在一个绿树青葱、空气清新、水碧天蓝的崭新世纪，一个前景更加灿烂的世界!
英语即兴演讲稿3分钟 篇3
Ladies and gentlemen,
Good afternoon !Today the topic of my speech is “Discover myself”.
I think each people is yone is different .I don’t need to envy others，because I think I am the only one in the do u really know yourself?In my parents’eyes,I am a naughty boy. In my friends’ eyes, I am a friendly my teachers’eyes,I am a boy which how do I think of myself?I don’t know.
Everone has merits and shortcomings. we need to discover our disadvantages and get rid of it . However, Lookers-on see most mentors are elementary school, I didn’t know the importance of studying.I just know playing all day my english teacher told me (that) she thought I was a intelligent boy.I was shocked by what she said.I didn’t do well in my english subject at that time.I was encouraged by what she other words,what she said made me e then,I fell in love with English.I started to read some English novels and listen to english teacher taught me patiently and encouraged me to insist on doing these.I was interested in english.I found it was easy to learn does’t like I thought it would be e I had talent in learning ver,if I don’t listen to my english e I would get lost.
Everybody should have confidence in discovering yourselves,although it is a difficult there is a will,there is a way.
英语即兴演讲稿3分钟 篇4
My Definition of Success
By Bao Jinlong(鲍金龙)
It is easy to describe success in terms of money, fame and reputation. But I believe that success is not external. I believe that success comes from within. My definition of success is to be true to yourself, and be true to others. That means, that you must cherish your personal ideal even in the face of adversity. I also believe that success is not discriminatory. Success is not restricted to such a class of people, in fact, it may be achieved by any person irrespective of his race, creed, gender and economic background. A good example of success is that of Beethoven. He is one of the world's most famous composers, yet he was deaf. He could not hear the majestic pieces of music that he created. Yet, in the face of this adversity, he was able to maintain his ideals--that of composing music.
To exemplify what success means to me, I pose a question to all of you. What brings us together here today? I believe that it is the beauty of the spoken word. The effect of pause and the sound of rhetoric are unique to the spoken word. I believe the beauty of the spoken word is even stronger for those who have difficulty in expressing themselves.
These people are reclusive and had their emotions hidden within them. I once went to Australia and I saw two pictures, Once was drawn by a normal child, the other was drawn by a child with social inhibitions. The picture drawn by the normal child was simple and plain. The other was life-like, full of details and imagination. What this shows is that these are ideas, emotions and feelings that are locked internally in thesechildren.
My ideal is to be the key, spreading the beauty of the spoken words to these children. These children have been neglected, but I feel that I can and should help these children to find themselves and be able to express themselves.
I realize that this is a difficult task, and there are many obstacles on the way. But I believe in my ideals and I will stick to them--even in the face of adversity. We should never have a premature abortion of ideals--let the child, let our ideals, stand the challenge. For a life without ideals is not living.
Thank you!
译文:成功之我见
用金钱、名誉和声望来描述成功，这很简单。但我相信成功不是外在的，我相信成功来源于自身。我对成功的定义是对已诚实，待人真诚。这就意味着即使面临困境厄运，你都必须坚守自己的理想。我同样相信成功没有偏见，成功不属于某一类人，事实上，不论种族、宗教信仰、性别和经济背景，任何人都能够获得。贝多芬的成功就是个很好的例子。他是世界上最著名的作曲家之一，而他却双耳失聪。他无法听到自己创作出的美妙乐章。然而，身
处如此逆境，他仍然能够坚持自己的理想——作曲。
为了举例说明我对成功的理解，我想给在座的诸位提一个问题。是什么让我们大家今天在此相会?我想是语言世界的美丽让我们走到了一起。停顿的效果和修辞之声是话语世界所独一无二的。我相信那些说话表达困难的人们对话语世界中的美丽体会得更为深刻。这些人都隐遁世间，把自己的感情深藏于心。我曾经去过澳大利亚，在那里看到了两幅画。一幅是正常儿童画的，另一幅是一个社会生活受限制的孩子画的。正常的孩子画的画简单、朴素，
而另一幅却贴近现实生活，充满了细节和想象。这表明这些孩子的思想、情绪和感受都封闭在他们的内心深处。
我的理想是成为向这些孩子传播话语世界美好的钥匙。这些孩子曾被我们忽视，但我觉得我能够也应该帮助他们发现和认识自己，并且能够表达自己的想法。
我知道这是个艰巨的任务，实现起来会遇到许多困难和障碍。但我笃信自己的理想，并将坚守下去——即使逆境重重。我们千万不能对一个理想作出不成熟的弃绝决定——让这些孩子，让我们的理想经受挑战。因为，没有理想的生活是没有生气的。
谢谢!
