Free Up Mental Space With More 'Bandwidth'
时间:2018-12-08 作者:英语课 分类:2018年VOA慢速英语(七)月
Welcome to Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning 1 English.
On this program we explore common expressions in American English.
Like all languages, our expressions come from everywhere. They come from nature, sports, and food. They come from money, culture, music, history! If you name the area, we can find a special word or expression that comes from it.
The word we will talk about today comes from technology: bandwidth.
The first definition 2 of “bandwidth” is the range of frequencies 3 within a given band, especially when used for sending an electronic signal.
In computing 4, it means the largest amount of data that can be passed along a specific path. For example, if you are making a video on your computer, it will use more bandwidth than if you were simply creating a document.
When we talk about ourselves (and not our computers), bandwidth has a similar meaning.
Human “bandwidth” refers to the total number of issues or amount information a person can deal with at any given moment. It is the emotional 5 or mental space you need to do something or think about something.
When you have lots of bandwidth, you can deal with anything life throws at you. But, when you are really busy or seriously worried, you might not have the bandwidth to deal with any additional 6 issues. You simply do not have the time or mental space.
We have other expressions that mean almost the same thing as being out of bandwidth. I can say I’ve hit my limit. I'm up to my neck, up to my eyes or up to my ears (you can use any of those body parts) with work, responsibility or fill in the blank. I am swamped 7!
“Bandwidth” can also simply mean your attention span 8.
For example, let’s say you are sitting at your dinner table thinking about an all-consuming problem. In this state, you are not able to focus on anything else. So, if someone tries to ask you a question, you can tell them, “Sorry. I do not have the bandwidth to talk to you right now. Come back in about an hour!”
Now, sometimes we use the word “bandwidth” when we talk about our brains as computers. An article in Scientific American gives us a good example of this usage 9.
Writer R. Douglas Fields discusses the development of an electronic device 10 worn on the arm that permits the wearer to mentally interact 11 with a computer. He writes, “This achievement opens and expands the bandwidth of the brain’s output 12.”
Sometimes people use “bandwidth” to simply mean mental ability. I might say: “Oh, do not to try to explain the issue to Alex. He doesn’t have the bandwidth for something so difficult.” Used this way, it means "Alex" is not intelligent enough to understand. It is a clear insult 13. So, be careful using it that way.
Now, let’s hear "bandwidth" used in this short conversation between two friends.
Okay, let’s go over the shopping list. We don’t want to forget anything.
Do we have to do that right now?
No. But the party is next month. So, time is running out.
There’s plenty of time. And right now … I have a lot on my mind.
Come on. You can’t be that busy.
Oh really? Well, today at work, I lost all my documents when my computer crashed.
Well, you have back-ups of all your documents, don’t you?
No. I had just finished writing three long stories. I’ll have to work overtime 14 the rest of the week or I’ll miss my deadline!
Maybe we should change the subject.
Sure. This morning my sister called to tell me that my great aunt died.
Oh, I’m so sorry.
That’s okay. I only met her once when I was 10. But my mom can’t take care of the funeral plans. So, now I have to.
Oh. That’s going to take a lot of time.
Yes, it is. But that’s not all. Last night, my apartment flooded from a leak in the pipe! So, I have to fix it by tomorrow because my boss is coming over for an important dinner meeting!!
Wow. You are swamped! Really up to your neck.
Tell me about it! So, please understand if I don’t have the bandwidth right now to plan for a party that is a month away!!
Well. Sounds like someone is out of patience as well as bandwidth.
And that’s Words and Their Stories for this week.
Has there been a time when you ran out of bandwidth? Let us know in the Comments Section!
I’m Anna Matteo.
Words in This Story
frequency 15 – n. technical : the number of times that something (such as a sound wave or radio wave) is repeated in a period of time (such as a second)
band – n. a range of frequencies (as of radio waves)
data – n. information in digital form that can be transmitted 16 or processed
attention span – n. the length of time during which one (such as an individual or a group) is able to concentrate or remain interested
all-consuming taking all of a person's time and attention : being the only thing a person thinks about
swamped – n. to cause (someone or something) to have to deal with a very large amount of things or people at the same time — usually used as (be) swamped
- When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时,常会从车上掉下来。
- Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。
- The book attempts a definition of his role in world politics.该书要阐明的是他在世界政局中的作用。
- I made a definition for this word.我给这个字下了定义。
- If the frequencies are low, this approach cannot be used. 若频率很低时,这种方法就不能使用。 来自辞典例句
- We are asking a network or system to attenuate certain frequencies. 我们正在要求一个网络或系统去压制某些频率。 来自辞典例句
- to work in computing 从事信息处理
- Back in the dark ages of computing, in about 1980, they started a software company. 早在计算机尚未普及的时代(约1980年),他们就创办了软件公司。
- Emotional people don't stop to calculate.感情容易冲动的人做事往往不加考虑。
- This is an emotional scene in the play.这是剧中动人的一幕。
- It is necessary to set down these additional rules.有必要制定这些补充规则。
- I think we can fit in an additional room.我想我们可以再加建一间房子。
- The department was swamped with job applications. 面对纷至沓来的求职申请,这个部门疲于应对。
- Headquarters was swamped by an avalanche of applications for battle assignments. 请战书像雪片似地飞向指挥部。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
- The time span of these documents from 1954 to 2009.这些文件的时间跨度为1954年至2009年。
- The measurement span is determined by the higher and lower range values.测量量程由上限值和下限值决定。
- I am clear about the usage of this word at last.这个词的用法我算是弄明白了。
- The usage is now firmly established.这种用法现已得到确认。
- The device will be in production by the end of the year.该装置将于年底投入生产。
- The device will save much time and effort for us.这种装置会使我们节省大量时间和气力。
- All things are interrelated and interact on each other.一切事物互相联系并相互作用。
- The policeman advised the criminal to interact with the police.警察劝罪犯与警方合作。
- Grain output reached a new high in the three years.谷物产量达到三年中最高水平。
- The chart showed us the global output of a factory.这张图表展示了一个工厂的总产量。
- You will insult her if you don't go to her party. 你要是不去参加她举办的聚会,就对她太无礼了。
- I can't sit down with that insult.我不能忍受那种侮辱。
- They are working overtime to finish the work.为了完成任务他们正在加班加点地工作。
- He was paid for the overtime he worked.他领到了加班费。
- If we can know their frequency we will monitor their talking.如果我们知道他们的频率,我们就能监听他们的谈话。
- The tanks broke down with increasing frequency.坦克越来越频繁地熄火。
- signals transmitted from a satellite 从卫星传送来的信号
- The power which an engine develops is transmitted to the wheels. 引擎产生的动力传递到车轮。 来自《简明英汉词典》