Comments on: The attack of the shapeshifting articles (now in HD) http://linguisticmystic.com/2007/01/11/the-attack-of-the-shapeshifting-articles-now-in-hd/ Sun, 12 Oct 2008 00:38:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: David http://linguisticmystic.com/2007/01/11/the-attack-of-the-shapeshifting-articles-now-in-hd/#comment-227 David Sun, 22 Apr 2007 03:36:03 +0000 http://linguisticmystic.com/2007/01/11/the-attack-of-the-shapeshifting-articles-now-in-hd/#comment-227 When I write, I generally pick the article based on how I believe most people will read the abbreviation. With HD(D), I think most people would read the letters. Although with SQL, I think most would say "SeQueL". Thus, I would put: an HD(D) a SQL server. When I write, I generally pick the article based on how I believe most people will read the abbreviation. With HD(D), I think most people would read the letters. Although with SQL, I think most would say “SeQueL”.

Thus, I would put:
an HD(D)
a SQL server.

]]> By: How do you pronounce “Ysalamiri”? Phonology to the rescue! : Notes from a Linguistic Mystic http://linguisticmystic.com/2007/01/11/the-attack-of-the-shapeshifting-articles-now-in-hd/#comment-146 How do you pronounce “Ysalamiri”? Phonology to the rescue! : Notes from a Linguistic Mystic Thu, 01 Feb 2007 04:37:44 +0000 http://linguisticmystic.com/2007/01/11/the-attack-of-the-shapeshifting-articles-now-in-hd/#comment-146 [...] talked about the alternation between “a” and “an” before, and it’s a very cool phonological feature of English (a feature caused by rules governing [...] […] talked about the alternation between “a” and “an” before, and it’s a very cool phonological feature of English (a feature caused by rules governing […]

]]> By: Igner http://linguisticmystic.com/2007/01/11/the-attack-of-the-shapeshifting-articles-now-in-hd/#comment-134 Igner Mon, 22 Jan 2007 17:32:29 +0000 http://linguisticmystic.com/2007/01/11/the-attack-of-the-shapeshifting-articles-now-in-hd/#comment-134 My inclination would be to use the article that's appropriate to the spoken form, even if that spoken form is different from the written form. And perhaps I'm an anomaly, but I frequently extrapolate out abbreviations when I read, particularly those that are used almost exclusively in written form. HD is one such abbreviation, in that in conversation I'd never say "get a new HD for that computer"; it would always be "get a new hard drive for that computer." All that being said, I would have reformulated the statement, much as you did. It's not cheating at all, in my mind; context (spoken versus written) makes a huge difference. There are subtleties and challenges to be overcome in both situations. My inclination would be to use the article that’s appropriate to the spoken form, even if that spoken form is different from the written form. And perhaps I’m an anomaly, but I frequently extrapolate out abbreviations when I read, particularly those that are used almost exclusively in written form. HD is one such abbreviation, in that in conversation I’d never say “get a new HD for that computer”; it would always be “get a new hard drive for that computer.”

All that being said, I would have reformulated the statement, much as you did. It’s not cheating at all, in my mind; context (spoken versus written) makes a huge difference. There are subtleties and challenges to be overcome in both situations.

]]> By: LinguLangu >> Blogworld News http://linguisticmystic.com/2007/01/11/the-attack-of-the-shapeshifting-articles-now-in-hd/#comment-122 LinguLangu >> Blogworld News Mon, 15 Jan 2007 13:01:33 +0000 http://linguisticmystic.com/2007/01/11/the-attack-of-the-shapeshifting-articles-now-in-hd/#comment-122 [...]Will wrote about the difficulty of choosing “a” versus “an”. He gave the example of HD and asked himself what he would put in front of HD which is Hard Driver. An HD or a Hard Driver? I, personally, would write an HD since we read HD’s letters and since we don’t read it as Hard Driver if it is written HD. Just like HP case. If it is written HP in the next, i never read it as Hewlett-Packard.[...] […]Will wrote about the difficulty of choosing “a” versus “an”. He gave the example of HD and asked himself what he would put in front of HD which is Hard Driver. An HD or a Hard Driver? I, personally, would write an HD since we read HD’s letters and since we don’t read it as Hard Driver if it is written HD. Just like HP case. If it is written HP in the next, i never read it as Hewlett-Packard.[…]

]]> By: Blogworld news » Linguistics & Languages http://linguisticmystic.com/2007/01/11/the-attack-of-the-shapeshifting-articles-now-in-hd/#comment-121 Blogworld news » Linguistics & Languages Mon, 15 Jan 2007 12:55:44 +0000 http://linguisticmystic.com/2007/01/11/the-attack-of-the-shapeshifting-articles-now-in-hd/#comment-121 [...] Will wrote about the difficulty of choosing “a” versus “an”. He gave the example of HD and asked himself what he would put in front of HD which is Hard Driver. An HD or a Hard Driver? I, personally, would write an HD since we read HD’s letters and since we don’t read it as Hard Driver if it is written HD. Just like HP case. If it is written HP in the next, i never read it as Hewlett-Packard. [...] […] Will wrote about the difficulty of choosing “a” versus “an”. He gave the example of HD and asked himself what he would put in front of HD which is Hard Driver. An HD or a Hard Driver? I, personally, would write an HD since we read HD’s letters and since we don’t read it as Hard Driver if it is written HD. Just like HP case. If it is written HP in the next, i never read it as Hewlett-Packard. […]

]]> By: Osman http://linguisticmystic.com/2007/01/11/the-attack-of-the-shapeshifting-articles-now-in-hd/#comment-116 Osman Thu, 11 Jan 2007 18:39:16 +0000 http://linguisticmystic.com/2007/01/11/the-attack-of-the-shapeshifting-articles-now-in-hd/#comment-116 I think i would write an HD :) because while reading it, we pronounce the letters not Hard Drive, do we? :p But very nice post, hehe. I wonder what others think! I think i would write an HD :) because while reading it, we pronounce the letters not Hard Drive, do we? :p But very nice post, hehe. I wonder what others think!

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