| >A language instructor was explaining to her class that in > > > >French,nouns unlike their English counterparts, are grammatically > > > >designated > > > >as masculine or feminine. > > > > > > > > House," in French, is feminine-"la maison." > > > > Pencil," in French, is masculine-"le crayon." > > > > > > > >One puzzled student asked, "What gender is computer?" The teacher did > > > >not know, and the word wasn't in her French dictionary. So for fun she > > > >split the class into two groups appropriately enough, by gender, and > >asked > > > >them to decide whether "computer" should be a masculine or feminine > >noun. > > > >Both groups were required to give four reasons for their > >recommendation. > > > > > > > >The men's group decided that computers 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 retrieval; and > > > > 4. As soon as you make a commitment to one, you find yourself > > > > spending half your pay check on accessories for it. > > > > > > > >The women's group, however, concluded that computers should be > > > >masculine ("le computer"), because: > > > > 1. In order to get their attention, you have to turn them on; > > > > 2. They have a lot of data but they are still clueless; > > > > 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'd waited a > > > > little longer, you could have gotten a better model. > > > > > > > > The women won!!!! |
| "French Lesson" |