Re: Ships
as "she"
Posted by ESC on January
05, 2003 In Reply to: Re: She posted by
R. Berg 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).
SHIPS AS 'SHE' - "Many people wonder why a ship is referred to as a 'she.'
The explanation is that it was customary in early days to dedicate a ship to a
goddess, under whose protection she sailed. The ship carried the diety's carved
image on her bow not as a decoration, as later generations imagined, but as an
aid to finding the way." From "How Did it Begin?" by R. Brasch (Pocket Books,
Simon & Schuster, New York, 1969).
- Re: Ships as "she" Roman
Korolenko 01/10/03 (3)
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