英语翻译
A person who is deaf when he is born is usually dumb as well.There may be nothing wrong with his mouth and tongue,but he cannot speak.This is because,as he is deaf,he cannot hear other people speak,and therefore has nothing to imitate.
He may try to make sounds himself,but he can not hear his own voice.However,even though he finds it difficult to speak and can not hear,he can see.He can therefore learn to read.Now he can also be taught to speak because we have modern methods and equipment,but we did not have these when Helen Keller was born.
Even with modern methods and equipment,however,it is not easy for deaf children to learn to speak,though most of them succeeded.When a child is deaf and blind as well,it becomes much more difficult,though even then it is possible for him to learn to speak.Though Hellen Keller was a normal child at birth in 1880,she became very ill at the age of 19 months.Although medical knowledge was not as great then as it is now,she did not die but lost her sight and hearing.As a result she became dumb as well.In spite of her parents’ efforts to teach her,at the age of six she could not speak.