WHAT SEX IS YOUR SHIP?

[spence]

As an American my ship was always personified as a SHE. I vaguely recall Sean Connery as the Russian Captain referring to his sub in "Hunt for Red October" as HE. Since so many other languages are native to the folks who frequent this forum I was wondering just what sex your language would have your ship would be? Or would it just be an it?

[Terminus]

It's a She in Danish, as well... Same thing in German...

[Apollo11]

Hi all,

ORIGINAL: spence

As an American my ship was always personified as a SHE. I vaguely recall Sean Connery as the Russian Captain referring to his sub in "Hunt for Red October" as HE. Since so many other languages are native to the folks who frequent this forum I was wondering just what sex your language would have your ship would be? Or would it just be an it?

In Croatian ship is a "HE" (I think same in all Slavic languages as well)... only you "English" could consider ship a "SHE"... [8D]


Leo "Apollo11"

[nashvillen]

I know the Soviets use He, but you already stated that.  I don't know of any others.

[Roger Neilson]

Always she in the UK.

Roger

[pauk]

that raises the next question:

is there any language where is ship personified as "it"?

I suspect that would be Danish, but.....[;)]

[Terminus]

Luk låget...

[pauk]

i will ask Timtom for translation - just let you know...

[Terminus]

ORIGINAL: pauk

i will ask Timtom for translation - just let you know...

You do that...

[rtrapasso]

ORIGINAL: pauk

i will ask Timtom for translation - just let you know...

Computerized translation: "Luk the lid" [8|]

[Monter_Trismegistos]

In Polish always HE.

[pauk]

ORIGINAL: rtrapasso

ORIGINAL: pauk

i will ask Timtom for translation - just let you know...

Computerized translation: "Luk the lid" [8|]

that proves how exotic is Danish....

[invernomuto]

[align=left]In Italian it depends on ship class:
Subs (sottomarino), always HE. For me it was a bit odd when on this forum you refer to sub as a SHE.
The generic word for ship (nave) is SHE, BUT some classes are HE.
For example, cruiser (incrociatore) and destroyer (cacciatorpediniere) are HE, so you could refer to this ship as HE.
Carrier (portaerei), Battleship (corazzata), always SHE.


[/align]

[Ursa MAior]

There are no sexes in hungarian for items (or even for persons he/she is the same word, only it is different) or for absolutely anything. We dont differentiate between 'male' or 'female' words. So if someone would call his ship 'she/he', that person would be treated as not mentally healthy or at least overpassionate over an object. IIRC it is the same in finnish.

That"s why it is hard for us to learn ANY foreign languages since ours is SOOOOO different from all other spoken languages (neolatin, slavic, germanic etc.).

[pauk]

that's wierd language too[;)]

[pauk]

wohohohoho!

and we have a winner![:)]

[invernomuto]

ORIGINAL: pauk

wohohohoho!

and we have a winner![:)]

[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]

[invernomuto]

ORIGINAL: Ursa MAior

There are no sexes in hungarian for items (or even for persons he/she is the same word, only it is different) or for absolutely anything. We dont differentiate between 'male' or 'female' words. So if someone would call his ship 'she/he', that person would be treated as not mentally healthy or at least overpassionate over an object. IIRC it is the same in finnish.

So you have two gender, a neutrum (IT) and a non neutrum (HE/SHE)?

[John 3rd]

I thought that the Germans referred to their warships as HE.  I remember the DAK BIsmarck being referred to as a HE in several books.  Am I wrong there?
 
How do the Japanese refer their warships?
 

[Mynok]

There are no sexes in hungarian for items (or even for persons he/she is the same word, only it is different) or for absolutely anything.

Interesting. Did a little research on Hungarian. Finnish is the most common other language in your branch. You might find this link interesting. I did: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finno-Ugric_languages