Peter and Karl
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.
Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.