Abstract: English articles are a very common language phenomenon, but it is sometimes hard and even elusive to master them. This paper attempts to use the basic theory of Halliday’s systemic-functional grammar to analyze the usage of English articles. It gives a brief description of the core meaning of the articles which organize themselves into a system. When we use an article in real situations, we are actually making choices from the system.. Since the system can break down into finer systems, the complicated features of articles result.
Key Words: article ,definite, indefinite, generic or specific reference
中图分类号:G633文献标识码:A文章编号:1003-2851(2010)06-0209-01
Primarily, English articles a(n) and the have simple meanings. As we know, everything in the world can be said to belong to some class, the indefinite article is uses to indicate a noun phrase it precedes belongs to some class or is a member of the class .If what the noun phrase denotes is or is assumed to be known about also by the hearer, so that it can be identified, the is used, which shows the also serves its interpersonal function. So we get a system:
Since an article including the definite and indefinite, both have generic or specific reference, we get another system.
The two systems are in simultaneous relation, so they can be combined freely. Here are four types
Of combination:
Now let’s take a look at some real situations in which the articles are used and analyze the functions and how they function properly. Put it another way, what we can do with the articles.
Functions of the articles in some real situations
S1 (S Stands for situation)
A dog charged at me when I was on my way home last night
.A1 (A stands for analysis ) The noun phrase a dog should be a specific dog ,why is “the dog “not used ? That’s because the speaker knows the hearer doesn’t know about it. The use of the articles a or the depends on the situation .As for the hearer, the use of a instead of the suggests the noun following it is new information.
S2 a canal is a channel cut through land for use of boats or ships or to carry water to the field for irrigation.
Here the indefinite article is in generic use, while the can also be generically used. Can we change the indefinite article into the definite article the?
A2 the answer is no. This is an example of definition. A suggests the new information is to be explained .If “the “is used ,that shows this is known information .If it is known ,why shall we bother to explain ? The indefinite article is a momentum to push us to read on to know about the new information, so it has a textual function.
S3 You’ll never be a Mozart.
A3 Mozart is a proper noun .In its normal usage, it does not go with the indefinite article “a”, Here Mozart is shifted to a common noun in its generic meaning a type of. A Mozart is interpreted as a person like Mozart. The indefinite article a acts as the basic context of Mozart, making us be able to interpret Mozart in a different way. What’s more, A Mozart offers us a more vivid image than a person like Mozart.
S4 He was elected chairman of the committee.
A4 Can we put the definite article the before chairman? No, although the definite article has a common usage of referring to somebody or something unique, the meaning of this chairman has been shifted from somebody to some profession, a more abstract meaning than the original. Cf. The chairman of the committee went to American yesterday. Here are more examples: go to bed go to church in hospital
S5 I have a brother, who is a teacher.
A5 Can the indefinite article a be replaced by one? The second a in a teacher is the generic use of a, denoting a class membership. The first indefinite article is in the specific use, indicating a particular person. The first a can be replaced by one, but the speech force is different. The sentence I have one brother emphasizes I have only one brother, not two or more, while a brother has more generic meaning left than that of one brother.
S6 Parents love their children with a devotion for which they ask for no return.
A6 In the above case, the indefinite article indicates a type of, a kind of, also in its generic use, shifting the noun it precedes from abstract to concrete.
S7 How long does it take on the bus\ we went there by bus.
A7 The definite article the in the phrase on the bus is in its generic use, indicating any bus on a particular route, while in the phrase by bus, the definite article is lost, bus obtains an abstract meaning ,a means of transport ,suited to the preceding preposition by.
Conclusion
Through the above analysis, we see if we want to use the English articles properly, first of all, we must understand well the basic meaning of the articles, which exist in a system made up of two simultaneous systems. When we use an article, we are in fact making choices from the system.
From another perspective, the different meanings of articles are different functions. The basic function of articles is to determine what kind of reference the noun phrase it precedes has, thus forming a close context for the noun phrase. Without them, a basic clue to understand the noun phrase is lost.
With the articles entering real situations, the meaning system of the articles may need to break down into finer systems; more concrete and detailed features of the articles may be manifested. This is why so common and simple articles are sometimes so hard and even elusive to master. And this also determines that the study of articles is intriguing and rewarding, and we could do a good job in expressing ourselves with articles.
REFERENCES
[1]蔡 金 亭吴一安 《中国大学生英语冠词使用研究》2006 《外语教学与研究》 VOL.38 NO.4243-250
[2]李 基 安《AModern English Grammar 》 Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press1988
[3]胡 壮 麟 《 Linguistics : A Course Book》 Second Edition 2001 Beijing University Press.