Question for the english language Guru's

Quicksilver · #1 10-25-2009, 11:08 PM

Asking a native Californian to give directions and listening for the presence or absence of the "the" is a pretty surefire way to tell if someone's from southern or northern California.

For example, in California's car-centered culture, nomenclature describing the state's extensive network of freeway s takes on a special prominence. One commonly noted difference (and perennial shibboleth ) between Northern California and Southern California English is the way in which an article may be appended to the label of a major freeway. While most native or longtime Los Angeles residents (and Southern Californians generally) are likely to refer to US Highway 101 or Interstate 5 , for example, as the 101 and the 5, residents of the San Francisco Bay Area are more likely to refer to those same roads as just 101 and 5 or I-5.

According to the strict definition of the english language is it proper to
use the article in this instance?....

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Tleong · #2 10-25-2009, 11:15 PM

I believe that using "the" prior to the noun is proper. I am not sure the exact English reasoning, but which sentence sounds correct, "Lets go back to house" or "Lets go back to the house". Just my two cents.

realchef · #3 10-25-2009, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quicksilver

Asking a native Californian to give directions and listening for the presence or absence of the "the" is a pretty surefire way to tell if someone's from southern or northern California.

For example, in California's car-centered culture, nomenclature describing the state's extensive network of freeway s takes on a special prominence. One commonly noted difference (and perennial shibboleth ) between Northern California and Southern California English is the way in which an article may be appended to the label of a major freeway. While most native or longtime Los Angeles residents (and Southern Californians generally) are likely to refer to US Highway 101 or Interstate 5 , for example, as the 101 and the 5, residents of the San Francisco Bay Area are more likely to refer to those same roads as just 101 and 5 or I-5.

According to the strict definition of the english language is it proper to
use the article in this instance?....

Yup.

X Foomph · #4 10-26-2009, 12:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tleong

I believe that using "the" prior to the noun is proper. I am not sure the exact English reasoning, but which sentence sounds correct, "Lets go back to house" or "Lets go back to the house". Just my two cents.

+1
Definately needs the word 'the' in front of the noun, no matter what noun that may be.

This reference to the correct pronunciation of the Highway 101 or the Interstate 5 is akin to nothing more than local slang and the bastardisation of proper english. Another (American) example often heard is "get around back" as opposed to "get around the back".

I think this subject may miss it's mark with a lot of the members here, who couldn't give two hoots with regards to correct spelling, pronunciation, grammar etc. None the less, an interesting observation.

x5GuyInLA · #5 10-26-2009, 01:14 AM

I have had this discussion with a couple of my Norcal friends. They think that Socal residents give the freeways/highways too much respect, similar to how we refer to "the President of the United States" or "the Ohio State University". I think that the difference is that Norcal people consider the freeway numbers as proper names, where as Socal people don't. You don't say, "I'm heading down the Wilshire Blvd", but you would say, "I'm heading down the street" as opposed to "I'm heading down street". Just my .02.

Quicksilver · #6 10-26-2009, 01:14 AM

Are numbers nouns?

Again the purpose is to define the strict
definition of the english language in this regard.

X Foomph · #7 10-26-2009, 01:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quicksilver

Are numbers nouns?

No,
They're adjectives.

Quicksilver · #8 10-26-2009, 01:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by X Foomph

No,
They're adjectives.

That being the case your conclusion would not apply. Correct?

Quote:

Originally Posted by X Foomph

+1
Definately needs the word 'the' in front of the noun, no matter what noun that may be.

X Foomph · #9 10-26-2009, 01:51 AM

Hey QS,
Not too sure I follow. All I know is that the subject matter re placement of the word 'the' should be used in prefix when referring to aforementioned highways.

Quicksilver · #10 10-26-2009, 02:51 AM

X Foomph

No sweat, here's a little background.

This subject came up for discussion in a speech class and so I posted
it here because there are a few folks around here who pride
themselves as being grammatical Gurus.

I know that there are some grammatical rules that are in place that help
us to arrive at the correct conclusion regarding specific word usage
during public speaking and that's what I was after.

Another word that came up was Jesus. Some people might
use his name by saying Jesus's apostles. While it's not an earth
quaking issue, the sound of it when said let's you know that
somehow adding the extra "s" it's not only incorrect but distracting.

It's the same when people use the article "THE" in front of a
number, specifically highways and roadways.
The way it sounds let's you know that perhaps this
may not be the correct expression.

While it may be fine to use that reference in casual
conversation, doing so during public speaking will be distracting.

Having the correct grammatical rules in place for public
speaking helps students understand how to keep the attention
of an audience without using distracting phrases which may
be a distraction.

Aint the english language a hoot???

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