Classifying Reality: The Social Impact of Noun Classes and Grammatical Gender
Beyond the simple “he/she/it” of English, many languages categorize the world in ways that are deeply tied to culture and perception. From the gendered objects of French to the elaborate noun classes of Swahili, these grammatical systems are more than just rules; they are a blueprint for reality. This linguistic architecture shapes social hierarchies, encodes mythological worldviews, and influences how speakers relate to the objects and concepts in their lives.
