Naming ships with female names, which is a tradition as old as maritime history, is a tradition that continues even today. So much so that when talking about ships, the English pronoun she is used. Let’s take a closer look at the questions why ships are named after women, why does she use the pronoun she, and see the historical journey of this tradition.
Humanity has been sailing for hundreds or even thousands of years. Seafarers traveling in the vast seas and oceans full of dangers have certain customs and rituals known among themselves. Undoubtedly, the most common and ancient of these traditions is also female name on ships is to give. Continuing today tradition of naming ships after women so common that ships are used for women in English she they are referred to by the pronoun.
Why are ships named after women? why she There is no definite answer to questions such as the use of pronouns. Because the beginning of these traditions is at least as old as maritime history. However, we still have some historical stories and theories. These stories and theories can clear up some question marks on this subject. Why are ships named after women? Let’s take a closer look and see the historical journey of this tradition.
Origin of the word ship:
Before moving on to the question of why ships are named after women, why is the English word for ships used for women? she Let’s look at the question of using the pronoun. The answer to this question is It lies at the root of the word ship. Origin of the word ship, Latin Navis word, and that word is feminine.
Like many widely spoken languages today, Latin, which forms the basis of many of these languages, has gendered words. Due to this situation, which has no equivalent in our Turkish, not only living things, Objects also have genders such as male and female. So is the ship Navis The word is one of the female ones.
Latin was used for ships, especially as it originated many of the languages spoken in the Western world today. she This is why the pronoun is used. So there is a simple language tradition. There are several answers to the question of why ships are named after women, some romantic and some sexist.
The tenderness of women and mothers sought by sailors:
Sailors jump on a ship and fight for their lives by traveling the seas and oceans for months or even years. Throughout history, due to the harsh conditions of the sea almost all sailors were male. Although this situation has changed today, men still make up the majority of both naval soldiers and civilian sailors.
Everything is expected if you appreciate it when you put so many men on a ship and release them into the sea. Therefore, something that will trigger their childhood instincts and make them feel safe, Mother’s affection is needed. It is the ship that is supposed to protect them from dangers that gives this motherly affection. For this reason, ship names are chosen from the names of goddesses or saints.
Another reason why ships are named after women is It is the shipowner’s desire to honor his lover, spouse or the woman he is in love with. It is considered a great honor to name his ship, which is his most valuable asset after the woman he loves. Today, many ship, boat and yacht owners continue this tradition.
Ships were named after women because of belief:
Naming ships with female names has a romantic as well as a religious dimension. In many cultures, women represent fertility and love. is considered sacred. A nameless ship was seen as a sterile woman and was believed to bring bad luck.
After it was believed for many years that even mentioning ships and women together would bring bad luck, a woman’s name was given to a ship for the first time, presumably in the 14th century. After the 18th century, female figures began to be embroidered on ships. Most illiterate sailors knew their ships from these female figures.
The belief dimension of giving women names to ships, can be justified by loading a female spirit on board. The woman’s representation of fertility, fertility, love and protection would thus become an attribute loaded on the ship. It was believed that the ship, which had a female spirit, would protect the sailors from disasters.
There’s also an ugly side to naming ships with female names:
The romantic and religious aspect of naming ships with female names is acceptable in many ways. However, one thing it has an ugly and criticized sexist dimension. Unfortunately, this dimension is accepted by many even today and women are openly commodified.
In an article written by retired US Rear Admiral Francis D. Foley in 1998; ships are loved by men, can be painted, costly, It is told that she is seen as a woman because she has the potential to harm, has body features and many similar qualities, and therefore she is given a female name.
This article, which was written by Rear Admiral Francis D. Foley, because the private, closed world of seafarers is not well known. It is not known exactly how much of a general view it covers. However, it is certain that such a senior sailor did not write such a long and detailed article based solely on his own thoughts.
Ships aren’t the only items considered female:
Although attributing gender to objects is not very common in our language and culture, we encounter this situation in Western languages. Among the situations there are only female ships. Cars, airplanes, motorcycles and other valuables are also named after women, and she It is known to be referred to by the pronoun.
This situation can be evaluated from two perspectives. Men name the things they value after the women they value, or we can say that men treat the things they own as the women they own. well the romantic dimension of the event and the dimension of owning the woman by seeing it as a commodity. separated by a hair-like line.
In an article published in the New York Times in February 1917, it was also stated for the United States of America. she pronoun has been used. This is because, as a woman who needs to be protected in the war conditions of the country. or it could be that she is seen as a compassionate mother to her fellow citizens. So we always have two basic evaluation criteria.
Why are ships called by female names, why she We answered the questions that were curious as if the pronoun was used and talked about the historical journey of this tradition. Traditions exist to make people happy. If half of the society is not satisfied with this tradition, it will not make much sense to continue it.