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?....

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.

X Foomph · #3 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.

realchef · #4 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.

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.

Michelle · #9 10-26-2009, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quicksilver

Are numbers nouns?

But you aren't talking about numbers. In this case, the "number" represents the "name" of the road. So it's not as cut and dry as asking if a number is a noun or not.

cmyX6go · #10 10-26-2009, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michelle

But you aren't talking about numbers. In this case, the "number" represents the "name" of the road. So it's not as cut and dry as asking if a number is a noun or not.

They just talk funny out there. We wouldn't say take the 95.