What Is It?

You are already know that a word like girl is feminine, and a word like boy is masculine. However, what about a word like music or book? In English, these words would not be considered masculine or feminine and you could refer to them as "it." In French, you must give the words a gender, specifically, la musique and le livre. How do you think people can figure out the gender of these words when speaking French? Do you prefer when a language has two or three gender markers? Why?

Post your responses to these questions in the discussion area. Then, return to the topic several times over the next few days to read your coursemates' posts. Reply to at least two of them, making sure to offer new insights, ask questions, and encourage further conversation.