3 ms·
> At least we've dropped the insanity of gender from the language. Except for ships, which are always feminine in English. It feels very weird to me because ge
by dreamcompiler 3y ago
> At least we've dropped the insanity of gender from the language.
Except for ships, which are always feminine in English. It feels very weird to me because gendered noun categories are unusual for English and ships are just about the only counterexample that remains.
- dkjaudyeqooe 3y agoThat's a tradition, or possibly a convention, not a language rule. All inanimate objects are 'it'.
- Symbiote 3y agoI consider this sexist and will continue to use "it".
- pbhjpbhj 3y agoWhy is it sexist, surely it is linguistic gender and has nothing to do with biological sex? Of course, you can use "it", your choice. Mind you I find the forced overlaying of sex onto language absurd, my late mother was chairman of many committees and always complained when people started calling her "chair"; I agree.
- Symbiote 3y ago"sċip" is neuter in Old English. The tradition refers to some sort of mother / goddess protection the sailors are hoping for.