章振邦英语语法第五版L5

Generic reference

What is generic reference?
When we say the reference is generic, we are talking about any member representive of a class of people or things.

Types of specific reference
definite specific reference indefinite specific reference
Specific reference
definite specific reference – a person or an object can be indentified uniquely in the context or according to the common knowledge shared by speaker and hearer. commonly expressed by THE

How can an article be generic reference?
1)The + a singular count noun 2)The + certain adjectives or adjectival participles e.g. Galileo claimed that he had invented the telescope.
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e.g. He ordered a book some time ago. The book has now arrived.<direct> John bought a bicycle, but when he rode it one of the wheels came off. <indirect> I lent Bill a valuable book, but when he returned it, the cover was filthy, and the pages were torn.

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Situational reference
A kind of definite specific reference that depends not on any referent that has occurred in the context but solely on the common knowledge shared by speaker and hearer or on a specific situation in which the reference is made clear. Most commonly denoted by THE, but in certain situations can also be denoted by ZERO.
Determiners II
What is known?
Articles are the most typical of determiners.
Three articles

English has three articles:
The definite article: the The indefinite article: a/an The zero article – the absence of an article
An ox is a useful animal. Carrots are my favourite vegetables Knowledge is power.
why ?
Specific reference

What is specific reference?
Specific reference refers to a particular specimen of the class.

Would you like coffee or tea? Would you like some coffee or some tea?
We have just received news from Moscow. We have just received some news from Moscow.
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e.g.
Is this the train for Shanghai? This is the place where I first met her. Here is the student I told you about.
Anaphoric, cataphoric and situational reference
The rich get richer, the poor get children. The oppressed and the exploited wanted to free themselves from the oppressors.
Generic reference
3) When giving definitions, a/an + a singular count noun Zero article + plural nouns Zero article + noncount nouns e.g.
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Leabharlann Baidu
e.g. Who’s on the radio? How’s the cough today? She asked, “Why is Father out of work”? He was elected chairman of the students’ union.
Articles in use with different classes of noun
Generic and specific reference
concepts

The bull terrier(牛头犬与狸杂交而生的狗) makes an excellent watchdog. A bull terrier makes an excellent watchdog. Bull terriers make excellent watchdog. Nora has been studying the medieval mystery play. Nora has been studying a medieval mystery play. Nora has been studying medieval mystery plays. The -- generic function (no difference in subject/nonsubject positions) A --- one, any representative member of the class Zero – a subset of one group, undifferentiated whole
Articles in use with proper nouns
5) Most names of festivals and holidays; e.g. Christmas; St. Valentine’s Day; Mother’s Day 6)When “profession + proper name” is regarded as a permanent link; e.g. Nurse Cavell; Guard Richardson 7) when “a restrictive modifier + proper name” acquires the value of a new proper name. e.g. Roman Britain; Bloody Mary 8) When names of organizations, offices, institutions, buildings, ships, etc. begin with a proper noun. e.g. Cambridge University; Westminster Abbey
Anaphoric, cataphoric and situational reference

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Cataphoric reference
When the referential meaning of the definite article is determined by what follows the article and the head, and the article has to point forward for its own interpretation, that is cataphoric reference Cataphoric THE: the cataphoric use of “the”.
Anaphoric, cataphoric and situational reference

Definite specific reference can be anaphoric, cataphoric or situational.
Anaphoric, cataphoric and situational reference




A matter of focus: Zero – categorial meaning Some – quantitative meaning
Articles in use with proper nouns
1 zero article
1)Mostly, proper names take zero article. e.g. Germany, Abraham Lincoln 2) Most English titles and some foreign in case of “title + propername”; e.g. King Edward; Dr. Johnson; Monsieur Hercule Poirot 3) Most geographical names of regions, lakes, individual mountains or islands e.g. Asia; Lake Taihu; Mount Fuji 4) Most names of streets, squares, stations, airports, parks, bridges, etc. e.g. Regent Street; Times Square; Euston Station; Heathrow airport; Hyde Park; London Bridge
indefinite specific reference – a person or an object cannot be definitely identified. commonly expressed by A/AN or ZERO ARTICLE e.g.
Old Tom owns a dog and a cat. The dog’s name is Boris; the cat’s name is Blackie. I’ve just been back from the market. Here’s a letter for you. The streets are clean and are shared with trees.

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Anaphoric reference
When what is referred to occurs in a previous context and the definite article has to point backward for its meaning, this is known as “anaphoric reference”. Anaphoric THE: the anaphoric use of “the”.