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19-Sep-2008, 09:47
|  | Key Member | | Join Date: Apr 2008 Country: England
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Current Location: France First Language: English Member Type: English Teacher Thanks: 129
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| |  re: gender and country - "she" France, but "she" USA?
It's not that I don't approve exactly, it jars a bit when I hear it as it doesn't sound natural to me. I teach my French students not to use gender in English except for people, or animals if the sex is known. |
19-Sep-2008, 09:49
| | Key Member | | Join Date: Apr 2008 Country: England
Posts: 2,371
Current Location: France First Language: English Member Type: English Teacher Thanks: 129
Thanked 1,096 Times in 995 Posts
| | re: gender and country - "she" France, but "she" USA?
It's not that I don't approve exactly, it jars a bit when I hear it as it doesn't sound natural to me. I teach my French students not to use gender in English except for people, or animals if the sex is known. I didn't know that about she for he, I had only ever heard it from gay people. |
19-Sep-2008, 14:26
|  | Member | | Join Date: Sep 2007 Country: Turkey
Posts: 332
Current Location: Ankara First Language: Turkish Member Type: Student or Learner Thanks: 31
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| | re: gender and country - "she" France, but "she" USA?
As far as I know when people talk abut their own country they use "she", and similar usage can be seen for ships.Though I am not sure I think the reason of using she as a pronoun for countries can be showing feeling on the subject. As it is generally known the correct pronoun should be "it" ,which is neuter pronoun, and to me the word "it" doesn't carry any feeling.
"It" is generally used for objects or animals, for example we use "it" for piece of wood, but I think people don't want to use the same pronoun for their coutry which they use for "piece of food". That's why they humanise their country and they use the same pronoun which they use for humans. Similar usage can be seen on pets as well. |
19-Sep-2008, 20:10
|  | Senior Member | | Join Date: Apr 2006 Country: Poland
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Current Location: Swindon, England First Language: Polish Member Type: Other Thanks: 13
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| |  re: gender and country - "she" France, but "she" USA?
There was once an article in which I read that the more you love your country, the more likely you are to refer to it as she and her. 
Patriotism, you call it! |
19-Sep-2008, 20:24
| | Key Member | | Join Date: Apr 2008 Country: England
Posts: 2,371
Current Location: France First Language: English Member Type: English Teacher Thanks: 129
Thanked 1,096 Times in 995 Posts
| | re: gender and country - "she" France, but "she" USA?
Patriotism, you call it!
Ah well, that's never been one of my favourite things.  |
19-Sep-2008, 20:28
| | Senior Member | | Join Date: Apr 2006 Country: Poland
Posts: 1,354
Current Location: Swindon, England First Language: Polish Member Type: Other Thanks: 13
Thanked 261 Times in 250 Posts
| | re: gender and country - "she" France, but "she" USA?
Quote:
Originally Posted by bhaisahab  Patriotism, you call it!
Ah well, that's never been one of my favourite things. | Same here! 
I'm Polish by nationality, but British by residency.  |
20-Sep-2008, 08:30
| | Member | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Country: Poland
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Current Location: Toruń First Language: POLISH Member Type: Student or Learner Thanks: 22
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| | re: gender and country - "she" France, but "she" USA?
I see I sparked some discussion thanks guys this is the best forum on the planet:) | | Thread Tools | | | | Display Modes |  Linear Mode | 
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