Why are everyday objects, like boats, languages and countries, referred to in the feminine?
The precise reason is lost in history; however, there are theories as to why these references came to be.
Let us study these theories in relation to boats:
1. Traditionally, boats are given a female name; the name of an important woman in the owner's life.
2. Boats were once dedicated to goddesses.
3. In most Indo-European languages, the word for "ship" is feminine. (Old English)
Today, the femininity granted to ships is less than it once was as modern day English does not have much to do with grammatical gender.
It is my belief that languages are referred to as females due to their Old English/Indo-European backgrounds. What are other likely possibilities?
