long and straight. But then again you might also use the same word "straight" to describe

又長又直。不過，你也可以用同樣的 "直 "字來形容

someone's sexuality when they're attracted to someone of the opposite sex. Wait…what?

當一個人被異性吸引時，他的性能力就會受到影響。等等......什麼？

This doesn't quite add up. So today let's get to the bottom of the long and winding

這並不完全吻合。那麼，今天就讓我們來揭開這個漫長而曲折的謎底吧

road of how “straight” came to be synonymous with sexuality.

直 "是如何成為性的代名詞的。

Okay, so before we can get into how a word like “straight” came to mean “heterosexual,”

好吧，在我們討論 "異性戀 "這個詞是如何演變成 "異性戀 "之前，我們先來看看

we have to quickly talk about how and why people started categorizing sexuality in the

我們必須儘快討論一下，人們是如何以及為何開始在《人類歷史》中對性行為進行分類的。

first place. The idea that someone could be hetero, homo, or bisexual (or any configuration

第一位。一個人可能是異性戀、同志或雙性戀（或任何配置

of LGBTQIA identities) really isn't that old at all.

LGBTQIA身份）其實並不古老。

While most historians agree that there is evidence of same-sex romantic relationships

雖然大多數歷史學家都認為有證據表明存在同性浪漫關係

in nearly every documented culture, the realities of the people who engaged in them weren't

在幾乎所有有文字記載的文化中，從事這些活動的人們的現實生活並不是

really categorized as “gay.” The same goes for heterosexuality, which only showed

真正歸類為 "同志"。異性戀也是如此，它只顯示了

up about a century ago under a definition that might be confusing to people today.

大約一個世紀前，它的定義可能會讓今天的人們感到困惑。

That definition for “heterosexuality” came to us in the late 1860s, when Austrian-Hungarian

對 "異性戀 "的定義出現在 19 世紀 60 年代末，當時奧地利-匈牙利

journalist Karl Maria Kertbeny coined it in a letter to German lawyer and author Karl

記者 Karl Maria Kertbeny 在寫給德國律師兼作家 Karl Kertbeny 的信中創造了這個詞。

Heinrich Ulrichs, whom Kertbeny met on his travels and considered a contemporary. Today,

海因裡希-烏爾裡希斯（Heinrich Ulrichs），凱特貝尼在旅行中認識了他，並將其視為同代人。今天

Ulrichs is known as an early pioneer in the gay rights movement. In the letter, the term

烏爾裡希斯是同志權利運動的早期先驅。在信中

appeared with three other terms as well: “homosexuality, “monosexual,” and “heterogenit.” Those

還出現了另外三個詞"同志"、"單性戀 "和 "異性戀"。這些

last two meant “masturbation” and “bestiality,” respectively.

後兩者分別指 "手淫 "和 "獸交"。

If that makes “heterosexual” sound more like a diagnosis than an identity, well, that's

如果這讓 "異性戀 "聽起來更像是一種診斷，而不是一種身份，那麼，那就是

because it kind of was. In the 1880 book “The Discovery of the Soul”

因為它確實存在。在1880年出版的《靈魂的發現》一書中

the word “heterosexual” in German debuted to a wide audience. A few years later in 1892

德語中的 "異性戀 "一詞首次出現在廣大閱聽人面前。幾年後的 1892 年

the word appeared in English in Psychopathia Sexualis. And in 1901, Dorland's Medical

該詞的英文版出現在《性心理學》（Psychopathia Sexualis）中。1901 年，多蘭的《醫學

Dictionary defined heterosexuality as an “abnormal or perverted appetite toward the opposite

詞典》將異性戀定義為 "對異性的不正常或變態的慾望"。

sex.” When the term appeared in Merriam Webster's dictionary for the first time

性"。當這個詞第一次出現在梅里亞姆-韋伯斯特詞典中時

in 1923, it touted the definition, “a morbid sexual passion for one of the opposite sex.”

