semantic category vs. gender

[MorphemeAddict@wmconnect.com]

In a message dated 11/23/2006 4:23:18 AM Central Standard Time, ecartis@digitalkingdom.org writes:


> Gender in language IS a form of semantic classifier, having only 1 or 2 
> or 3 categories in Indo-European languages (and thus being rather 
> useless most of the time, but apparently useful enough that most IE 
> languages have those categories), but having larger numbers of 
> genders/categories in other languages.
>
> lojbab


I doubt that gender in European languages is really a semantic category, beyond the obvious few words relating directly to sexual entities.

stevo