Pronoun gender in Ikanirae Seru

In Ikanirae Seru, the third person pronoun
distinguishes between 4 "genders" (Is it still called
gender if masculine and feminine are not categories,
or is there another term?).

The 4 categories are approximately personal, animate,
living, and nonliving, but it's actually more complex
than that.

'Personal' |eki| is used mainly for humans, as well as
any other personal being (God, angels, intelligent
aliens, fairies etc.)  However, it is also used of
languages, books and other works of literature.

'Animate' |aku| is actually restricted to higher
animals, essentially vertebrates.  You would use it of
a dog, a bird, a fish, a lizard, but not of a spider,
mosquito or jellyfish.  It is also used for body
parts, the sun, the moon, wind and water (at least
out-in-nature water, like rivers, rain, the sea.  I'm
not sure about tap water or the water in your glass.)

'Living' |sera| is used for lower animals and plants.
It is also used for food, whether plant or animal
derived, as well as for obviously plant/animal derived
things such as wood and probably wool or leather.

'nonliving' |roha| is used for other nonliving and
abstract things.

Rachel

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