Meaning: The quote "All the English speakers, or almost all, have difficulties with the gender of words" by Bernard Pivot, a French journalist, reflects a common challenge faced by English speakers when learning languages that assign gender to nouns. In many languages, including French, Spanish, Italian, and German, nouns are categorized as masculine, feminine, or neuter, and this gender assignment affects the form of articles, adjectives, and other parts of speech that accompany the noun. This linguistic feature is absent in English, where nouns generally do not have grammatical gender.

Pivot's observation about the difficulties faced by English speakers in grasping the concept of gendered words in other languages is rooted in the differences between English and these gendered languages. English learners often find it challenging to remember and apply the correct gender markers to nouns, as this aspect of grammar is not present in their native language. This difficulty can lead to errors in speaking, writing, and comprehension when communicating in a gendered language.

One of the reasons for this difficulty is that the concept of gendered nouns is unfamiliar to English speakers. In English, nouns are not assigned a specific gender, and the use of articles and adjectives does not change based on the gender of the noun. Therefore, when English speakers encounter languages with gendered nouns, it requires a shift in thinking and an understanding of a grammatical concept that is not inherent to their native language.

Moreover, the assignment of gender to nouns in other languages often seems arbitrary and illogical to English speakers. Unlike biological gender, the gender of nouns in many languages does not necessarily correspond to the physical characteristics or attributes of the object or concept the noun represents. This lack of a clear, intuitive pattern can make learning and internalizing gendered nouns a frustrating and challenging task for English speakers.

In addition, the memorization of gendered nouns can be a daunting task for English speakers. Learning a new language involves acquiring a large vocabulary, and adding the additional layer of gender assignment to each noun increases the complexity of language acquisition. English speakers must not only learn the gender of each noun but also remember the corresponding gender-specific articles, adjectives, and pronouns that accompany those nouns.

Furthermore, the consequences of misgendering nouns in a gendered language can lead to misunderstandings and miscommunications. Using the incorrect gender marker for a noun can alter the meaning of a sentence or render it grammatically incorrect. This can be a source of frustration and embarrassment for English speakers as they navigate the challenges of learning and using a language with gendered nouns.

In conclusion, Bernard Pivot's quote underscores the common struggles faced by English speakers when confronted with the gendered nature of nouns in other languages. The unfamiliarity, perceived arbitrariness, and memorization burden of gendered nouns all contribute to the difficulties experienced by English speakers. Understanding and overcoming these challenges require patience, practice, and a willingness to embrace the nuances of language beyond one's native tongue.