Language around gender and identity evolves (and always has) | Archie Crowley

Transcriber:

翻译人员: Eric Ma 校对人员: Bruce Wang

I am a linguist.

我是一个语言学家。

Linguists study language.

语言学家研究语言。

And we do this in a lot of different ways.

我们用很多不同的方法 来研究语言。

Some linguists study how we pronounce certain sounds.

有些语言学家研究 我们如何发出某些声音。

Others look at how we build sentences.

也有人研究我们如何构造句子。

And some study how language varies from place to place,

还有人研究语言如何 因地域不同而有所变化，

just to name a few.

这只是其中的一些例子。

But what I'm really interested in

但我真正感兴趣的是，

is what people think and believe about language

人们对语言的 看法和信念

and how these beliefs affect the way we use it.

以及这些信念如何影响 我们使用语言的方式。

All of us have deeply held beliefs about language

我们每个人都对语言 有着深刻的信念，

such as the belief that some languages are more beautiful than others

比如相信有些语言 比其他语言更美，

or that some ways of using language are more correct.

或者有些语言 的用法更正确。

And as most linguists know,

而大多数语言学家知道，

these beliefs are often less about language itself

这些信念往往并不是 关于语言本身的，

and more about what we believe about the social world around us.

而是我们对周围社会世界 的看法和信念。

So I’m a linguist,

所以，我是一个语言学家，

and I'm also a nonbinary person,

同时，我也是一个 非二元性别的人，

which means I don't identify as a man or a woman.

这意味着我不认同自己 是男性或女性。

I also identify as a member of a broader transgender community.

我还认同自己是更广义上的 跨性别群体的一员。

When I first started getting connected to other transgender people,

当我开始与其他跨性别者 建立联系时，

it was like learning a whole new language

这就像学习一门全新的语言，

and the linguist part of me was really excited.

而作为语言学家的我 感到非常兴奋。

There was a whole new way of talking about my relationship with myself

这是一种全新的方式， 可以让我理解自己，

and a new clear way to communicate that to other people.

并清晰地向 他人表达这一点。

And then I started having conversations with my friends and family

然后我开始和朋友 以及家人交谈，

about what it meant for me to be trans and nonbinary,

成为跨性别者和 非二元性别者意味着什么，

what those words meant to me specifically,

这些词语对我来说 具体代表了什么，

and why I would use both of them.

以及为什么我会使用它们。

I also clarified the correct words they could use when referring to me.

我还澄清了他们在提到我时 应该使用的正确词语。

For some of them, this meant some very specific changes.

对他们中的一些人来说， 这意味着一些非常具体的改变。

For example, some of my friends

比如，有些朋友

who are used to talking about our friend group as “ladies” or “girls”

习惯用“女士们”或“女孩们” 来称呼我们的朋友圈，

switched to nongendered terms like “friends” or “pals.”

后来改用了中性的称呼， 比如“朋友”或“伙伴”。

And my parents can now tell people that their three kids are their son,

而我的父母现在可以告诉别人， 他们的三个孩子是他们的儿子、

their daughter and their child.

女儿和孩子。

And all of them would have to switch the pronouns they used to refer to me.

所有人都需要改变他们 用来指代我的代词。

My correct pronouns are “they” and “them,”

我正确的代词是 “他们”和“他们的”

also known as the singular they.

也被称为单数形式的“他们”。

And these people love me,

这些人爱我，

but many of them told me that some of these language changes

但他们中的许多人告诉我， 这些语言上的改变

were too hard or too confusing

对他们来说太难、太困惑，

or too ungrammatical for them to pick up.

或者太不符合语法而无法接受。

These responses led me to the focus of my research.

这些回应让我 找到了我研究的重点。

There are commonly held,

人们对语言存在一些普遍

yet harmful and incorrect beliefs about language

却有害且错误的信念，

that for the people who hold these beliefs,

而对于持有 这些信念的人来说，

act as barriers to building and strengthening relationships

这些信念成为建立和加强 关系的障碍

with the transgender people in their families and communities,

与他们的家人和社区中 的跨性别者

even if they want to do so.

即使他们本身是想这么做的。

Today, I'm going to walk you through some of these beliefs

今天，我将向你们 讲解其中一些信念，

in the hope that we can embrace creativity in our language

希望我们可以 在语言中拥抱创造力，

and allow language to bring us closer together.

让语言拉近我们之间的距离。

You might see your own beliefs reflected in these experiences in some way,

你可能会在这些经历中 看到自己信念的一些影子，

but no matter what,

但无论如何，

I hope that I can share with you some linguistic insights

我希望能与你们分享 一些语言学的见解，

that you can put into your back pocket

让你们随身携带，

and take with you out into the world.

