Term
2010
Capstone
Restricted Access Thesis
Degree Name
MAESL
Abstract
This study examines how native Spanish- and native Somali-speaking adults label inanimate objects in terms of being either masculine or feminine. Spanish and Somali speakers were used for this study because both languages have grammatical gender systems. The study also showed if the respondents' labeling of inanimate objects aligned with the grammatical gender of the object in the respondents' native language. Native English speakers were used as a comparison group. Each respondent completed a background information form and then looked at a series of ten photographs of inanimate objects. Using a semantic differential scale, the respondents labeled each image as either masculine or feminine. The results show that despite the grammatical gender in a respondent's native language, both Spanish and Somali speakers tended to label the images as masculine. ELL teachers should teach both the meanings as well as the connotations native English speakers have towards many words.
Recommended Citation
Rau, Anna, "How native Spanish and native Somali speakers label inanimate nouns vis-à-vis gender" (2010). School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations. 430.
https://digitalcommons.hamline.edu/hse_all/430