英语即兴演讲稿3分钟 篇5
If There Were No After Life
Whether there’s afterlife, the answer has never been the same. The atheists deny after life, believing that our life is no more than from the cradle to the grave. They may care about their illustrious names after death; they may feel attached to the affection of their offspring, but they never lay their hopes on their afterlife. They may also say that good will be rewarded with good, and evil with evil, but they don’t really believe any retribution in their after life.
However, in the religious world or among the superstitious people, the belief in afterlife is very popular. They do not only believe in afterlife, but thousands of reincarnations as well. In the mysterious world, there are the paradise and the hell, the celestial beings and the gods, the Buddha and the Bodhisattvas.
Maybe they really believed it, or maybe they just wanted to make use of people’s veneration, the ancient emperors always declared that they were the real dragons, the sons of God, while the royal ministers claimed to be the reincarnations of various constellations. But can the stars reincarnate?
Many people burn incense and kowtow, do good deeds and strive for virtues, not just for the present, but mainly to let God see their sincerity so as to be reborn into a better afterlife, or to achieve the highest enlightenment after several lives of practice. They do believe in afterlife. But I can’t help asking: Suppose there were no afterlife, would you still do good deeds and strive for virtues? And If God does not see what you are doing, would you still be so upright and selfless? If you work, not for serving the public and liberating the others, but just for a better afterlife of your own, isn’t it a little too selfish? Comparing with this kind of believers, those who don’t believe in afterlife, but still keep doing good deeds, are the most sincere and honest philanthropists, because they do them not for themselves but for other.
You may wonder if I believe in afterlife. My answer is: I know nothing about my previous life, so I dare not make improper comments on afterlife. But I do hope there’s afterlife! Because our present life is so short that so many things slip away before our proper understanding. I have so many dreams, so many wishes, so many ambitions, as well as so many regrets and concerns. If there were no afterlife, all of them will remain unrealized!
I’m not contented with the present commonplace life, I’m very much attached to the affections that should have been mine but have been washed away by the hurrying time, and I yearn for the perfection and maturity if I could start all over again. So believe it or not, I’d rather there were afterlife.
Translated by Zhang Baodan (Diana)
May 1, 20xx
假如没有来世
有没有来世，众说纷纭。无神论者，不相信来世。他们认为从生到死，仅此而已。他们可能在意身后的英名，他们可能留恋后代的亲情，但他们不寄希望于来世。他们也会说善有善报，恶有恶报，但并不相信下辈子报应什么。
在宗教领域、或在一些迷信的人群，来世之说比较盛行。不仅是来世，甚至会认为有千百次的轮回。在那未知而飘渺的世界，有天堂，有地狱，有神族，有仙界，有菩萨、有佛祖。
也许真的相信、也许是为了利用人们的敬畏心里，古代的帝王们总是宣称自己是真龙天子，大臣们则标榜为天上的什么文曲星、武曲星或太白金星转世。星星能转世吗?
许多人烧香、磕头，行善、修德，并不都是为了眼前，而是为了让上天看见自己的真诚，以便下辈子有个好的托生，或者几世之后能修成正果。这些人自然是相信来世的。但我不禁要问：如果没有来世，你们会不会一样行善、修德呢?如果神灵看不见，你们是否也会公正无私呢?如果不是为了解脱他人和服务大众才去修行，如果仅仅是为了自己将来托生好才去行善，是否有些自私呢?比较起来，那些不相信来世而又坚持行善的人，则应该是最真、最诚的大善。因为他们不是为自身，而是为公理。
也许有人会问作者，你相信来世吗?我的回答是：我不知道前生，因而也不敢妄谈后世。但我真的希望能有来世!因为这辈子时间太短，许多事情都是在还没弄明白的时候，就已经匆匆过去了。我有那么多的理想，我有那么多的心愿，我有那么多的奢望，我有那么多的遗憾，我有那么多的牵挂，我有那么多的雄心壮志，如果没有来世，那就一切皆空了。
我不甘心眼前的碌碌无为，我留恋被岁月冲走的本应属于我的亲情，更向往从头再来的完美和成熟。为此，信也好，不信也好，我宁愿有来世。
英语即兴演讲稿3分钟 篇6
five thousand years of glorious civilization, the chinese, the four major inventions in the world bright with china. descendants are all proud of our nation, proud.
