I know a lot of languages have some aspects that probably seem a bit strange to non-native speakers…in the case of gendered words is there a point other than “just the way its always been” that explains it a bit better?

I don’t have gendered words in my native language, and from the outside looking in I’m not sure what gendered words actually provide in terms of context? Is there more to it that I’m not quite following?

  • Couldbealeotard@lemmy.worldEnglish
    22·
    1 year ago

    Regarding the paper analogy,

    Paper is a material, not a discrete object. A sheet is an object, but is ambiguous until you quantify what is it a sheet of.

    You could have a sheet of paper, or metal, or pasta.

    A page would be a way to say a sheet of paper as an object.

    • ttmrichter@lemmy.world
      39·
      1 year ago

      I’m sorry that the Chinese classify things differently from you. I’ll get right on asking them to change it to suit your thoughts. (As it so happens, the classifier 张 is, in fact, “flat objects”. Fancy that! Perhaps reading what I actually wrote instead of what you wanted me to write so you could “well akshually” me might be an advantage.)

      I’m reporting what is, not recommending.

      • Couldbealeotard@lemmy.worldEnglish
        41·
        1 year ago

        All good man,

        I was just talking about your analogy using the English language, and how it seem like a false comparison. I wasn’t commenting on the Chinese. No need to be rude.