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johnslat · Posted: Sun Jan 10, 2016 2:53 pm Post subject: Where has the gone?

"For the past century or so, the commonest word in English has gradually been getting less common. Depending on data source and counting method, the frequency of the definite article THE has fallen substantially — in some cases at a rate as high as 50% per 100 years."

http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=23277

Regards,
The John Very Happy

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Definite Article
Indefinite Article
Zero Article

Other languages get by without articles

I propose we abolish ours

Ditto for the Saxon Genitive and the Cursed Apostrophe.

sheikh radlinrol · Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 1222 Location: Spain

American professional golfers must acccept part of the blame. When I was a young player we said ¨I had a six on the fifth¨ Youngsters now say, ¨ I had a six on five¨. I used to say, ¨I hit a 9-iron.¨ Jordan Speith would say, ¨I hit 9-iron¨. Articles are disappearing and, as an old geezer, it pisses me off!

johnslat · Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2016 2:02 am Post subject:

Dear Sheikh,

Me too - maybe we should write an article about it. Very Happy

Regards,
John

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

The Romans built an Empire with no articles in Classical Latin. Why do we need them ?

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

All my students, past, present, and future, hereby wish to vote for article abolishment Wink

grahamb · Joined: 30 Apr 2003 Posts: 1945

Abolish articles? Definitely not! And indefinitely not as well!