we are proud, because china has a long history and splendid culture. five thousand years of glorious history of the chinese nation, settling the essence of eastern and western civilizations, revealing the dawn of human science, the history of civilization in the world with the enduring charm. four great inventions change the face of humanity as a whole, "book of songs" to create a realistic world literature precedent, the romantic poetry of qu yuan to bring the extraordinary imagination of mankind, the prose of qin and han, tang, song, yuan, ming and qing fiction, confucius and mencius doctrine as well as "the art of war", etc., all demonstrate the ancestors of the chinese nation rich emotion and wisdom.
we are proud that vast land of china. nature millions of years, sculpture, constitute a colorful picture, pentium nurtured generations of descendants of the yellow river, the yangtze river each new year surging surging waves of wisdom, standing proudly on top of everest in the world peak of the chinese nation the symbol of unyielding character, and many countlerivers and lakes, mountains, okawa, cultural landscape, this is not the pride of all chinese people and proud?
however, history does not glow bright sun every day, china had been brilliant, has a catastrophe ordeal. but also created the chinese nation, we are proud of the great indomitable character, casting a strong backbone of china. over the past 50 years, numerous
miracles again in this wonderful land of birth. rapid economic development, science and technology fruits. bombs and one satellite has heaven, a seat like a rainbow bridge acrothe yangtze river. three gorges project, the qinghai-tibet railway, hong kong and macao's return, china's accession to wto; test new varieties of hybrid rice succeof the world's agricultural science and technology research to fill gaps in the field, all these all reflect the great vitality and cohesion of china, fully demonstrating its great and brilliant achievements, should we not be proud of these achievements, and proud of it? decades of good governance, top to bottom search of several years, our country has stood in the east, self-reliance among the nations in the world!
we are the most dynamic young people, like the morning eight or nine o'clock the sun, the hope of the chinese nation. the world is our 21st century is our century! let us work hard seeking knowledge, devote themselves to study culture, to master skills, work together to create our nation a more brilliant tomorrow!
英语即兴演讲稿3分钟 篇7
good morning, everyone:
my name is , a lovely boy of thirteen. i’m very glad to stand here and share my dream with you.
different people have different dreams. some people dream of being rich or famous and others dream of staying young for long. i also have a lot of dreams. but my dream is to become a lawyer.
if i were a lawyer in the future, i would serve our country first because from tv, i learn the japanese seize our country’s islands. i can’t stand it when they even say these islands are theirs. so, i feel strongly that i must study hard and get back diaoyu islands by law when i grow up.
i also saw some people who were suffering and dying of ill-nesses. i made up my mind to become a doctor, so that i can help the sick people and cure them of their diseases. china is a develop-ing country. she needs good medicine and good doctors, especially in the countryside and lonely villages.
i want to try my best to help the poor sick people of our country. i want to let them have an opportunity to receive excel-lent treatments for their illnesses without having to pay much or any money.
i'll do every bit to cure the incurable. i hope to see a world where there is no cancer, no aids, no fatal diseases. i'm confident that through the joint efforts of you and me, man will put an end to his bodily sufferings and this dream of mine will one day be brought into reality.
if i were a lawyer in the future, i would serve people heart and soul. i would offer free help for people in need.
if i were a lawyer in the future, i would let people live a happier life. of course, i know it’s difficult for me to achieve my dream now, but i’ll make it by my hard working. come on. just do it!
that’s all. thanks for all your listening!
英语即兴演讲稿3分钟 篇8
Dream, everybody has. However, I think, the dream as the growth of the age, will change at any time!
The dream of the age of three
When I was 3 years old, although also just a girl, but, we also have a 3 years old dream! My dream is to every day can eat to the color seductive jelly beans! The kindergarten every day, dad and creak on his bicycle to pick me up, I will think, dad today will certainly bring color jelly beans to pick me up. But, want to return to, dad didn't often bring me eat jelly beans. At that time, I will run to dad's arms, with a peevish tone to dad said: "dad, are you to buy me some color jelly beans?" Father seems a little angry: "oh, don't buy, not buy, jelly beans to eat many will have decayed tooth!" I still don't give up: "I'm not eat every day, you can buy!" Sometimes, after my request for a long time, father finally agreed to me, I am happy to eat a dream at the age of 3, fruity! The food is delicious.
