New Post
Search
Help
ArchivesRe: I'm not trying to be picky, but the word is *gender* (nt)
in reply to a message by Ivayla
No. Human beings and many other animals are divided into two _sexes_, not two "genders".
_Languages_ may divide their nouns (and names) into several genders, e.g. neutrum, reale, masculinum, femininum. These features refer, however, to _words-as-such_ (world-3 objects), not to _persons_ (world-1 objects).
Thus: 'sex of a person' and 'gender of a name'. (not '"gender" of a person'.)
_Languages_ may divide their nouns (and names) into several genders, e.g. neutrum, reale, masculinum, femininum. These features refer, however, to _words-as-such_ (world-3 objects), not to _persons_ (world-1 objects).
Thus: 'sex of a person' and 'gender of a name'. (not '"gender" of a person'.)
1
Replies
Konrad...
I am still not trying to be picky, although you are. I will, however, try to explain what I mean.
Anna is asking about the gender of a name. Obviously, she is not a native speaker of English, and apparently, she translated the sentence one-to-one from her native language. The sentence sounds awkward, and, as far as I am concerned, the correct wording would be "What is the gender of that name?" Being a non-native speaker myself, I know it's OK to make such mistakes. I only made that comment because she put "sex in the Netherlands" as a subject. Now, *that* conveys something entirely different than what she wants. If anything, Mike C, the webmaster of this site, might neglect to read the entire message but (rightfully) assume it was not meant for this board.
Btw, my Webster's Dictionary gives the following definition of gender:
The fact, or condition of being a male or a female human being, especially with regard to how this affects or determines a person's self-image, social goals, etc.
I am still not trying to be picky, although you are. I will, however, try to explain what I mean.
Anna is asking about the gender of a name. Obviously, she is not a native speaker of English, and apparently, she translated the sentence one-to-one from her native language. The sentence sounds awkward, and, as far as I am concerned, the correct wording would be "What is the gender of that name?" Being a non-native speaker myself, I know it's OK to make such mistakes. I only made that comment because she put "sex in the Netherlands" as a subject. Now, *that* conveys something entirely different than what she wants. If anything, Mike C, the webmaster of this site, might neglect to read the entire message but (rightfully) assume it was not meant for this board.
Btw, my Webster's Dictionary gives the following definition of gender:
The fact, or condition of being a male or a female human being, especially with regard to how this affects or determines a person's self-image, social goals, etc.
1
Hmm... I always wondered about that and I most admit I always thought that the proper way was to say "gender" and not "sex" for a person.
How does that apply to English?? In English, objects do not have a gender.
How does that apply to English?? In English, objects do not have a gender.
1
I think...
Throwing myself into this discussion....
"Sex" refers to biology, whereas "gender" refers to society and culture. As in, "the effectiveness of the medication appears to depend on the sex of the patient" verses "peasant societies, gender roles are likely to be more clearly defined". (Examples taken from Dictionary.com.)
"Gender" also, I think, refers to what sex the person considers him/herself to be. For example, a male to female transexual would be male biologically, and so his (her?) sex would be male, but mentally he would be female, so his gender would be female. If that makes sense.
Miranda
Throwing myself into this discussion....
"Sex" refers to biology, whereas "gender" refers to society and culture. As in, "the effectiveness of the medication appears to depend on the sex of the patient" verses "peasant societies, gender roles are likely to be more clearly defined". (Examples taken from Dictionary.com.)
"Gender" also, I think, refers to what sex the person considers him/herself to be. For example, a male to female transexual would be male biologically, and so his (her?) sex would be male, but mentally he would be female, so his gender would be female. If that makes sense.
Miranda
1
Oh, and...
So, Ivayla was right in this case. "Gender" is the correct term, because names are, when you get down to it, are simply sounds we make to identify a person. Names can't have a sex, although I still firmly believe that male (meaning gender) names like James should be kept for males, not given to females, and visa versa. I guess that's a bit hypocritical, but oh well.
Miranda
So, Ivayla was right in this case. "Gender" is the correct term, because names are, when you get down to it, are simply sounds we make to identify a person. Names can't have a sex, although I still firmly believe that male (meaning gender) names like James should be kept for males, not given to females, and visa versa. I guess that's a bit hypocritical, but oh well.
Miranda
1