27 Aug 17 18:08, Robert Bashe wrote to Gerrit Kuehn:
DR>>> Not strictly true about English. A ship is always feminine.
GK>> I guess this wasn't what Bob was referring to.
RB> No, because calling a ship or boat "she" is simply a tradition and RB> has nothing to do with the language. You would still be understood if RB> you said "it".
Well, it requires the language to have different genus. So what did you actually mean by stating that English knew only one?
RB> The same applies to motorcycles: "die Bandit" (feminine) of Suzuki, RB> for example, although the German name for "Bandit" would be "der RB> Raeuber" (masculine). Apparently also a tradition.
"Bandit" is perfectly understood as a German word, no need for translating it.
I think the reason for female ships in German is that most "type" names are female (die Yacht, die Fregatte, die Schaluppe, die Korvette, die Brigg, die Bark, die Barkasse...). Plus, already Greeks and Romans saw their ships as female. Airships and motorcycles are probably seen as "die Maschine". BTW: it looks like in Austria they used to stick with the "natural" genus given by the name of the ship for quite a long time.
Strange enough, cars are usually masculine in German (probably following "der Wagen").
Regards, Gerrit
--- Msged/BSD 6.1.2 * Origin: Dry thoughts for the tenant (2:240/12)