At the age of 8 dream
At the age of eight, I had been sitting in the third grade. Said dream, also won't go to jelly beans. At that time, I am addicted to reading.
Mother and I went to a backgammon supermarket, I entered the house, left flip, flip right, when turn to a book - the story character, I carefully looked up, I could see them forget all about eating and sleeping, even my mother told me to go home, I did not hear. Aunt until the store is closed, when I go home, I was pleased. After that, I often go to read a book, of course, I have mastered a lot of writing skills. The teacher also to me a thumbs-up! The book gives me knowledge and fun.
英语即兴演讲稿3分钟 篇9
Most people would like to be popular with others, but not everyone can achieve this goal. What is the secret to popularity? In fact, it is very simple. The first step is to improve our appearance. We should always make sure that we stay in good shape and dress well.
When we are healthy and well'groomed, we will not only look better but also feel better. In addition, we should smile and appear friendly. After all, our facial expression is an important part of our appearance. If we can do this, people will be attracted to our good looks and impressed by our confidence.
Another important step is developing more consideration for others. We should always put others first and place their interests before our own. It's also important to be good listeners; in this way people will feel comfortable enough to confide in us. However, no matter what we do, we must not gossip.
Above all, we must remember to be ourselves, not phonies. Only by being sincere and respectful of others can we earn their respect. If we can do all of the above, I am sure popularity will come our way.
英语即兴演讲稿3分钟 篇10
But for myself,I learn English not only because of its importance and its usefulness,but also because of my love for I learn English, I can feel a different way of thinking which gives me more room to touch the I read English novels,I can feel the pleasure from the book which is different from reading the I speak English, I can feel the confident from my I write English,I can see the beauty which is not the same as our Chines.
I love English,it gives me a colorful dream.I hope I can travel around the world one day. With my good English, I can make friends with many people from different contries.I can see many places of great intrests.I dream that I can go to London,because it is the birth place of English.
I also want to use my good English to introduce our great places to the English spoken people,I hope that they can love our country like us.
I know, Rome was not built in a day. I believe that after continuous hard study, one day I can speak English very well.
If you want to be loved, you should learn to love and be lovable. So I believe as I love English everyday , it will love me too.
I am sure that I will realize my dream one day!
Thank you!
英语即兴演讲稿3分钟 篇11
John in order to choose the wise after the death of his home, he visited the heaven and hell
He first came to the hell, to see all the people are sitting at the table, the table filled with all kinds of delicious foods. The strange thing is, they are all one in the blues. John emaciation with sallow complexion, a closer look only to find the original table on the left arm people are tied with a fork, right arm tied with a knife, knife the fork and handle up to 4 feet, grasp the knife and fork to eat all the things on the table, so they only watched the food hungry.
John went to heaven, and all the way to find dining equipment with hell. But people here are as like as two peas ruddy, and everywhere is full of laughter. John felt very strange, why they are not afraid of hunger? John quickly found the answer, the original heaven never handle food to feed themselves but, happily to others to eat, so, who can eat delicious food; and hell who only want to feed themselves, so only to starve.
Heaven and hell have only one step away, but because of the warmth and love between people, heaven has become a place for laughter, the hell became a place full of complaints and hunger
英语即兴演讲稿3分钟 篇12
delicacies are tasty, but eating everyday can still make one lose appetite. happiness is what everyone longs for, but too much happiness can spoil people who may not care about the happiness they already have. it's universal to live in happiness without knowing it. the same is true with love. very few people can love the same person passionately all their lives.
even though true love is hard to find nowadays, we still can see some true and infatuated boys and girls who readily give up their families, their parents, their studies, their careers and even their lives for love. they love so passionately, crazily and wildly that they hate anyone who is against their love, and may even harm or kill him if he insists on his objection.
love has magical power that can exploit people's potential abilities, bring people's positive factors into full play, and provide people with the courage to face trials and hardships, to go through life and death, and even to risk universal condemnation. even in the ancient feudal society, some people were courageous enough to carry on clandestine love affairs. the examples in point were the courageous ones who dared to love the concubines of the emperors or the children of their foes. love also has miraculous power which can startle the universe and move the gods by attracting the heavenly celestials coming down to earth ( the love story of the cowboy and the weaving girl ),and by turning ghosts into human ( strange tales of liao-zhai ),love can transcend age and generation (dr. sun yat-sen and madam song qingling; luxun and xu guangping) can show contempt for all conventions and prejudices; love can heal wounds and cure diseases, and love can readjust people's state of mind. of course, the result would be the opposite once it hurts.
