French computer - sex?
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Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Seattle, WA
French computer - sex?
Subject: The Computer
A French teacher was explaining to her class that in French,
unlike English, nouns are designated as either masculine or
feminine.
"House" is feminine -- "la maison," "Pencil" is masculine -- "le
crayon."
A student asked, "What gender is a 'computer'?" Instead of giving
the answer, the teacher split the class into two groups -- male and
female -- and asked them to decide for themselves whether
"computer" should be a masculine or a feminine noun. Each group
was asked to give four reasons for their recommendation.
The men's group decided that "computer" should definitely be of
the feminine gender ("la computer"), because:
1. No one but their creator understands their internal
logic.
2. The native language they use to communicate with other
computers is incomprehensible to everyone else.
3. Even the smallest mistakes are stored in long-term
memory for possible later review; and
4. As soon as you make a commitment to one, you find
yourself spending half your salary on accessories for it.
The women's group, however, concluded that computers should be
masculine ("le computer") because:
1. In order to do anything with them, you have to turn them
on.
2. They have a lot of data but still can't think for
themselves.
3. They are supposed to help you solve problems, but half
the time they ARE the problem; and
4. As soon as you commit to one, you realize that if you had
waited a little longer, you could have got a better model.
The women won.
A French teacher was explaining to her class that in French,
unlike English, nouns are designated as either masculine or
feminine.
"House" is feminine -- "la maison," "Pencil" is masculine -- "le
crayon."
A student asked, "What gender is a 'computer'?" Instead of giving
the answer, the teacher split the class into two groups -- male and
female -- and asked them to decide for themselves whether
"computer" should be a masculine or a feminine noun. Each group
was asked to give four reasons for their recommendation.
The men's group decided that "computer" should definitely be of
the feminine gender ("la computer"), because:
1. No one but their creator understands their internal
logic.
2. The native language they use to communicate with other
computers is incomprehensible to everyone else.
3. Even the smallest mistakes are stored in long-term
memory for possible later review; and
4. As soon as you make a commitment to one, you find
yourself spending half your salary on accessories for it.
The women's group, however, concluded that computers should be
masculine ("le computer") because:
1. In order to do anything with them, you have to turn them
on.
2. They have a lot of data but still can't think for
themselves.
3. They are supposed to help you solve problems, but half
the time they ARE the problem; and
4. As soon as you commit to one, you realize that if you had
waited a little longer, you could have got a better model.
The women won.
ing up and needs frequent rebooting.
