the most difficult navel question.

[commander_cheef]

Why are ships called "her" or "she"?

 

I been looking around and alot of them dont have anything to stand on.

 

What do you think? Why are people (even girls) calling ships "her" or "she" and not "he" or "him"?

 

Have a fun time on the posting bellow and BATTLE STATIONS! 

[FCA_Wichita]

Think it started back in Roman times and everything had to have a male of female ending.  Ships got female ones, might also have to deal with the fact that female statues were put at the front of ships so the gods would be less likely to go after it.  But that is just off the top of my head guessing, it would actually take some research.

 

[F1zzzy90908]

The most that I could decipher is that before 2002, most people personified non-living things (like nations and ships) as "she" or "her".

[mr3awsome]

It actually varies from language to language.

German ships are "he", for example.

[Fog_Destroyer_Yukikaze]

The most that I could decipher is that before 2002, most people personified non-living things (like nations and ships) as "she" or "her".

 

I still do.. And also in all romanticized languages such as Latin, French, and Spanish.. All words have a gender, and for ships they use the feminine gender ^_^

[Fog_Destroyer_Yukikaze]

It actually varies from language to language.

German ships are "he", for example.

 

Yeah, German being one of the Germanic languages uses he, I'm pretty sure most Slavic languages use he too..

[sharkeatspony]

The reason is because the men that were working on the ship probly got lone some and refered the ship as "her" or "she" insted of "Him" or "He"

[flyingtaco]

I do not gender my navel in any way. In terms of Naval vessels the trend is to refer to a ship as she which I believe has Nordic origins and is mainly a western tradition. The farther east you go it tends to change to he. Not sure of far east as in China and japan..probably she there too since they got most of their naval traditions from the brits.

[Fog_Destroyer_Yukikaze]

 

 

+1 for Arpeggio reference

[BladedPheonix]

Depends on the country and the time line. Most ships are female, however a until recently I believe Germanic countries were the only ones to have male ships. Today we have both gender and even genderless ship names.

 

[Lert]

I once heard that it's because a ship serves as a safe haven for her crew, a mother of sorts, keeping the crew safe inside her, like a child in a womb. But that might just be over-dramatic bullcrap.

[Im_The_Seeker2]

It actually varies from language to language.

German ships are "he", for example.

 

germans recognize how manlymanly ships actually are

[RedBear87]

germans recognize how manlymanly ships actually are

It's awkward, actually...

[BladedPheonix]

 

germans recognize how manlymanly ships actually are

 

That and most of the ships were named after key political and military figures. Even a few the destroyers of Germany I believe were named after war heros.

[BladedPheonix]

It's awkward, actually...

 

you make it sound like its a bad thing? If we take a look at Germany's history they are no stranger to the way of war. up until WW2 many German people were encouraged to join one of the military branches not only for defending the fatherland but it was also a sense of duty and honor to both the soldier and his/her family. Germany also usually had the most modern equipment and effective weapons deployed whenever they were intended to enter a war, this included the navy which in a few cases changed the course of naval warfare.

[kajewolfspirit]

Found on the web- can't remember where but it could work lol:

 

There are many stories and myths concerning the origin of referring to vessels in the feminine, but sailors are extremely superstitious creatures, and changing long-standing traditions of the sea aren't easy unless the order comes from God himself. Even then it probably wouldn't happen soon.

There's evidence that points to ships being referred to in the masculine up until the 16th century, but most Navy traditions on the subject point to the relationship between sailors (until the past few decades, all male) and their ships as being akin to a marriage. Most sailors spend more time on board their ships than they do with their wives  and the daily relationship can be easily compared with a male/female relationship. While some compare the cost of ship maintenance to that of a wife or girlfriend (the latter being said to be the more expensive by some), over time it's the psychological connection that a sailor feels for his ship that is the biggest parallel to an actual relationship.