并在现实世界中使用它们。

And I just want to be super clear.

我想特别强调，

This can be fun.

这可以是很有趣的。

Learning about language brings me joy,

学习语言让我感到快乐，

and I hope that it can bring you more joy too.

我希望它也能 给你们带来更多快乐。

So do you remember how I said that for some of my friends and family

你还记得我之前说的， 对于我的一些朋友和家人来说，

learning how to use the singular they was really hard,

学习如何使用 单数形式的“他们”非常困难吗？

and they said it was too confusing or too ungrammatical for them to pick up.

他们说这太困惑了， 或者对他们来说太不符合语法了。

Well, this brings us to the first belief about language that people have.

这就引出了人们 对语言持有的第一个信念：

Grammar rules don't change.

语法规则是不会改变的。

As a linguist, I see this belief a lot out in the world.

作为一名语言学家，我经常 在现实中看到这种信念。

A lot of language users believe that grammar just is what it is.

许多语言使用者相信 语法就是固定不变的。

When it comes to language,

当谈到语言时，

what's grammatical is what matters.

符合语法规则是最重要的。

You can't change it.

你不能改变它。

I want to tell you a story about English in the 1600s.

让我给你讲一个 关于17世纪英语的故事。

Back then, as you might imagine,

那时候，正如你可能想象的那样，

people spoke differently than we do today.

人们的说话方式和今天不同。

In particular, they used "thou" when addressing a single other person,

特别是，他们在称呼 单个其他人时使用“thou”，

and "you" when addressing more than one other person,

在称呼多个人时使用“you”。

But for some complex historical reasons

但由于一些复杂的历史原因，

that we don't have time to get into today,

我们今天没有时间深入探讨，

so you'll just have to trust me as a linguist here,

所以你只能相信我的 语言学专业知识，

but people started using "you" to address someone,

人们开始用 “you”来称呼某人，

regardless of how many people they were talking to.

不管他们是在 对几个人说话。

And people had a lot to say about this.

这引起了很多讨论。

Take a look at what this guy, Thomas Elwood, had to say.

看看这个人， 托马斯·埃尔伍德是怎么说的。

He wrote,

他写道：

"The corrupt and unsound form of speaking in the plural number

这是一种腐化且不健康的说法，

to a single person,

“在单数情况下使用复数形式

‘you’ to one instead of ‘thou,’

‘you’来指代一个人， 而不是‘thou’，

contrary to the pure, plain and single language of truth,

违背了真理纯洁、 直白的单一语言，

‘thou’ to one and ‘you’ to more than one.”

‘thou’用于一个人， ‘you’用于多人。”

And he goes on.

他还接着说了更多。

Needless to say,

不用说，

this change in pronouns was a big deal in the 1600s.

这个代词的变化 在17世纪是个大事。

But actually, if you followed the debates about the singular they at all,

但实际上，如果你关注过关于 单数形式“they”的争论，

these arguments might sound familiar to you.

这些观点 听起来可能很熟悉。

They're not that far off from the bickering we hear

它们和我们听到的那些

about the so-called grammaticality of pronouns

关于代词语法性的争论 并没有太大的区别，

used to talk about trans and nonbinary people.

用来谈论跨性别 和非二元性别的人群。

One of the most common complaints about the singular they

关于单数形式“they” 最常见的抱怨之一

is that if "they" is used to refer to people in the plural,

如果“they”用于复数，

it can't also be used to talk about people in the singular,

就不能用于指代单数，

which is exactly what they said about “thou” and “you.”

这正是当初人们所说的那些话 如“thou”和“you”。

But as we have seen, pronouns have changed.

但正如我们所见， 代词已经发生了变化。

Our grammar rules do change

我们的语法规则确实会改变，

and for a lot of different reasons.

而且是由于许多不同的原因。

And we're living through one of these shifts right now.

而我们现在正处 在这些变化中的一个阶段。

All living languages will continue to change,

所有活着的语言 都会不断变化，

and the Thomas Elwoods of the world

而像托马斯·埃尔伍德 这样的人，

will eventually have to get with the program

最终将不得不适应 这个变化，

because hundreds of years later,

因为数百年后，

it's considered right to use "you" when addressing another person.

用“you”来称呼另一个人

Not just allowable, but right.

不仅是允许的，而且是正确的。

The second belief about language that people have

关于语言的第二种 普遍信念是

is that dictionaries provide official, unchanging definitions for words.

