B
But language is foremost not just because it came first.
后不僭先，绝不是语言地位首屈一指的原因。
In its own right it is a tool of extraordinary sophistication, yet based on an idea of ingenious simplicity:
虽然是能表达无限内容的工具，但是其设计初衷是化繁为简。
'this marvellous invention of composing out of twenty-five or thirty sounds that infinite variety of expressions which, whilst having in themselves no likeness to what is in our mind, allow us to disclose to others its whole secret, and to make known to those who cannot penetrate it all that we imagine, and all the various stirrings of our soul'.
极具人类设计之光的语言，是由二三十个元辅音气流调配成字词，进而能使人吐露心中隐私，能传达出旁人难以洞察的心中所想，情之所动，再也不会有只可意会不可言传之情景。
This was how, in 1660, the renowned French grammarians of the Port-Royal abbey near Versailles distilled the essence of language, and no one since has celebrated more eloquently the magnitude of its achievement.
这是1660年凡尔赛的皇家修道院派著名的语法学家对语言本质的精炼提炼，自此对语言的赞誉再无能出其右者。
Even so, there is just one flaw in all these hymns of praise, for the homage to languages unique accomplishment conceals a simple yet critical incongruity, language is mankind greatest invention - except, of course, that it was never invented.
但是，向语言致敬的这些溢美之词中，暗藏着一个能打翻所有赞美之词的悖论：语言的确是最体现人类智慧的曲尽其妙的创制，那么，不动脑思考的言语，自然不在其中。
This apparent paradox is at the core of our fascination with language, and it holds many of its secrets.
好学深思勤于思考乃是语言得以心游万仞,精骛八极的关键所在，也是语言的袖里玄机。
