The definite article in World Englishes

Abstract

Article usage is an area of syntax where a great deal of variation exists in different varieties of English. This study focuses on the uses of the definite article in two specific types of context: with names of social institutions and with the quantifying expressions both of, half of, most of, when followed by a postmodifying of-phrase. Differences in usage are known to exist between British and American English but in this study the scope is extended to selected varieties spoken in different parts of the world. The social distinction between standard and non-standard language is also examined with respect to British Isles varieties. Language contacts leading to substratal influence on article usage, universal semantic or pragmatic constraints, and possible “angloversal” features emerge as the main factors that can provide plausible explanations for a large part of the variability in definite article usage.

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