“And there are also languages that divide nouns into much more specific genders. The African language Supyire from Mali has five genders: humans, big things, small things, collectives, and liquids. Bantu languages such as Swahili have up to ten genders, and the Australian language Ngan’gityemerri is said to have fifteen different genders, which include, among others, masculine human, feminine human, canines, non-canine animals, vegetables, drinks, and two different genders for spears (depending on size and material).” HumansSaidTwoDifferentBigsLanguageAnimalFiveMaterialsDrinkTenSizeGenderCollectivesFeminineDividesVegetablesFifteenBig ThingsMasculineSmall ThingsAustralianLiquidSpearsCanineNounsMali Author:Guy Deutscher
“In the Carboniferous Epoch we were promised abundance for all, By robbing selected Peter to pay for collective Paul; But, though we had plenty of money, there was nothing our money could buy, And the Gods of the Copybook Headings said: 'If you don't work you die.'” IfsSaidDiesPayPlentyAbundanceCollectivesPeterHeadingsSelectedEpochRobbing Book:Selected Verse Source: Selected Verse