词典为单词提供了 官方且不变的定义。

When you were in school,

当你在学校的时候，

did you ever start an essay with a sentence like,

是否曾用这样的 句子开头写作文：

"The dictionary defines history as ..."

“词典将历史定义为……”

Well, if you did, which dictionary were you talking about?

那么，如果你这样写了， 你所指的是哪本词典？

Was it the Oxford English Dictionary?

是《牛津英语词典》吗？

Was it Merriam Webster?

是《韦氏词典》吗？

Was it Urban Dictionary?

还是《都市词典》？

Did you even have a particular dictionary in mind?

你是否甚至有具体的 一本词典在心中？

Which one of these is “the dictionary?”

这些中哪一本是“词典”？

Dictionaries are often thought of as the authority on language.

词典通常被认为是 语言的权威，

But dictionaries, in fact, are changing all the time.

但实际上， 词典一直在不断变化。

And here's where our minds are really blown.

这里让我们 真正开窍的是，

Dictionaries don't provide a single definition for words.

词典并没有为单词 提供单一的定义。

Dictionaries are living documents

词典是活的文档，

that track how some people are using language.

它们追踪一些人 如何使用语言。

Language doesn't originate in dictionaries.

语言并不起源于词典。

Language originates with people

语言的起源在于人类，

and dictionaries are the documents that chronicle that language use.

而词典则是记录 这种语言使用的文档。

Here's one example.

举个例子。

We currently use the word "awful"

我们现在用“awful” 这个词

to talk about something that is bad or gross.

来描述 糟糕或恶心的东西。

But before the 19th century, "awful" meant just the opposite.

但在19世纪之前， awful意味着相反的意思。

People used "awful" to talk about something

人们用“awful” 来描述某些

that was deserving of respect

值得尊敬

or full of awe.

或充满敬畏的事物。

And in the mid-1900s,

而在20世纪中期，

"awesome" was the word that took up these positive meanings

“awesome”这个词 接过了这些积极的含义，

and "awful" switched to the negative one we have today.

而“awful”转变为 我们今天所熟知的负面意义。

And dictionaries over time reflected that.

词典也随着时间反映了这种变化。

This is just one example of how definitions and meanings

这是一个例子， 展示了定义和意义

have changed over time.

如何随着时间的推移而变化。

And to keep up with it, how dictionaries are updated all the time.

为了跟上这种变化， 词典也不断地更新。

So I hope you're starting to feel a little more comfortable

所以，我希望你们开始 感到稍微自在一些

with the idea of changing language.

对于语言的变化

But of course, I'm not just talking about language in general.

但当然，我并不仅仅 是在谈论语言。

I'm talking about language as it is impactful for trans people.

我是在谈论对跨性别人群 产生深远影响的语言。

And pronouns are only one part of language,

代词只是 语言的一部分，

and they're only one part of language that's important for trans people.

而且只是对跨性别人群 重要的语言部分之一。

Also important are the identity terms

同样重要的身份术语，

that trans people use to talk about ourselves,

那些术语被跨性别人群 用来描述自己

such as trans man, trans woman, nonbinary or gender queer.

比如跨性别男性、跨性别女性、 非二元性别或性别酷儿。

And some of these words have been documented in dictionaries

这些词汇中的一些 已经被记录在词典中，

for decades now

几十年

and others are still being added year after year.

而其他一些词汇 则是近年来陆续被添加进去的。

And that's because dictionaries are working to keep up with us,

这是因为词典 正在努力跟上我们——

the people who are using language creatively.

那些用语言 进行创造的人。

So at this point, you might be thinking,

到这里，你可能会想：

"But Archie, it seems like every trans person has a different word

“但是，Archie，似乎 每个跨性别人都有

they want me to use for them.

自己希望我为他们使用的词。

There are so many opportunities for me to mess up or to look ignorant

有太多的机会让我出错， 看起来无知，

or to hurt someone's feelings.

或者伤害某人的感情。

What is something I can memorize

有什么可以让我记住，

and reliably employ when talking to the trans people in my life?"

并在与生活中的跨性别人 交流时可靠地使用的东西吗？

Well, that brings us to the third belief about language that people have.

”好吧，这就引出了人们 对语言的第三种看法。

You can't just make up words.

你不能随便创造词语。

Folks, people do this all the time.

朋友们，人们一直都在这么做。

Here's one of my favorite examples.

以下是我最喜欢的例子之一。

The "official" term for your mother's mother

“官方”的术语 来称呼你母亲的母亲

or your father's mother is grandmother.

