Gender differentiation and the asymmetrical use of animate nouns in contemporary Czech

Abstract

This article analyses the use of animate nouns in contemporary Czech, with detailed reference to the dictionary Slovník spisovné etiny pro kolu a veejnost. Special attention is paid to the existence of generic masculine forms, which may underscore traditional perceptions of the status of men and women in Czech society. The study is informed by sociolinguistic theory and provides an overview of some of the relevant tenets of feminist argument, but it is primarily concerned with the linguistic implications of lexical practice. The main conclusion is that Czech is formally well adapted to suffixation and that there may now be scope for more feminine derivatives to assert themselves. (Ingenta)