Re: definite/indefinite articles
| From: | Tristan McLeay <zsau@...> |
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| Date: | Monday, March 31, 2003, 3:18 |
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On Sun, 30 Mar 2003, Michael David Martin wrote:
> Hello,
> I've got a basic question regarding the definite and indefinite articles
> ('the' 'a') - are they really necessary? Is there any reason to have them?
> How about having the definite article but not the indefinite article? I was
> just wondering if there was a reason that a language should have them.
Many languages get by just fine without either; I'm sure there's probably
those with one. The main reason to have them is redundency: it makes it
clearer what you're referring to. If you don't want them, or don't want
the indefinite article, there's no reason to have them (unless you're
talking about a natlang that already has them, like English, of course :)
)
--
Tristan <kesuari@...>
War doesn't prove who's right, just who's left.
- fortune.
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