Very cool!
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."
