A French teacher was explaining to her class that in French, unlike English,
nouns are designated as either masculine or feminine. “House” is feminine
“la maison”,
“Pencil” is masculine “le crayon.”
A student asked, “What gender is ‘computer’?”
Instead of giving the answer, the teacher split the class into two groups:
male and female
and asked them to decide for themselves whether “computer” should be a
masculine or a feminine noun.
Each group was asked to give four reasons for their recommendation.
The men’s group decided that “computer” should definitely be of the feminine
gender (“la computer”), because:
- No one but their creator understands their internal logic.
- The native language they use to communicate with other computers is
incomprehensible
to everyone else.
- Even the smallest mistakes are stored in long term memory for possible
later retrieval
And
- As soon as you make a commitment to one, you find yourself spending half
your pay check on accessories for it.
The women’s group, however, concluded that computers should be masculine
(“le computer”), because:
1 In order to do anything with them, you have to turn them on.
2.They have a lot of data but still can’t think for themselves.
3.They are supposed to help you solve problems, but half the time they are
the problem.
4.As soon as you commit to one, you realize that if you had waited a little
longer, you could have gotten a better model.
-pro
Bad teacher … in fact “c’est l’ordinateur” . But the question remains, is it “un ordinateur” or “une ordinateur” , but after all,
the women found the correct answer as usual. :-))
----- Original Message -----
From: “Prokash Sinha”
To: “Windows System Software Devs Interest List”
Sent: Saturday, May 01, 2004 4:33 PM
Subject: [ntdev] Le Computer ou La Computer?
> A French teacher was explaining to her class that in French, unlike English,
> nouns are designated as either masculine or feminine. “House” is feminine
> “la maison”,
> “Pencil” is masculine “le crayon.”
>
> A student asked, “What gender is ‘computer’?”
>
> Instead of giving the answer, the teacher split the class into two groups:
> male and female
> and asked them to decide for themselves whether “computer” should be a
> masculine or a feminine noun.
>
> Each group was asked to give four reasons for their recommendation.
>
> The men’s group decided that “computer” should definitely be of the feminine
> gender (“la computer”), because:
> 1. No one but their creator understands their internal logic.
> 2. The native language they use to communicate with other computers is
> incomprehensible
> to everyone else.
> 3. Even the smallest mistakes are stored in long term memory for possible
> later retrieval
> And
> 4. As soon as you make a commitment to one, you find yourself spending half
> your pay check on accessories for it.
>
> The women’s group, however, concluded that computers should be masculine
> (“le computer”), because:
> 1 In order to do anything with them, you have to turn them on.
> 2.They have a lot of data but still can’t think for themselves.
> 3.They are supposed to help you solve problems, but half the time they are
> the problem.
> 4.As soon as you commit to one, you realize that if you had waited a little
> longer, you could have gotten a better model.
>
> -pro
>
>
>
> —
> Questions? First check the Kernel Driver FAQ at http://www.osronline.com/article.cfm?id=256
>
> You are currently subscribed to ntdev as: xxxxx@compaqnet.be
> To unsubscribe send a blank email to xxxxx@lists.osr.com
>
-pro
-----Original Message-----
From: xxxxx@lists.osr.com
[mailto:xxxxx@lists.osr.com]On Behalf Of Christiaan
Ghijselinck
Sent: Saturday, May 01, 2004 9:09 AM
To: Windows System Software Devs Interest List
Subject: Re: [ntdev] Le Computer ou La Computer?
Bad teacher … in fact “c’est l’ordinateur” . But the question remains, is
it “un ordinateur” or “une ordinateur” , but after all,
the women found the correct answer as usual. :-))
----- Original Message -----
From: “Prokash Sinha”
To: “Windows System Software Devs Interest List”
Sent: Saturday, May 01, 2004 4:33 PM
Subject: [ntdev] Le Computer ou La Computer?
> A French teacher was explaining to her class that in French, unlike
English,
> nouns are designated as either masculine or feminine. “House” is feminine
> “la maison”,
> “Pencil” is masculine “le crayon.”