1923 年，該書對 "對異性病態的性激情 "進行了定義。

Wait, hold on. Does that mean heterosexuality used to be seen as deviant behavior? Were

等等，等等。這是否意味著異性戀曾經被視為一種不正常的行為？是

straight people being oppressed for being straight? Well, no. It's just that what

異性戀者因為是異性戀者而受到壓迫？嗯，沒有。只是

we now know as “heterosexuality” was so accepted as the norm back then that nobody

我們現在所知道的 "異性戀 "在當時是如此被接受的規範，以至於沒有人

felt the need to go out of their way to define it, and when they did, it was to pathologize

他們認為有必要不遺餘力地對其進行定義，而當他們這樣做的時候，卻是將其病態化

all manner of sexual behavior that would have been seen as taboo.

各種被視為禁忌的性行為。

In 1934, heterosexuality adopted a meaning that might look more familiar to us today,

1934 年，"異性戀 "被賦予了一個我們今天可能更熟悉的含義、

although it might elicit a few justified “yikes.” Its updated definition in Merriam Webster

儘管可能會引起一些合理的 "呀 "聲。梅里亞姆-韋伯斯特》對它的最新定義是

called it a “manifestation of sexual passion for one of the opposite sex; normal sexuality.”

稱其為 "對異性的性激情表現；正常的性行為"。

Keep that last part, “normal sexuality,” in mind, because it's going to come up again

請記住最後一部分，"正常的性行為"，因為它將再次出現

with “straight,” which we'll finally get to now. Sorry, I guess the path to the

"直"，我們現在終於可以說到 "直 "了。對不起，我想通往

word “straight” is pretty loopy.

"直 "這個字很怪。

The first documented appearance of the word “straight” as a descriptor for heterosexuality

首次出現 "異性戀"（straight）一詞作為異性戀的描述詞的文獻記載

is in American psychiatrist G.W. Henry's 1941 book titled Sex Variants, which sought

美國精神病學家亨利（G.W. Henry）在 1941 年出版的《性別變異》一書中指出，該書旨在

to follow the experiences of 80 lesbians and gay men in New York City in the 1930s. In

講述了 20 世紀 30 年代紐約市 80 名女同性戀和男同性戀的經歷。在

it, there's the definition, “To go 'straight' is to cease homosexual practices and to indulge--usually

它的定義是："'轉正'就是停止同志行為，沉迷於--通常是--......"。

to re-indulge--in heterosexuality.” Because heterosexuality is oh so indulgent.

重新沉溺於異性戀"。因為異性戀是如此放縱。

In case you missed the subtext here, the book is saying that the word “straight” actually

如果你忽略了這裡的潛臺詞，那麼這本書是在說，"直 "這個字其實

started out as gay slang, as an in-community way to describe someone who was, if I may

一開始是作為同志俚語，在社區內用來描述一個人，如果可以的話

use a term that wasn't in popular vocabulary back then, “re-closeting” themselves.

用一個當時還不流行的詞來形容，那就是 "重新封閉 "自己。

Someone was “going straight” if they dropped out of the scene or entered a heterosexual

如果一個人退出了這個圈子，或者進入了異性戀圈子，那麼他就是 "轉正 "了。

relationship. As is often the case with slang, it was laced with irony and sarcasm.

關係。俚語往往帶有諷刺和挖苦的意味。

The gay community was likely playing off the common colloquial phrase “straight and narrow,”

同志群體很可能是在利用 "直來直去 "這一俗語。

which is defined in the Cambridge Dictionary as behaving in a way that is “honest and

在《劍橋詞典》中，"誠實 "被定義為 "誠實和誠實的行為"。

moral.” This old saying has its roots in the Bible, specifically the Gospel of Matthew

道德"。這句老話源於《聖經》，特別是《馬太福音》。

7:13-14, which in the King James Version says “Enter you in at the strait gate: for wide

7:13-14，欽定本中說："你們要進窄門。

is the gate, and broad is the way that leads to destruction… Because strait is the gate,

門是窄的，引到滅亡的路是寬的......因為門是窄的、

and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life . . .” A “strait,” s-t-r-a-i-t, like

通往生命的路是窄的......"窄路"，就像

the Bering Strait, is a narrow passageway. Thus, to live righteously is to “walk the

白令海峽是一條狹窄的通道。是以，正直地生活就是 "走在

strait and narrow,” which later got changed to the homophone “straight and narrow.”

