Q Talk

[Georgiagrama]

When an inanimate object, a pocketbook for example,  become a "she"  ?    I just do not understand why a host must make these cutesy references.  

[proudlyfromNJ]

My father always called his car a she. Although that was long ago.

[SeaMaiden]

@Georgiagrama  I think it is the same reason handbags and shoe styles have female"names"....it makes the item more approachable.....  thus sellable..... charming is a good word....and yes cutesy too.  Yes it is dumb...but as far as the Human psyche goes, it works for sales.

[Kachina624]

Ships have been referred to as "she" for years, maybe centuries.  Never heard anyone object to that.  I believe in French all nouns are masculine or féminine.  Since virtually all handbags are owned and carried by women, I'd say it's appropriate or at least logical. 

[Tissyanne]

My Daddy always called my Mom's car Matilda. He was anything but dumb. I would sure like to hear him again. 

[TheMemphisVette]

i named all my vehicles.   i have other 'things' i have named.   based on the name i gave them i may use him or her.

[Georgiagrama]

@proudlyfromNJ

I'm old.  I've often heard cars referred to as a he or she.  I've just never really heard a purse or a shoe called a she.  It's a bit disconcerting for me I guess.  The first time I heard that, it was a host on the Q and I kept looking to see when "she" was going to come in on the presentation.   They said it was the first time "she" was being introduced.      

[Georgiagrama]

@Tissyanne

  Every single car I've ever owned was named "Old Betsy", even if it was brand new !   

[Azcowgirl]

In the world of " faux hair" wigs are often referred to as she also. 

[millieshops]

I don't think it's cutesy.  Inanimate things are often given gener-based names.  Boats and cars come first to mind, but so do other things.  Years ago when we were trailering back and forth across the country, Shasta  - as in "SHE HAS TA" was one of the most popular brands.

Naming things with feminine names is a coin with two sides though.  One one side, it's things of beauty (real or imagined) that become she's;  on the other, it sort of makes me feel that a SHE is a possession.  I don't much like that side of the coin.

This naming isn't new - in some languages, nouns carry gender markers in the definite and indefinite articles they are paired with, and I never figured out why some nouns of obvious gender were paired with articles of a different one.  Made getting everything right in the language hard for a newcomer.