According to English grammar, “it” is used to refer to things, while “he” and “she” are personal pronouns and should only be used to refer to people. The use of “she” in language when referring to ships and boats, however, has roots in very ancient times. “Ships are referred to as ‘she’ because men love them” or “like a woman, a ship is unpredictable”, tradition used to say. But really, what is the reason for this idiom in language?
Why Is There A Gender For Ships?
The tradition of naming ships is one that the Royal Navy has always taken great pride in. The name, motto, and badge of a ship serve as a great source of historical pride for the ship’s forebears as well as a source of pride for the crew. Since the days of the age of sail, British naval ships have frequently carried names like Ark Royal, Queen Elizabeth, or Invincible.
Astute, Daring, or Defiant are common military terms used to name ships in the Royal Navy today, as opposed to royal terms like Prince of Wales or Royal Sovereign. Medium-sized vessels like cruise ships have also customarily been given names of British cities like Glasgow, Cardiff, or Belfast. In comparison to other major navies like the US, French, or Russian, which frequently name their major warships after named historical figures, British tradition is somewhat different.
Another custom is to refer to ships as “she” and to think of them as female. Although it may seem strange to refer to an inanimate object as “she,” this tradition is based on the notion that a female authority figure, such as a mother or goddess, will lead and guard the ship and its crew. Another theory is that objects are described using either feminine or masculine nouns in many languages. The use of gender-neutral nouns in English makes this less common, but referring to ships as “she” may be a remnant of much older customs.
Why Are Ships Known As She?
At the time that shipping began, only men were permitted to board the ships. Women being on a ship was viewed as unlucky. Therefore, it appeared that there is a sexist attitude toward almost everything related to what a ship is called, and this is true of military terms as well. For instance, it was thought that only a man with experience could sail a ship properly and that having women on board would bring bad fortune.
It is widely acknowledged that the reason ships are referred to as “she” or “her” is because the Latin word for ship, “Navis,” is feminine. The fact that ships are frequently named after women and dedicated to goddesses who play a protective role for the ship is another justification for the use of feminine pronouns.
Other explanations for why ships are referred to as “she” or “her” abound. A lot of these are meant to be humorous, but they often don’t offer much context for where the custom originated.
1. Men Love Them
This is one obvious explanation. Men use boats more frequently than women, so they often refer to their prized boat as a woman they love. Did you know that men also engage in this behavior when driving cars? Sometimes they refer to the vehicle or vessel as their “girlfriend” or “baby.”
2. Their Male Owners Name Them After The Important Women In Their Lives
Their male owners name them after significant female figures in their lives. Men honor special women by naming their boy toys after them as a sign of affection. Usually, they name it in honor of a beloved deceased grandmother, mother, wife, daughter, lover, or sister.
3. Boats Are Likened To Mothers
Because of their maternal instincts, females provide a sense of nurturing and protection. The caretaking of a ship is likened to that of a mother caring for her unborn child. A ship has all of her passengers inside when she is full. She takes care of them until they are delivered safely to their destination, thus making them attribute a “she” to the vessel.
4. It Comes From The Origins Of Language
Studies have shown that the English language, like French and German, has a more complex system of grammatical gender. In most Indo-European languages, there are “male,” “female” and “neutral” words. Old English texts also had more evidence of grammatical gender, like referring to a shield as “she.” In Latin, “ship” means “navis,” which is a feminine word.
Some Historic And Cultural Reasons Why Sailors May Have Called Ships She In Naval History
Tradition dictates that the name of the ship is a great source of pride for the admiralty, the crew, and even the nation. It is not surprising that ships are referred to as “women” because historically, men have held a majority of positions in the navy.
British Royal Navy
It’s not always the case, though. For instance, medium ships in the British Navy have traditionally carried city names like Glasgow, Cardiff, and Belfast. Even though a ship called Glasgow might not be immediately identified as female it is worth noting that in the English language especially, the ship is still called “she”.
Officially though, this has begun to change as Lloyd’s register is now listing ships as “it”.
Personal Relationships With Inanimate Objects
When referring to living things like animals or people, the pronouns “he” and “she” are frequently used. He or she may be used when you have a close personal connection to the subject. In this instance, we can say that sailors have a personal connection to the ships in the largely male-dominated field. It is safe to say that sailors can refer to ships as “she” due to their close relationship.
Goddesses And Religion
The concept of goddess presence and religion have some historical ties. The ship acts as a mother, watching out for the safety of the entire crew. Currently, there are many ships with female names. For instance, the ship that Christopher Columbus used was known as “La Santa Maria,” a name referring to the Virgin Mary.
The Latin Word For Ship Is Navis
A linguistic analysis indicates that Navis, a feminine Latin word for ship, is where the word ship originated. Despite the fact that the gendered language of this kind is not used in contemporary English, it is obvious that the Latin word for ship, navis, had an impact on the way we speak of ships.
