手写书信是一门正在消亡的艺术吗？在当今的数字时代，电子通讯方便快捷，相比之下，手写文件则需要相当的专注力。除了用来练字以外，用手写字还可以帮助你巩固字的写法、单词的拼法和标点符号的用法。本期 “随身英语” 讨论用手写字为何对大脑有益。

词汇：writing 书写

When did you last write a letter? Properly write one – by hand? In a digital world, where sending a text or email is far more convenient than using snail mail, is the writing on the wall for traditional pen and paper? Well, some people claim that writing still has many benefits, so maybe it’s not time to ditch your ballpoint or fountain pen yet.

你上次写信是什么时候?正确地用手写吗?在数字世界里，发送短信或电子邮件比邮寄蜗牛邮件方便得多，传统的笔和纸是否会被淘汰?好吧，有些人声称写作仍然有很多好处，所以也许现在还不是放弃圆珠笔或钢笔的时候。

These days, when people request things in writing, a typed, electronic document will be accepted. Doing this on a computer means it could be saved, edited, duplicated and sent via email. But crafting a handwritten document is unique: It requires planning and thought, and, as well as practising your handwriting, it helps you to remember spelling and punctuation.

如今，当人们提出书面要求时，打印的电子文件将被接受。在电脑上这样做意味着它可以被保存、编辑、复制和通过电子邮件发送。但制作一份手写文件是独一无二的:它需要计划和思考，除了练习你的书写，它还能帮助你记住拼写和标点符号。

Some experts believe your brain benefits from using old-fashioned pen and paper. This is particularly relevant for students, where typing notes into a laptop is thought to lack the ‘tactile feedback’ to the brain that contact between pen and paper does. BBC Worklife website quotes Hetty Roessingh from the University of Calgary, who says that “taking notes by hand involves cognitive engagement in summarising, paraphrasing, organising, concept and vocabulary mapping.” Others agree that handwriting may boost fine motor skills in your hands and fingers.

一些专家认为，使用传统的笔和纸对大脑有益。这对学生来说尤其重要，因为在笔记本电脑上打字被认为缺乏对大脑的“触觉反馈”，而笔和纸之间的接触则没有。BBC职场网站援引卡尔加里大学的海蒂·罗辛的话说:“手写笔记涉及总结、释义、组织、概念和词汇映射等认知参与。”另一些人则认为，手写可以提高手和手指的精细运动技能。

There are everyday benefits to using pen and paper too. Scribbling notes, shopping lists or messages on the back of an envelope can still be useful, quick and portable. But putting pen to paper in a letter to a friend or loved one can probably have the most impact. Pen pal writer Katherine Moller told the BBC: “In a world where it is so easy to hop online to email or to send a fast text, it is so personal and so precious to know someone chose to turn off the virtual world to spend some time with you.”

使用笔和纸也有日常的好处。在信封背面潦草地写笔记、购物清单或留言仍然是有用的、快速的和便携的。但是，在给朋友或爱人的信中动笔可能会产生最大的影响。笔友作家凯瑟琳·莫勒在接受BBC采访时表示:“在一个上网收发电子邮件或快速发短信如此容易的世界里，知道有人选择关闭虚拟世界与你共度时光是如此私人和珍贵。”

So, while digital skills remain important, don’t write off your pens and pencils yet – especially if your smartphone, tablet or laptop runs out of power!

所以，虽然数字技能仍然很重要，但不要放弃你的钢笔和铅笔——尤其是当你的智能手机、平板电脑或笔记本电脑没电的时候!

词汇表

by hand 手写
snail mail 传统信件（对应电子邮件）
the writing (is) on the wall 不祥之兆
pen and paper 笔与纸，纸笔
ballpoint 圆珠笔
fountain pen 钢笔
in writing 以书面的形式
craft 精心书写
handwritten 手写的
handwriting 习字，字迹
type 打字
take notes 记笔记
cognitive engagement 认知参与
paraphrase 改述
motor skills 动作技能
scribble 匆匆记下
pen pal 笔友
write off 使报废

测验与练习

1. 阅读课文并回答问题。

1. Give an example from the article of something you can write with.

2. Doing what can cause students a lack of ‘tactile feedback’ to the brain?

3. How do some experts think handwriting can help us?

4. True or false? Pen pal writer Katherine Moller thinks writing a letter adds a personal touch to communication.

5. Why might you have no choice but to use a pen or pencil to write something?

2. 选择意思恰当的单词或词组来完成下列句子。

1. _______ might take longer, but I like to receive something personal through the post.

By hand                      Scribbling                      Snail mail                 Pen pal

2. I couldn’t _______ in the lecture because my pen ran out of ink!

took notes                   take notes                    taking notes              take note

3. My boyfriend left me a _______ note, saying he was leaving me.

handwritten                 by hand                        handwriting               paraphrasing

4. Have you got a _______? I need to write this number down.

write off                       handwriting                  pen and paper           by hand

5. I’m _______ what my boss said – but basically, we’ve worked very hard and he’s very pleased with us!

scribbling                    paraphrasing                crafting                      typing

测验与练习

1. 阅读课文并回答问题。

1. Give an example from the article of something you can write with?
Examples mentioned included: ballpoint pen, fountain pen, pencil.

2. Doing what can cause students a lack of ‘tactile feedback’ to the brain?
Typing notes into a laptop is thought to lack the ‘tactile feedback’ to the brain.

3. How do some experts think handwriting can help us?
Handwriting may boost fine motor skills in your hands and fingers.

4. True or false? Pen pal writer Katherine Moller thinks writing a letter adds a personal touch to communication.
True. Pen pal writer, Katherine Moller said: “In a world where it is so easy to hop online to email or to send a fast text, it is so personal and so precious to know someone chose to turn off the virtual world to spend some time with you.”

5. Why might you have no choice but use a pen or pencil to write something?
Because your smartphone, tablet or laptop has run out of power!

2. 选择意思恰当的单词或词组来完成下列句子。

1. Snail mail might take longer, but I like to receive something personal through the post.

2. I couldn’t take notes in the lecture because my pen ran out of ink!

3. My boyfriend left me a handwritten note, saying he was leaving me.

4. Have you got a pen and paper? I need to write this number down.

5. I’m paraphrasing what my boss said – but basically, we’ve worked very hard and he’s very pleased with us!

文章来源BBC侵权删。