海峽兩岸"，後來改為同音字 "海峽兩岸"。

This all relates back to what some scholars would call lavender linguistics, which looks

這一切都與一些學者所說的 "薰衣草語言學 "有關。

into how LGBTQIA people use language as a vehicle to communicate nuances in identity

研究男女同志、雙性戀和變性者如何使用語言作為交流身份細微差別的工具

and their lived experiences. It's based on the idea that certain communities, especially

和他們的生活經歷。它基於這樣一種理念，即某些社區，尤其是

marginalized ones, will utilize the dominant language in unique ways to make a home for

被邊緣化的人，將以獨特的方式利用主流語言，為自己營造一個家園。

themselves in it. Looking at it that way, it's no wonder so much slang comes from

自己。這樣看來，難怪有那麼多俚語來自於

groups of people who are often “othered” in mainstream culture.

在主流文化中經常被 "異化 "的群體。

For more examples of lavender linguistics, we can look at other slang terms that have

關於薰衣草語言學的更多例子，我們可以看看其他俚語，這些俚語有

come up out of gay community. “Tea,” a word that means the truth, be it sipped or

從同志群體中產生。"茶"，一個意味著真理的詞，無論是啜飲還是

spilled or what have you, originated in black drag culture. Merriam-Webster gives an example

溢出或其他什麼的，起源於黑人變裝文化。梅里亞姆-韋伯斯特大學給出了一個例子

of this use of “tea” from 1994, in which The Lady Chablis, a black drag performer and

在 1994 年的 "茶 "的使用中，夏布利夫人是一位黑人變裝表演者，也是一位 "茶 "的使用者。

female impersonator, defines it as, “My thing, my business, what's going on in my

她將其定義為："我的事，我的生意，我的生活中發生的事。

life."

生活"。

But the term “straight” wasn't limited to gay community slang. Its strong relationship

但 "直男 "一詞並不侷限於同志社區的俚語。它與

to morality meant it was often dispatched as a catch-all for someone who was defined

這就意味著，它常常被當作一個包羅萬象的工具，用來指代那些被定義為

by their abstinence from debauchery. And by the 1970s, the term was concretely established

通過他們對放蕩生活的節制。到了 20 世紀 70 年代，這個詞被具體確定下來

as a synonym for “virtuous.” Just take a look at some 20th century pop

作為 "美德 "的同義詞。看看 20 世紀的一些流行音樂就知道了

culture, like the Modern Lovers' song from the 70's titled “I'm Straight,” in

文化，如 70 年代現代戀人樂隊的歌曲《我是直的》，在《我是直的》中

which singer Jonathan Richman compares himself to a woman's stoner boyfriends. When he

歌手喬納森-裡奇曼（Jonathan Richman）將自己比作女人的癮君子男友。當他

calls himself “straight” in the song, he's not calling himself heterosexual. He's

他在歌中稱自己為 "異性戀者"，並不是說自己是異性戀者。他是

saying that he's not a drug user.

說他不吸毒。

That's not just a one-off example either. Look at “straight edge” culture that formed

這也不僅僅是個例。看看 "直邊 "文化的形成

in the early 80s in response to the punk culture of the 1970s, the latter of which was big

80 年代初，為了響應 70 年代的朋克文化，朋克文化在美國大行其道。

on drug use. The term was coined by the band Minor Threat in their song “Straight Edge,”

吸毒。這個詞是由 Minor Threat 樂隊在他們的歌曲 "Straight Edge "中創造的。

the lyrics of which bragged about having better things to do than drugs.