英语即兴演讲稿3分钟 篇13
Founder of Success Napoleon Hill said: "The self-confidence, manage human use and the only channel universe, Infinite Intelligence is all the 'miracle' of the foundation of all scientific laws can not be the birthplace of the mystery of miracles . "he also said that such a thought-provoking words:" If we analyze the personality of those outstanding figures, you will see they have a common characteristic: they start work before, always fully believe in themselves the ability to remove all difficulties and obstacles, until victory! "
Indeed, in large part to promote confidence in a person's success, many people start from the history we are all evident. Confident people from distress to rescue, you can see the successful people in the dark light, can give people the power struggle. Perhaps you could say: "With confidence, you have half the success."
Work the same two people, self-confidence of people at work in a more relaxed when the Association of the way through: Dang good job done, we will consider it for our own strength, in the event Shizaiwufa completed The task, then that might be really difficult task in itself. The lack of self-confidence of people will bring success to good luck, the ability to not fail as their own home. However, as this little psychological difference, although the two spent time and energy are similar, but often more self-confident side of the gain is much greater.
How many scientists at home and abroad, especially inventors, which is not tackled on his own confidence in what the project? Will fail again and again again and again aroused their fighting spirit - they think: the more failures, the more successful near distance. But confidence is not an innocent person will be attached to the body, first of all who have genuine talent, then can there be real self-confidence, and use it as an extremely useful power. Empty full of confidence, it would only say it is presumptuous Bale. This so-called "confidence", not only failed to promote human progress, but unfriendly.
King of the hill Network commentator said: "There is no real thing, only the confidence, the future is only one - dead, and done for." This sentence sounds excessive, but in fact the only self-confidence if it is indeed a very dangerous.
Similarly, in our study, only self-confidence is not enough, self-confidence and efforts should be organically combined. Some students often see the occasion of the examination, not the least bit nervous, confidently into the examination room. However, after examination, this part of the students in some scores of deadly accuracy, and some fraction is ashamed to see people. This seems unreasonable thing is very simple: this part is both a kind of self-confidence in students, but also hard to study hard; a single self-confidence, but did not pay the effort. These two types of students are full of confidence seems to examination, but usually not the same as the accumulation of knowledge, different consequences.
So, we life, you should do first one full of classics, before a confident person. Because confidence is just a void of power, want to be successful, you have to give confidence to attach to "hard work" on the burning of the mechanical self-confidence, so confidence should force it to play out.
英语即兴演讲稿3分钟 篇14
i have the answer to a question that we've all asked. the question is, why is it that the letter x represents the unknown? now i know we learned that in math class, but now it's everywhere in the culture -- the x prize, the x-files, project x, tedx. where'd that come from?
about six years ago i decided that i would learn arabic, which turns out to be a supremely logical language. to write a word or a phrase or a sentence in arabic is like crafting an equation, because every part is extremely precise and carries a lot of information. that's one of the reasons so much of what we've come to think of as western science and mathematics and engineering was really worked out in the first few centuries of the common era by the persians and the arabs and the turks.
this includes the little system in arabic called al-jebra. and al-jebr roughly translates to “the system for reconciling disparate parts.“ al-jebr finally came into english as algebra. one example among many.
the arabic texts containing this mathematical wisdom finally made their way to europe -- which is to say spain -- in the 11th and 12th centuries. and when they arrived there was tremendous interest in translating this wisdom into a european language.
but there were problems. one problem is there are some sounds in arabic that just don't make it through a european voice box without lots of practice. trust me on that one. also, those very sounds tend not to be represented by the characters that are available in european languages.
here's one of the culprits. this is the letter sheen, and it makes the sound we think of as sh -- “sh.“ it's also the very first letter of the word shalan, which means “something“ just like the the english word “something“ -- some undefined, unknown thing.
