Peter and KarlYes, there are some patterns, but that does not imply that everything fits such a pattern.
That is my point: "Arbitrary" - I don't really like that. Arbitrary in this instance can also be a replacement for "we have not found the reason"? For example, when the numbers 3 t/m 10 take the masc and fem endings back to front when modifying their counterparts? Is this arbitrary? Or do we assume that there is a jolly good reason lost to us for the present?
Secondly there are patterns for nouns apparently without "natural
gender", such as: Earth and nations, parts of the body, a lot of abstracts; I could go on with examples but I am sure that you know them.
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