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Discussion Groups / English Usage / January 2007NewSpeak: Omission of the Definite Article
In the days of the telegram and morse code it was of course commonplace to omit basically redundant articles of speech. British speakers will often omit (the) definite article in casual conversation. Now it seems the major networks I listen to: BBC, NPR, CBC, are presenting their stories without much concern for the definite article as if they are reading straight off the wire. Frequently the presenters sound uncomfortable that they are using truncated language. More recently I have noticed the BBC referring to "The United States" as "United States" but that is clearly deliberate and I have not queried them about it.  SignaturePosted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com webfilelib@yahoo.ca had it: > In the days of the telegram and morse code it was of course commonplace > to omit basically redundant articles of speech. > British speakers will often omit (the) definite article in casual > conversation. I don't believe this is true. It is the case that articles are omitted in newspaper/web site headlines, but not in normal speech. SignatureDavid ===== > webfilelib@yahoo.ca had it: > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > I don't believe this is true. It is the case that articles are > omitted in newspaper/web site headlines, but not in normal speech. Indeed. And what of the British speakers who don't speak English? SignatureJohn Dean Oxford john-dean@fraglineone.net had it: > > webfilelib@yahoo.ca had it: > > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Indeed. And what of the British speakers who don't speak English? When speaking the Russian, I usually omit the articles. SignatureDavid ===== The the Omrud entity posted thusly: >webfilelib@yahoo.ca had it: > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >I don't believe this is true. It is the case that articles are >omitted in newspaper/web site headlines, but not in normal speech. I've heard that dropping of both the indefinite and definite article quite often in British films and TV program(me)s, though I'd be hard pressed to remember any specific examples. I do remember noting the phenomenon at the time, though. I'll watch for it. >webfilelib@yahoo.ca had it: > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >I don't believe this is true. It is the case that articles are >omitted in newspaper/web site headlines, but not in normal speech. Cf "the tennis". SignatureSteve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa Web: http://hayesfam.bravehost.com/stevesig.htm E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk |
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