In a message dated 12/11/00 8:46:22 PM Pacific Standard Time,
birgit001@... writes:

<< Around Hannover, it is "de Deern" for a girl or young unmarried woman,
which
looks more feminine than neuter to me. >>

I now found the words to the dance and song "Sünnros" from Vierlanden
(southeast of Hamburg), and is has:
scheun is min Mäken
(schön ist mein Mädchen)
in the first verse, definitely neuter

In the refrain, it has:
min allerleefste Deern

Deern is definitely feminine

The song is talking about the same person, one time in neuter and one time in
femine form. So much for a "feeling" of the gender of the person. Being
German, I don't think much of the gender of a word. It is what it is.
Trying to teach German to Americans, the specific gender of a word was often
questioned, and I came to the conclusion as well that "gender makes no
sense". It is still interesting to compare the gender of words in Old Norse,
Dutch, German etc. and see if there is common history.

Best greetings,
Birgit