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Damkerng T.
Damkerng T.
17:00
@TimRomano I agree with "a specific genus among other genera". To OP, in other words, it's "a specific (or unique) instance of a class (or a set, or a category, whichever that can help you visualize it)".) Imo, this is not technically generic. A specific (or unique) class or set is still specific, even though it could mean something abstract or could cover other instances of the class or elements of the set. (A set can be an element in another set, anyway.) This by no means implies that the implies specific or unique, or that specific or unique implies the. The is about definite. — Damkerng T. 2 mins ago
I tried to sum up the use of the in one comment!
 
1 hour later…
hey
hey
18:14
Hello everyone!
user image
Damkerng T.
Damkerng T.
18:38
A black fly in Chardonnay!
 
1 hour later…
Anonymous
20:05
@DamkerngT. Yes, rate limiting on Stack Exchange is very poorly implemented
Anonymous
@DamkerngT. Summing up the in one comment sounds difficult!
Anonymous
The indicates that the speaker thinks the listener will be able to identify the referent of the noun phrase it marks. There should be no pragmatically relevant distinctions about the identity of the referent that the listener is unable to make.
3
Anonymous
When the is used generically, it is speaking about an entire set. It could be talking about any member of that set―the distinction between members of that set is not relevant in context
Anonymous
The can also be used (on occasion) for smaller sets or (very often) for single referents
Anonymous
But those can all be considered specific applications of the general rule
Anonymous
20:13
Unfortunately, different languages have different idiosyncratic requirements on identifiability
Anonymous
So the one-line summary is not enough on its own
Ice Boy
Ice Boy
Also, it should be compared and contrasted with "a/an".
Anonymous
Sure. A(n) is used when the speaker doesn't make that assumption and when the NP is headed by a singular count noun
Anonymous
There are a few special constructions with a(n) that need to be memorized anyway.
Anonymous
So again the one-line description doesn't tell you everything
Anonymous
20:18
Exploring the usage in detail could fill a book!
Ice Boy
Ice Boy
Indeed.
Anonymous
A non-traditional label is "identifiability", used in place of "definiteness"
2
Anonymous
Then you can talk about whether a noun phrase is "identifiable" (in the specific manner demanded by the)
Anonymous
Then we can see that definiteness goes beyond just the and a(n)
Anonymous
If I say "your cup of coffee", you can identify which cup of coffee I'm referring to
Anonymous
20:22
So your is definite!
Damkerng T.
Damkerng T.
The is very close to this or that, too.
Anonymous
It's the same th, unsurprisingly
Damkerng T.
Damkerng T.
20:37
Indeed!
Anonymous
I like spaces in numbers: 1 000 000 000
Anonymous
1,000,000,000.00
1.000.000.000,00
1 000 000 000.00
Anonymous
The decimal comma is weird to me.
Damkerng T.
Damkerng T.
Unless it's larger than 10000000, I think I prefer nothing in between.
@snailboat It got me every time!
No matter how often I used to work with them!
Anonymous
@DamkerngT. It's mostly used in languages other than English
Anonymous
20:40
But there are English-speaking regions that use the decimal comma, too
Damkerng T.
Damkerng T.
I like fractions!
1/2, 2/3, 3/8, 5/16, etc.
Anonymous
$2⅓
Damkerng T.
Damkerng T.
Yes!
Anonymous
Please pay with exact change.
Damkerng T.
Damkerng T.
Oh, no!
Anonymous
20:42
7‰
Damkerng T.
Damkerng T.
They look cute on checks.
Anonymous
We still use checks here in the US, though less than we used to. (In a lot of countries, checks are basically forgotten these days, so that surprises some people.)
Damkerng T.
Damkerng T.
"7‰" <-- What symbol is that?
Anonymous
Per mille
Anonymous
Like per cent
Anonymous
20:43
But per thousand instead of hundred
Damkerng T.
Damkerng T.
Oh!
Anonymous
When I was younger, I wrote checks by
Anonymous
When I was writing the cents part . . .
Anonymous
I'd write a fraction by writing the number of cents over two zeroes
Anonymous
And my sister watched me do it one time and said to me
Anonymous
20:44
That you shouldn't divide by zero on a check
Damkerng T.
Damkerng T.
Wait, you write a "fraction" over another two zeros!?
Anonymous
Well, a numerator ← I edited my earlier message
Anonymous
I'd write the number of cents, then a vinculum, then two zeroes
Damkerng T.
Damkerng T.
Oh, I see. You could crash the bank's computer doing that!
Anonymous
Haha!
Anonymous
20:46
"When I was younger, I wrote checks by"
Anonymous
This would normally be followed by the rest of the sentence indicating the way I wrote them
Anonymous
But instead, I followed it with separate sentences indicating the way I wrote them
Anonymous
I think conversationally that's not strange at all, but it looks a little weird on chat :-)
Anonymous
Also, I like the word vinculum. Vincuuuuulum.
Damkerng T.
Damkerng T.
I added commas and dashes as necessary mentally!
@snailboat I'm not very familiar with it, but the meaning is very clear.
Anonymous
20:48
I just treat punctuation as an optional decoration. "Ooh, I could put a dash here―oh, and an ellipsis here . . ."
Damkerng T.
Damkerng T.
I'm not sure if I ever did that (writing xx/00).
Anonymous
One of my favorite things to do . . .
Anonymous
. . . is to split up a sentence like this!
Anonymous
Why? I don't know, but it's fun!
Anonymous
@DamkerngT. I mended my ways.
Damkerng T.
Damkerng T.
20:49
@snailboat It looks a little like lyrics!
Anonymous
♫ Yay! ♫
Anonymous
0
Q: to adopter questions and suggestions - meanig of "adopter"?

Cookie Monster This database systems book has been successful through eight editions because the authors, editors, and the publisher paid attention to the impact of technology and to adopter questions and suggestions. We believe that this ninth edition successfully reflects the same attention to such stimuli...

meaning
Damkerng T.
Damkerng T.
With a right tune, you could turn your chat messages into a song!
Anonymous
An attributive noun!
Anonymous
Meaning "the questions and suggestions that adopters gave us"
Damkerng T.
Damkerng T.
20:51
^Sounds like a great comment!
Anonymous
Too lazy :-) Taking a break!
Anonymous
I didn't answer that ELU question someone linked to here last night either
Damkerng T.
Damkerng T.
That "hambags" question, you mean? :-)
Anonymous
Yeah.
Anonymous
'Sides, I think the OP already knows the answer.
Anonymous
21:05
They just want to discuss it on an internet forum. :-)
Anonymous
The naked question should be on ELU.
Damkerng T.
Damkerng T.
Not sure, but I think it's fine on either site.
(I've already forgotten the details in the question!)
Anonymous
It's about etymology.
Damkerng T.
Damkerng T.
Hmm... They asked "why". Probably, ELU is better.
Anonymous
Although it isn't entirely clear if they realize that it's a question about etymology.
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