歌詞中吹噓自己有比吸毒更好的事情可做。

People who used “straight edge” to define themselves used to, and still do, define it

用 "直邊 "來定義自己的人過去是，現在仍然是

as abstinence from drugs, alcohol, and sometimes promiscuous sex. Though it has been applied

它指的是戒毒、戒酒，有時還包括戒濫交。儘管它已被應用於

in many ways, one thing is for sure: “straight” as a slang word has a strong relationship

在許多方面，有一件事是肯定的："直 "作為一個俚語，與"...... "有著密切的關係。

to ideas of morality.

道德觀念。

The use of “straight” to mean “not gay” has a lot to say about how people viewed homosexuality

用 "直 "來表示 "不是同志"，這在很大程度上反映了人們對同志的看法

back then: as an act of deviancy, alongside other socially taboo activities like gambling

當時：作為一種離經叛道的行為，與賭博等其他社會禁忌活動一樣

and drug use. It's a view that sadly persists to this day, but back when the words we used

和吸毒。令人遺憾的是，這種觀點一直持續到今天。

to describe sexual orientation were still crystallizing, the word “straight” was

當時，描述性取向的詞彙還沒有定型，"異性戀"（straight）一詞是

broad enough to cast a person as distinct from all kinds of marginalized groups and

其範圍之廣，足以使一個人有別於各種邊緣化群體，以及

misfits.

誤入歧途

It's these moral implications that have caused some LGBTQ advocates to push for abolishing

正是這些道德含義促使一些 LGBTQ 倡導者推動廢除

the term altogether.

這個詞。

You know, one thing that might surprise a lot of people when they dig into the history

有一件事可能會讓很多人大吃一驚，當他們挖掘歷史時

of words like “gay” or “straight” or “heterosexuality” is that, relatively

同志"、"異性戀 "或 "異性戀 "等詞的意義在於，相對而言

speaking, they're really not very old. What this could tell us is that the book isn't

說起來，它們真的不是很古老。這可以告訴我們，這本書並不是

closed on any of these terms. That's true for language in general. It's a living,

任何這些術語都是封閉的。一般來說，語言也是如此。語言是有生命的、

evolving thing, as we've seen in this journey through medical terms, lavender linguistics,

正如我們在這次醫學術語之旅中看到的那樣，薰衣草語言學也在不斷髮展、

and community slang. I mean, just look at the roaring debate over

和社區俚語。我的意思是，只要看看關於

whether it's OK to describe people as “cisgender,” a word that means “not transgender” or

是否可以用 "順式性別"（"cisgender "一詞的意思是 "非變性人"）來形容人們，或者

“a person whose sense of personal identity and gender corresponds with their birth sex.”

"個人身份和性別意識與其出生性別相符的人"。

We have words like “non-binary” for people who don't identify as a man or a woman,

我們有 "非二元"（non-binary）這樣的詞來形容那些不認同男性或女性身份的人、

and “Latinx” for people of Latin American descent who want to eschew the gendered nature

而 "Latinx "則是指那些希望摒棄性別屬性的拉美后裔。

of Spanish. Some critics have accused LGBTQ activists of destroying language and making

的西班牙語。一些批評者指責 LGBTQ 活動家破壞語言，並使西班牙語成為一種語言。

up words, but isn't that kind of how words work? They have to come from somewhere, and

但文字不就是這樣的嗎？它們必須有出處，而且

the context they're created in matters a lot. Plus all of them were made up by someone

它們的創作背景非常重要。另外，所有這些都是有人編造出來的

at some point. It's why the dictionary gets updated every year.

在某些時候。這就是字典每年都會更新的原因。

So it could very well be the case that “straight” won't be around forever as a way to describe

是以，"直男 "很可能不會永遠作為一種描述方式存在。

heterosexuality. Its past as a way to contrast heterosexuality against homosexuality in a

異性戀。過去，它是將異性戀與同志進行對比的一種方式。

moral context speaks to a painful history of discrimination and bigotry. But it also

道德背景說明了歧視和偏執的痛苦歷史。但它也

speaks to a colorful tradition of marginalized groups creating their own language and their

這體現了邊緣化群體創造自己語言的豐富多彩的傳統，以及他們

own slang, to creatively communicate with each other under difficult conditions.

自己的俚語，在困難的條件下創造性地相互交流。