Comment 37 for bug 272826

I don't generally post in these forums, but I feel the need to speak up.

It is my understanding that in the Romance languages, even a chair or table has gender. With no offense intended, I have to admit that as an English speaker this seems quite odd to me, although I would think it would enrich the language in a poetic sort of way. From my limited studies of French, it seems gender assignment is somewhat arbitrary, though, and I can't help but wonder whether we're taking all of this too seriously. What is the importance of gender, anyway? Singling people out at all doesn't seem constructive.

Kate