Pratique du Shadowing: The science of laughter - Sasha Winkler - Apprendre l'anglais à l'oral avec YouTube

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Isn't it odd that when something's funny,
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Isn't it odd that when something's funny,
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you might show your teeth,
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change your breathing, become weak and achy in some places,
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and maybe even cry?
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In other words, why do we do this bizarre thing that is laughter?
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When you laugh, your abdominal muscles contract rapidly.
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This alters your breathing patterns,
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increasing the pressure in your chest cavity and pushing air out,
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which might audibly emerge as a snort, wheeze, or vocalization.
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Because you're exerting your abdominal muscles much more than you usually would while talking,
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they may start to hurt.
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Laughter also inhibits your reflexes and muscle control,
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causing sensations like leg weakness.
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So where does this funny phenomenon come from?
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Because there's no archaeological record of laughter,
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it's impossible to say exactly how and why it evolved.
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But scientists have some theories.
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Importantly, humans are not the only animals today that do something like laughter.
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Using ultrasonic recorders, researchers in the late 90s realized that rats were basically giggling while being tickled.
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Scientists have since compiled evidence of at least 65 species,
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mostly mammals but also some birds,
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that vocalize during social play.
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Some, unsurprisingly, are our closest relatives.
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By recording and analyzing the sounds primates make while playing and being tickled,
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Researchers grew more convinced that the ancient ancestor of all great apes did something like laughter.
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And because other apes make laughter-like sounds during rough-and-tumble play,
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they think laughter may have originally developed to clearly signal friendly, non-aggressive intent.
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But of course, humans don't just laugh when we're wrestling,
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but also when we're amused and even surprised, confused, or nervous.
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Some scientists think laughter took on expanded functions after humans split from other great apes
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and developed large social groups and more complex language abilities.
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They hypothesized that laughter gradually became something we could use not just during play,
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but within speech to convey subtle meanings and a range of contexts to show our emotions.
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This is thought to be one of the reasons that laughter is contagious.
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It's like an invitation to share in someone's emotional state.
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Just hearing clips of laughter can activate key regions in your brain,
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triggering you to smile or laugh yourself.
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And when participants in one study watched a funny video,
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they laughed significantly longer and more often when another person was present,
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even though they reported feeling the same level of amusement.
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Human laughter is also generally louder than the play vocalizations of most animals.
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Some scientists speculate that this is because our laughter functions not only as a signal between individuals,
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but a broadcast to everyone around.
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Studies found that observers across the world and as young as five months old
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could reliably tell the difference between close friends and acquaintances just from brief clips of them laughing.
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Similarly, we can tell whether a laugh is real or fake based just on the sound.
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Fake or volitional laughter is produced in entirely different networks in the brain,
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relying on speech-like pathways.
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Meanwhile, spontaneous laughter arises from older networks that other animals also use for their vocalizations.
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And laughter's not just socially important.
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It's also thought to be good for us.
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When we laugh, our brains release feel-good neurotransmitters like endorphins and decrease levels of stress hormones like cortisol.
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Some research even suggests that people who laugh more can cope with stress more effectively and have better cardiovascular health.
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Laughter is a universal human behavior.
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Babies can laugh before they can speak.
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Whether it's the best medicine depends on your ailment.
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But as something that makes life more tolerable,
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strengthens bonds, and potentially improves aspects of your health,
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you can't go wrong with a good laugh.
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Unless you have a broken rib or something,
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then it's no laughing matter.
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Certainly nothing to crack up about.
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Laughter is an essential part of expressing ourselves.
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But what about more advanced means of communication?
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Students in over 130 countries are turning their ideas into TED-style talks with the TED-Ed Student Talks program.
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They're connecting with each other while honing their public speaking skills,
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and that's no laughing matter.
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Learn how to bring these free activities to a classroom or after-school program near you at ed.ted.com slash student talks.

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Context & Background

The video "The science of laughter" by Sasha Winkler delves into the fascinating mechanics and social implications of laughter. It explores how laughter impacts our physical and emotional well-being and its evolutionary significance. This exploration offers rich material for English learners interested in understanding not only the language but also the cultural context behind humor and laughter. By engaging with this video, you can enhance your IELTS speaking practice and improve your English speaking skills in a fun and effective way.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • “Isn’t it odd that…” - A great way to introduce a curious thought or observation.
  • “Because you’re exerting…” - Useful for explaining cause and effect in conversations.
  • “This alters your breathing patterns…” - Perfect for describing physiological changes or reactions.
  • “Scientists have some theories…” - This phrase helps in discussing scientific findings or speculative ideas.
  • “It’s thought to be…” - A useful expression for discussing common beliefs or assumptions in any conversation.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To tackle the difficulty of this video effectively, follow these steps for an engaging shadowing site exercise:

  1. Watch the video once: Start by watching the entire video without any interruptions. Pay attention to the tone, pace, and emotion conveyed in Winkler's voice.
  2. Listen actively: Play the video again and focus on specific sections. Listen for phrases that stand out to you, especially those that align with your learning goals, like improving your English pronunciation.
  3. Practice shadowing: Choose short segments (15-30 seconds). Play a segment, then pause and repeat what you hear. Mimic the intonation, rhythm, and emotion early in the speech to develop your speaking style.
  4. Expand on the phrases: Use the top phrases listed above in your own sentences. For example, create your own observations or explain laughter's effects using different contexts.
  5. Record and analyze: Record yourself while shadowing and compare it with the original. Identify areas of improvement, especially in clarity and pronunciation, and continue practicing until you feel confident.

By utilizing this video, you can effectively learn English with YouTube and practice speaking in an engaging and meaningful way. Make laughter and language a part of your daily routine, and watch how it transforms your learning experience!

Qu'est-ce que la technique du Shadowing ?

Le Shadowing est une technique d'apprentissage des langues fondée sur la science, développée à l'origine pour la formation des interprètes professionnels. Le principe est simple mais puissant : vous écoutez de l'anglais natif et le répétez immédiatement à voix haute — comme une ombre suivant le locuteur avec un décalage de 1 à 2 secondes. Les recherches montrent une amélioration significative de la précision de la prononciation, de l'intonation, du rythme, des liaisons, de la compréhension orale et de la fluidité.

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