Gender can be assigned in languages based on semantics or through formal systems like morphology or phonology.
Semantic gender assignment generally takes priority over formal assignment in languages, but complications can arise in both systems.
Deep dives
Gender assignment based on semantics
In the podcast episode, the speaker discusses gender assignment in languages, focusing on two broad systems: semantic gender assignment and formal gender assignment. In the semantic system, gender is assigned based on the meaning of the noun. For example, in classic masculine-feminine gender, all nouns referring to men are assigned masculine gender, while nouns referring to women are assigned feminine gender. The speaker provides the example of Tamil, where rational nouns are classified as masculine or feminine based on their semantic meaning. However, the speaker notes that there can be complications in semantic assignment. Despite these complications, semantic assignment generally takes priority over other factors in these languages.
Formal gender assignment through morphology and phonology
The podcast episode also explores formal gender assignment through morphological and phonological systems. In morphological systems, different noun declension classes or derivational processes can assign a gender to a noun. The speaker mentions Russian as an example of a language with morphological gender assignment. Phonological systems, on the other hand, assign gender purely based on phonology. The speaker cites French and Kashitic language as examples. However, it is noted that semantic assignment generally takes priority over formal assignment in these languages.
Complications in gender assignment
The podcast episode highlights that the process of gender assignment can be complex and presents further complications. The speaker discusses the concept of semantic residue, where nouns that do not fit into specific gender categories are either placed in a catch-all category or assigned through secondary formal assignment rules. The episode also briefly mentions hybrid nouns that exhibit characteristics of two genders, as well as the animate-inanimate distinction in certain Native American languages. Despite covering only a fraction of the content in the recommended book 'Gender' by Greville Corbett, the speaker recommends it as a valuable resource for conlangers in developing gender systems, as it provides concepts, ideas, and examples from various languages.
Today George is on his own with a short and a book recommendation. You can find links to Gender by Greville Corbett here. LCS members can borrow it from the LCS Lending Library here.
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