Consider that a sailor must fight with, forgive, understand, love, hate, anguish over, and generally give his soul to his ship. In return, the ship acts as home, protector, comforter, etc. The saying being "married to a ship" is no idle phrase; the divorce rate among sailors is a lot higher than the normal average, and it's because the sailor is spending more time with his ship than his wife.

There's also the long-held tradition about treating vessels with the same respect you would a lady. Treat a ship in any other fashion and you'll wish you weren't aboard.

Another analysis is that all sailors are at the mercy of Mother Nature - by referencing vessels in the feminine, we stay on good terms with her, and no sailor wants to anger Mother Nature. Remember I said we are extremely superstitious when it comes to the sea, and for good reason.

In the end, aside from the relationship aspect, I've always felt that males tend to look at father figures for guidance and leadership, but when it comes to love and comfort, we seek out our mothers and wives or girlfriends. Being at sea is an isolating experience, even with a lot of other sailors, and a ship fills a psychological void that fellow sailors cannot.

[Fog_Cruiser_Tone]

It actually varies from language to language.

German ships are "he", for example.

 

I was under the impression that that was just Tirpitz and Bismarck, and had to do with a Hitler/ego thing? I didn't think that German ships in WWI, for example, were "he."

[Im_The_Seeker2]

It's awkward, actually...

 

well crap, they're not sexually attracted to their ships, at least I'd hope not

[Fog_Cruiser_Tone]

Oh look, it's Im_the_Seeker. Weren't you the person suggesting about a week ago that all British people should die?

[Im_The_Seeker2]

Oh look, it's Im_the_Seeker. Weren't you the person suggesting about a week ago that all British people should die?

 

nah, only the culture, the country, and its history

[RedBear87]

you make it sound like its a bad thing? If we take a look at Germany's history they are no stranger to the way of war. up until WW2 many German people were encouraged to join one of the military branches not only for defending the fatherland but it was also a sense of duty and honor to both the soldier and his/her family. Germany also usually had the most modern equipment and effective weapons deployed whenever they were intended to enter a war, this included the navy which in a few cases changed the course of naval warfare.

It is a bad thing. I'm not sure how what you say is related. I say it's awkward by personal experience, warships are "he" in the Italian navy, but it sounds unnatural to me.

well crap, they're not sexually attracted to their ships, at least I'd hope not

You don't say "sexy ship" without meaning it.

[Im_The_Seeker2]

It is a bad thing. I'm not sure how what you say is related. I say it's awkward by personal experience, warships are "he" in the Italian navy, but it sounds unnatural to me.

You don't say "sexy ship" without meaning it.

 

well, if it's about whether or not it feels natural, standing on a ship sure as hell doesn't feel natural either.

[BladedPheonix]

It is a bad thing. I'm not sure how what you say is related. I say it's awkward by personal experience, warships are "he" in the Italian navy, but it sounds unnatural to me.

You don't say "sexy ship" without meaning it.

 

well technically, its just an object with a proper name. If ships really did have genders and reproduced I think we humans would be in a bit of trouble. Or perhaps maybe you feel weird of having  the thought of being inside a male ship is/would be different from being inside a female ship? which if is the case, you'll never be able to step on most of the American Destroyers because their all males! or was it the destroyer escorts that are males?......

 

 

Also, have you ever heard the phrase " a handsome ship"? the phrase was directed at I believe a few French cruisers during and after WW2.

 

 

 

 

[BnaditCorps]

Why are ships called "her" or "she"?

 

I been looking around and alot of them dont have anything to stand on.

 

What do you think? Why are people (even girls) calling ships "her" or "she" and not "he" or "him"?

 

Have a fun time on the posting bellow and BATTLE STATIONS! 

 

they are called She's because they require lots of work...like a woman and the convention stuck

[Guest]

 

they are called She's because they require lots of work...like a woman and the convention stuck

 

What about the ones...that are called He? ...don't they require much work to construct and outfit with the needed equipment?