Re: She
Posted by R. Berg on January 05, 2003 In Reply to: Why
ships and cars are "she"? posted by Roman Korolenko on January 05, 2003
: Hello!
: I'm a young researcher interested in the topic of gender
and language. I know that in English the pronoun "she" could be referred to ships
and cars. The conceptual analysis of the she-category brought me an unusual idea
about the she-reference.
: The analysis showed that there are at least six cognitive
metaphors in the conceptual system that make us believe ships are feminine:
:
1. SHIP IS PREGANANT WOMAN
: 2. SHIP IS ATTRACTIVE WOMAN
: 3. BAPTIZM OF
SHIP IS BAPTIZM OF HUMAN BEING
: 4. DECOMISSIONING OF SHIP IS DEATH
: 5.
SHIP'S BODY IS HUMAN BODY
: 6. SHIP'S MOVEMENTS ARE BODY MOVEMENTS
: The
most prominent one is the first metaphor that can also be traced in cars. Ships,
cars and women are "containers" that carry a load in themselves and finaly deliver
it. Also ships and mothers secure the life of the load. The load is viewed as
something precious.
: These results of the analysis are so unusual that I want
to put them on the agenda here looking forward to hearing your opinion.
: Sincerely
yours,
: Roman Korolenko
We tossed this one around a bit. See discussion
at link below (http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/10/messages/142.html).
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