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Author Topic: Maybe Shakespeare was wrong  (Read 1538 times)

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Offline rivka

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Maybe Shakespeare was wrong
« on: April 06, 2009, 08:10:25 AM »
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Offline The Genuine

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Maybe Shakespeare was wrong
« Reply #1 on: April 06, 2009, 09:25:16 AM »
Indeed.

Us poor English speakers with our gender-neutral language!
« Last Edit: April 06, 2009, 09:25:45 AM by The Genuine »
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Offline Annie Subjunctive

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Maybe Shakespeare was wrong
« Reply #2 on: April 06, 2009, 09:36:19 AM »
Very cool!

Quote
Boroditsky proposes that because the word for "bridge" in German — die brucke — is a feminine noun, and the word for "bridge" in Spanish — el puente — is a masculine noun, native speakers unconsciously give nouns the characteristics of their grammatical gender.
I have ALWAYS wondered this. And it's cool to read about this study. Once I was talking to a latina friend of mine and she was explaining to me how she first learned the difference between derecho (straight) and derecha (right). "Derecho is, you know, (she jammed her fist emphatically forward) straight ahead, strong, like a man. Derecha turns to the side, you know. Gently. Like a woman."
« Last Edit: April 06, 2009, 09:36:40 AM by Annie Subjunctive »
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Offline Porter

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Maybe Shakespeare was wrong
« Reply #3 on: April 06, 2009, 09:45:46 AM »
Not surprising at all.

Personally, I detest the concept of grammatical gender.
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Offline Jonathon

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Maybe Shakespeare was wrong
« Reply #4 on: April 11, 2009, 01:59:08 PM »
Fascinating stuff, but not terribly surprising. I wonder how much of an effect there is with non-gender-neutral language in English. That would be an interesting study. Too bad I didn't think of that in time to write my sociolinguistics term paper on it.
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