Date:  Sat, 3 Dec 1994 22:14:03 -0600

From:  "James C. Stalker" <stalker[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]PILOT.MSU.EDU>

Subject: Re: "the" 101



An interesting question. A great many languages don't have articles. Do

we have evidence that articles are universal (so unmarked) and lack of

articles are non-universal (so marked)? The relevance here is that "the

496" (our local interstate bypass) is unmarked, but that "496" is marked.

496 is the more common designation here. I will not make strong claims

because I have not yet asked. I reckon I will.

!

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