>
> A student asked, “What gender is ‘computer’?”
>
> Instead of giving the answer, the teacher split the class into two groups:
> male and female
> and asked them to decide for themselves whether “computer” should be a
> masculine or a feminine noun.
>
> Each group was asked to give four reasons for their recommendation.
>
> The men’s group decided that “computer” should definitely be of the
feminine
> gender (“la computer”), because:
> 1. No one but their creator understands their internal logic.
> 2. The native language they use to communicate with other computers is
> incomprehensible
> to everyone else.
> 3. Even the smallest mistakes are stored in long term memory for possible
> later retrieval
> And
> 4. As soon as you make a commitment to one, you find yourself spending
half
> your pay check on accessories for it.
>
> The women’s group, however, concluded that computers should be masculine
> (“le computer”), because:
> 1 In order to do anything with them, you have to turn them on.
> 2.They have a lot of data but still can’t think for themselves.
> 3.They are supposed to help you solve problems, but half the time they are
> the problem.
> 4.As soon as you commit to one, you realize that if you had waited a
little
> longer, you could have gotten a better model.
>
> -pro
>
>
>
> —
> Questions? First check the Kernel Driver FAQ at
http://www.osronline.com/article.cfm?id=256
>
> You are currently subscribed to ntdev as:
xxxxx@compaqnet.be
> To unsubscribe send a blank email to xxxxx@lists.osr.com
>
—
Questions? First check the Kernel Driver FAQ at
http://www.osronline.com/article.cfm?id=256
You are currently subscribed to ntdev as: xxxxx@garlic.com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to xxxxx@lists.osr.com
It would be “une ordinateuse”, right ? But my French’s a bit rusty.
Alberto.
-----Original Message-----
From: xxxxx@lists.osr.com
[mailto:xxxxx@lists.osr.com]On Behalf Of Christiaan
Ghijselinck
Sent: Saturday, May 01, 2004 12:09 PM
To: Windows System Software Devs Interest List
Subject: Re: [ntdev] Le Computer ou La Computer?
Bad teacher … in fact “c’est l’ordinateur” . But the question remains, is
it “un ordinateur” or “une ordinateur” , but after all,
the women found the correct answer as usual. :-))
----- Original Message -----
From: “Prokash Sinha”
To: “Windows System Software Devs Interest List”
Sent: Saturday, May 01, 2004 4:33 PM
Subject: [ntdev] Le Computer ou La Computer?
> A French teacher was explaining to her class that in French, unlike
English,
> nouns are designated as either masculine or feminine. “House” is feminine
> “la maison”,
> “Pencil” is masculine “le crayon.”
>
> A student asked, “What gender is ‘computer’?”
>
> Instead of giving the answer, the teacher split the class into two groups:
> male and female
> and asked them to decide for themselves whether “computer” should be a
> masculine or a feminine noun.
>
> Each group was asked to give four reasons for their recommendation.
>
> The men’s group decided that “computer” should definitely be of the
feminine
> gender (“la computer”), because:
> 1. No one but their creator understands their internal logic.
> 2. The native language they use to communicate with other computers is
> incomprehensible
> to everyone else.
> 3. Even the smallest mistakes are stored in long term memory for possible
> later retrieval
> And
> 4. As soon as you make a commitment to one, you find yourself spending
half
> your pay check on accessories for it.
>
> The women’s group, however, concluded that computers should be masculine
> (“le computer”), because:
> 1 In order to do anything with them, you have to turn them on.
> 2.They have a lot of data but still can’t think for themselves.
> 3.They are supposed to help you solve problems, but half the time they are
> the problem.
> 4.As soon as you commit to one, you realize that if you had waited a
little
> longer, you could have gotten a better model.
