Newsgroup: it.cultura.linguistica.inglese
Titolo: She-spider (?)

    Dear All and Everyone,
                                    this morning I was reading a fascinating
book by Washington Irving, "Tales of the Alhambra" (which I warmly recommend
to everyone), when I came across a puzzling question. Irving writes:
    "the spider spun HER web athwart the gilded vault" (my emphasis)
    I knew that boats and nations can be considered to be feminine, but what
about "spiders"? Is it common to use feminine pronouns when referring to
these little creatures? Is it an archaic or poetic usage? Are there any
other common words that require or admit this peculiarity?
    Thank you in advance,
                                    Nicola
--
Multa non quia difficilia sunt non audemus, sed quia non audemus sunt
difficilia (Seneca)

 other common words that require or admit this peculiarity?
Comune magari no, ma se semplicemente si vuole sottolineare di quale
sesso biologico sia un animale qualsiasi, non vedo perché non lo si
possa fare. E' relativamente comune farlo con animali amici dell'uomo.
-- 
____________________________________
Giancarlo Pillan  -  Ivrea  -  Italy
____________________________________

                                     Nicola
I would think it's because it is the female spider that has a spinneret
and therefore spins a web. The male is used for eating after procreation
(in some species). What they do the rest of the time I don't know.
cheers,
Loki

 and therefore spins a web.
    Oh, cool! I didn't know that. I must admit entomology has never been my
forte...
    However, what I was wondering is: is Washington Irving's use of "spider"
as a feminine noun common or is it just an artistic creation? I mean, if I
had to refer to a spider and if the gender is not relevant (which is almost
certainly the case, unless I'm writing in a very specialised magazine), I
would say "the spider spun ITS web". What would an English native speaker
instinctively do?
    Second question: besides boats and nations, are there any other common
words which are generally (or optionally) used in the feminine?
    Thanks,


 What they do the rest of the time I don't know.
Another post? I beware of your breakfast now! ;))))

 words which are generally (or optionally) used in the feminine?
Gli animali domestici: cani, gatti... ed 
Femminili, in senso affettivo auto e moto.
Maschio o femmina gli animali domestici o qualunque animale di cui si
vuole esprimere il sesso.
Un esempio d'uso da Encarta.......................................
The male's copulatory organs, however, are complicated structures
located on his pedipalps. He spins a little web and deposits sperm in
it, then moves the sperm to the palpal organ. After sperm are
transferred to the female, they can be stored in her body for an
extended period.


 (omissis)
Preferivo il brano che ho postato io piu' sopra :))))))))

 Another post? I beware of your breakfast now! ;))))
...please have mercy on my delicate stomach ....
Cheers,
Loki

 Do spiders have ears?
Ears or not on the contrary of the other half any MALE population always
listens to advices :-))))

 listens to advices :-))))
I must admit the above "any" is very hard to be understood to me too. :(

 I must admit the above "any" is very hard to be understood to me too. :(
Credo che tu intenda dire:
Ears or not, unlike the other half, anyone in the male population always listens
to advice.
E` un po contorta ma vicino alle tue parole e si puo` meglio capirla.
Ciao,
Ron
USA

 listens to advices :-))))
Hah! :-P 
Contrary to the other half's assertions I believe the male has cloth
ears. ;-)
cheers,
Loki

I must admit the above "any" is very hard to be understood to me too. :(
Non so che cosa volessi dire ma, in italiano, a me pare che gli si possa
dare un senso: "... ogni popolazione maschile da` sempre retta ai
consigli".
Nel senso di popolazioni di ragni maschi, di gatti maschi, di cani
maschi...
O il mio autodidattico inglese, con la complicita` dell'ora ormai tarda e
della mente da sempre non svelta, ha colpito ancora?
Ciao.

 difficilia (Seneca)
You were wrong everybody, the spider is a gay-spider!

Io invece credevo che per gli animali domestici si usava he-him, she-her, e
per tutti gli altri it.
--
ChEaT    };-)>
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2) 
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--------------------------------


 per tutti gli altri it.
No. Quando si "personifica un animale, ma anche una cosa inanimata,
gli si attribuisce un sesso. Quale sia, poi, il criterio per determinarlo,
questo non l'ho capito.
Mi viene in mente, ad esempio, una canzone di John Denver, "Windsong",
dove l'autore personifica il vento e gli attribuisce il genere femminile:
The wind is the whisper of our Mother the Earth...
The wind is the hand of our Father the sky...
The wind watches over our struggles and pleasures...
The wind is the goddess who first learned to fly...
                          ^^^^^^^^^^
...
...
...
So welcome the wind and the wisdom she offers.
Follow her summons when she calls again...
--
Er Roscio.