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WHAT SEX IS YOUR SHIP?

Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 7:34 pm
by 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?

RE: WHAT SEX IS YOUR SHIP?

Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 7:35 pm
by Terminus
It's a She in Danish, as well... Same thing in German...

RE: WHAT SEX IS YOUR SHIP?

Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 7:38 pm
by 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"

RE: WHAT SEX IS YOUR SHIP?

Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 7:56 pm
by nashvillen
I know the Soviets use He, but you already stated that.  I don't know of any others.

RE: WHAT SEX IS YOUR SHIP?

Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 7:59 pm
by Roger Neilson
Always she in the UK.

Roger

RE: WHAT SEX IS YOUR SHIP?

Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 8:06 pm
by pauk
that raises the next question:

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

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

RE: WHAT SEX IS YOUR SHIP?

Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 8:08 pm
by Terminus
Luk låget...

RE: WHAT SEX IS YOUR SHIP?

Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 8:11 pm
by pauk
i will ask Timtom for translation - just let you know...

RE: WHAT SEX IS YOUR SHIP?

Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 8:15 pm
by Terminus
ORIGINAL: pauk

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

You do that...

RE: WHAT SEX IS YOUR SHIP?

Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 8:16 pm
by rtrapasso
ORIGINAL: pauk

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


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

RE: WHAT SEX IS YOUR SHIP?

Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 8:24 pm
by Monter_Trismegistos
In Polish always HE.

RE: WHAT SEX IS YOUR SHIP?

Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 9:02 pm
by 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....

RE: WHAT SEX IS YOUR SHIP?

Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 9:57 pm
by 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]

RE: WHAT SEX IS YOUR SHIP?

Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 10:02 pm
by 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.).

RE: WHAT SEX IS YOUR SHIP?

Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 10:02 pm
by pauk
that's wierd language too[;)]

RE: WHAT SEX IS YOUR SHIP?

Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 10:04 pm
by pauk
wohohohoho!

and we have a winner![:)]

RE: WHAT SEX IS YOUR SHIP?

Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 10:07 pm
by invernomuto
ORIGINAL: pauk

wohohohoho!

and we have a winner![:)]

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

RE: WHAT SEX IS YOUR SHIP?

Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 10:11 pm
by 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)?

RE: WHAT SEX IS YOUR SHIP?

Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 10:18 pm
by 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?
 

RE: WHAT SEX IS YOUR SHIP?

Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 10:21 pm
by 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