>
> -pro
>
>
>
> —
> Questions? First check the Kernel Driver FAQ at
http://www.osronline.com/article.cfm?id=256
>
> You are currently subscribed to ntdev as:
xxxxx@compaqnet.be
> To unsubscribe send a blank email to xxxxx@lists.osr.com
>
—
Questions? First check the Kernel Driver FAQ at
http://www.osronline.com/article.cfm?id=256
You are currently subscribed to ntdev as: xxxxx@compuware.com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to xxxxx@lists.osr.com
The contents of this e-mail are intended for the named addressee only. It
contains information that may be confidential. Unless you are the named
addressee or an authorized designee, you may not copy or use it, or disclose
it to anyone else. If you received it in error please notify us immediately
and then destroy it.
The good answer is “Un ordinateur” 
Have a nice day!
Christian
----- Original Message -----
From: “Moreira, Alberto”
To: “Windows System Software Devs Interest List”
Sent: Monday, May 03, 2004 10:46 AM
Subject: RE: [ntdev] Le Computer ou La Computer?
> It would be “une ordinateuse”, right ? But my French’s a bit rusty.
>
> Alberto.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: xxxxx@lists.osr.com
> [mailto:xxxxx@lists.osr.com]On Behalf Of Christiaan
> Ghijselinck
> Sent: Saturday, May 01, 2004 12:09 PM
> To: Windows System Software Devs Interest List
> Subject: Re: [ntdev] Le Computer ou La Computer?
>
>
>
> Bad teacher … in fact “c’est l’ordinateur” . But the question remains,
is
> it “un ordinateur” or “une ordinateur” , but after all,
> the women found the correct answer as usual. :-))
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: “Prokash Sinha”
> To: “Windows System Software Devs Interest List”
> Sent: Saturday, May 01, 2004 4:33 PM
> Subject: [ntdev] Le Computer ou La Computer?
>
>
> > A French teacher was explaining to her class that in French, unlike
> English,
> > nouns are designated as either masculine or feminine. “House” is
feminine
> > “la maison”,
> > “Pencil” is masculine “le crayon.”
> >
> > A student asked, “What gender is ‘computer’?”
> >
> > Instead of giving the answer, the teacher split the class into two
groups:
> > male and female
> > and asked them to decide for themselves whether “computer” should be a
> > masculine or a feminine noun.
> >
> > Each group was asked to give four reasons for their recommendation.
> >
> > The men’s group decided that “computer” should definitely be of the
> feminine
> > gender (“la computer”), because:
> > 1. No one but their creator understands their internal logic.
> > 2. The native language they use to communicate with other computers is
> > incomprehensible
> > to everyone else.
> > 3. Even the smallest mistakes are stored in long term memory for
possible
> > later retrieval
> > And
> > 4. As soon as you make a commitment to one, you find yourself spending
> half
> > your pay check on accessories for it.
> >
> > The women’s group, however, concluded that computers should be masculine
> > (“le computer”), because:
> > 1 In order to do anything with them, you have to turn them on.
> > 2.They have a lot of data but still can’t think for themselves.
> > 3.They are supposed to help you solve problems, but half the time they
are
> > the problem.
> > 4.As soon as you commit to one, you realize that if you had waited a
> little
> > longer, you could have gotten a better model.
> >
> > -pro
> >
> >
> >
> > —
> > Questions? First check the Kernel Driver FAQ at
> http://www.osronline.com/article.cfm?id=256
> >
> > You are currently subscribed to ntdev as:
> xxxxx@compaqnet.be
> > To unsubscribe send a blank email to xxxxx@lists.osr.com
> >
>
>
> —
> Questions? First check the Kernel Driver FAQ at
> http://www.osronline.com/article.cfm?id=256
>
> You are currently subscribed to ntdev as: xxxxx@compuware.com
> To unsubscribe send a blank email to xxxxx@lists.osr.com
>
>
>
> The contents of this e-mail are intended for the named addressee only. It
> contains information that may be confidential. Unless you are the named
> addressee or an authorized designee, you may not copy or use it, or
disclose
> it to anyone else. If you received it in error please notify us
immediately
> and then destroy it.
>
>
> —
> Questions? First check the Kernel Driver FAQ at
http://www.osronline.com/article.cfm?id=256
>
> You are currently subscribed to ntdev as: xxxxx@mcdi.com
> To unsubscribe send a blank email to xxxxx@lists.osr.com
>