或你父亲的母亲是“祖母”。

I recently polled my friends

我最近调查了一些朋友，

and asked them what they call their grandmothers.

问他们如何称呼 他们的祖母。

We don't get frustrated if your friend's grandma goes by Meemaw

我们并不会感到沮丧，如果 你朋友的祖母叫Meemaw

and yours goes by Gigi.

而你的祖母叫Gigi

We just make rather short work of it

我们只是很简单地记住，

and memorize it and move on getting to know her.

然后继续了解她。

In fact, we might even celebrate her by gifting her with a sweatshirt

事实上，我们甚至 通过送她一件

or an embroidered pillow that celebrates the name she has chosen for herself.

或者一件刺绣枕头， 庆祝她为自己选择的名字。

And just like your Nana and your grandma,

就像你的Nana和你的祖母，

trans people have every right to choose their own identifying language.

跨性别人也有完全的权利 选择自己的身份语言。

The process of determining self-identifying language

决定自我身份 语言的过程

is crucial for trans people.

对跨性别人至关重要。

In my research,

在我的研究中，

many trans people have shared that finding new vocabulary

许多跨性别人分享说， 找到新的词汇

was an important part of understanding their own identities.

是理解自己身份的 重要部分。

As one person I interviewed put it,

正如我采访过的一人所说：

"Language is one of the most important personal things

“语言是最重要 的个人事物之一，

because using different words to describe myself

因为用不同的词 描述自己，

and then finding something that feels good, feels right,

然后找到让自己感觉良好、 感觉正确的词，

is a very introspective and important process.

是一个非常自省 且重要的过程。

With that process you can piece together,

通过这个过程， 你可以拼凑出

with the language that you find out works best for you,

适合你的语言， 然后找到答案：

who am I?"

‘我是谁？’”

Sometimes the words that feel good are already out there.

有时候，感觉合适的词 已经存在。

For me, the words trans and nonbinary just feel right.

对我来说，跨性别 和非二元性别让我感觉正确。

But sometimes the common lexicon doesn’t yet hold

但有时候，现有的词汇中 并没有一个词能让人

the words that a person needs to feel properly understood.

感觉到完全被理解。

And it's necessary and exciting to get to create and redefine words

于是，创造和重新定义 能够更好反映我们

that better reflect our experience of gender.

性别体验的词语 既必要又令人兴奋。

So this is a very long answer, but, yes,

所以这是一个很长的回答，但，

I'm absolutely going to give you a magic word,

我绝对会给 你一个“神奇的词”。

something really easy you can memorize.

一个你能轻松记住的东西。

And I want you to think of this word

我希望你把这个词

as the biggest piece of advice I could give you

当成我能给你的 的最大建议

if you don't know what words to use for the trans people in your life.

关于如何与生活中 的跨性别人交流。

Ask.

问。

I might be a linguist and a trans person

”我或许是一个语言学家， 也是一个跨性别人

and a linguist who works with trans people,

而且我是一位语言学家， 研究跨性别人群，

but I'm no substitute for the actual trans people in your life

但我并不能替代 你生活中实际的跨性别者，

when it comes to what words to use for them.

告诉你应该用什么词 来称呼他们。

And you're more likely to hurt someone's feelings by not asking

你更有可能让 别人感到受伤，

or assuming

不去询问或假设，

than you are by asking.

比起直接问

And the words that a person uses might change.

而且，一个人使用的词语 可能会改变。

So just commit to asking and learning.

所以承诺去询问和学习吧。

Language is a powerful tool

语言是一种强大的工具，

for explaining and claiming our own identities

用来解释和主张 我们的身份，

and for building relationships that affirm and support us.

并建立肯定和支持 我们的关系。

But language is just that, a tool.

但语言仅仅是工具。

Language works for us,

语言是为我们服务的，

not the other way around.

而不是反过来。

All of us, transgender and cisgender

我们所有人，无论是跨性别者 还是顺性别者，

can use language to understand ourselves

都可以用语言去理解自己，

and to respect those around us.

并尊重我们周围的人。

We're not bound by what words have meant before,

我们不受限于 单词之前的意义，

what order they might have come in

它们的排列顺序，

or what rules we have been taught.

或我们被教导的规则。

We can consider the beliefs that we might have had

我们可以审视

about how language works

关于语言如何运作的信念，

and recognize that language will continue to change.

并认识到语言将不断变化。

And we can creatively use language

我们可以创造性地 使用语言，

to build the identities and relationships that bring us joy.

去构建带来 喜悦的身份和关系。

And that's not just allowable.

这不仅是可以的，

It's right.

更是正确的。

Believe me.

相信我。