Animal Quote by Guy Deutscher
“And there are also languages that divide nouns into much more specific genders. The African language Supyire from Mali has five genders: humans, big things, small things, collectives, and liquids. Bantu languages such as Swahili have up to ten genders, and the Australian language Ngan’gityemerri is said to have fifteen different genders, which include, among others, masculine human, feminine human, canines, non-canine animals, vegetables, drinks, and two different genders for spears (depending on size and material).”
About This Quote
Source Book: Through the Language Glass, Guy Deutscher, 2010
Some languages categorize nouns into many gender classes beyond masculine/feminine.
In simple terms: Languages can have many noun genders.
Key Takeaway
Recognize linguistic diversity.
Themes
language
culture
diversity
Mood
curious
analytical
Type
educational
informative
When to use this quote
- language teaching
- translation
- anthropology research
- cross‑cultural communication
Key Concepts
Linguistic relativity
semantic categorization
Questions to Reflect On
- How do gender categories shape thought?
- Can learning many genders improve cognitive flexibility?
A Different Perspective
Too many categories can complicate learning for speakers of simpler systems.
