Definite articles

[VShell]

On Fri, 18 Aug 2000, Adassovsky Georges wrote:

> In my opinion (and in the opinion of some linguists who teached me),
> grammar rules come from the way people speak, and are recorded by
> linguists. Languages stand on usage...

And the "way people speak" is affected by social, political and cultural
influences.  As these influences change and assert themselves, so does
usage, and, eventually grammar rules.

In the case of "the Ukraine" there have been arguments posed here
that the grammar rule requires "the" to be stricken since Ukraine is now
independent.  I have seen little if any refutation of these rules -
participants only throw out (supposed) counterexamples.  So, the issue is
really whether usage, which violates a grammar rule, will fall in line or
whether the usage will force an exception to the rule.

-- Stepan

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