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#113750 10/16/03 10:25 AM
Joined: Jan 2001
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A
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
A
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When speaking of France or Italy I would use the pronoun "it."

cathleen has been used in ireland as a 'code word' for ireland. (when english laws made it a crime to express patriotism, love songs sung to 'cathleen' were patriot songs...)

That's very interesting. Thank!


#113751 10/16/03 11:07 AM
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Carpal Tunnel
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>When speaking of France or Italy I would use the pronoun "it."

I use "it" of most countries, including NZ. I use "she" of the UK, because of Britannia, and occasionally use "she" of China, but normally, I don't assign a specific sex, or gender for that matter, to countries.


#113752 10/16/03 11:11 AM
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Re:Do you ever say "they" for the U.S.A.?

These or the "Life in these United States" or "Life in the US" (said U-S).


#113753 10/18/03 05:42 AM
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Pooh-Bah
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I think Max has got it about right. If you are referring to a symbol of a country - Britannia, for instance, for Britain, and perhaps Liberty for France, you would use the feminine gender and appropriate apronouns. But otherwise ... nada. They're it, so to speak.


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