把/被 in this sentence

[Manoz]

Hi, recently came across a sentence in a textbook that I'm having trouble understanding:

写这本书的人大概是借用这个意思，希望这十七课书能象一座桥一样， 把被语言隔开的外国人民和中国人民连在一起。

Any help is much appreciated. Just confused really at ba/bei being used together and generally the meaning of the part in bold.

谢谢！

[skylee]

把被语言隔开的外国人民和中国人民连在一起

Look at the sentence this way -

把　[被语言隔开的外国人民和中国人民]　连在一起 = 把　[他們]　连在一起

and [他們] = foreign people and Chinese people who are separated (passive voice - 被隔开) by languages

[Manoz]

That's much clearer now. Thank you very much!

[Meng Lelan]

The phrase 一座桥一样 would probably clue you in on the meaning of the upcoming phrase. If you note the reference to a bridge, it would remind you that the book intends to be a bridge between two sides that are separated BY ( 被）the language barrier. That's how I see it. Skylee's explanation is even better, but the context would help also in understanding.