The Influence of English on Afrikaans

7.23 Articles

7.23.1 Omission of the definite article

Ponelis (1979: 481) uses the term ‘die-ellips’ but confines his observations to one specific instance. There are various categories where the definite article must be used in Dutch and where it is absent in Afrikaans. It is highly likely in such cases that the absence of an article in the corresponding English expressions has contributed to the omission in Afrikaans. Steyn (1976: 33) lists several cases, not all of which correspond with English usage, however.

7.23.1.1 Omission before certain adjectives:

Meeste van die tyd/meeste van die voorrade (Afrikaans prescriptive works demand a die here), volgende in Netwerk/jy is volgende, McEnroe is verste van die kamera. Whether verste in the final example is the superlative of the adjective or the adverb, an article is required in both cases in Dutch.

7.23.1.2

Omission before certain nouns: tye het verander, helfte van hulle (cf. meeste van hulle), die temperatuur het onder vriespunt gedaal, hy is in moeilikheid. In the last case HAT maintains it is correct to say in die moeilikheid, but I suspect the whole expression is a loan translation of ‘he is in trouble.’ (cf. Dt. hij is in moeilijkheden)

7.23.1.3

Omission in certain prepositional phrases: 10 onder baansyfer (golf), aan bewind, na geboorte, in geheim, op hoërskool, op

[p. 255]

kampus, na kerk, op land, in lewe (e.g. hy het in lewe groot plesier gehad), in praktyk, bo seevlak, op televisie, op universiteit, na werk, kragtens/volgens wet.

7.23.1.4

Omission before languages, meals, seasons and street names: in Engels, uit Duits; na aandete, middagete sal kort bedien word; gereed wees vir winter; Kerkstraat, op Hoffmanplein.

7.23.1.5

Omission before certain abstract nouns, including religions: Die Instituut vir Bevordering van Calvinisme (a double example), dis 'n groter gevaar as kolonialisme, Parlement het besluit, die geskiedenis van skrif. Langenhoven (1935: 110) was adamantly opposed to the use of die in such cases; he regarded die abstrakte die as illogical. Ponelis (1979: 481) discusses the role of English in this regard giving examples such as (Die) instroming van vars lug kan plaasvind, dit verseker (die) instroming van vars lug.

7.23.1.6

The definite article is frequently omitted from the expression in die besonder, presumably in imitation of in particular, as it is from in die geheim (in secret).

7.23.2.

Insertion of the definite article: Ivoorkus is accompanied by the definite article, as in English and unlike Dutch. The Dutch/Afrikaans expression die man op straat often inserts an article or is even translated literally as die man in die straat.

7.23.3 Insertion of the indefinite article⁵⁷

7.23.3.1

In the following expressions Dutch does not employ the indefinite article but English does: 'n kopseer kry, 'n oog vir 'n oog, 'n tand vir 'n tand (HAT gives oog om oog etc. as in Dutch), R50 'n maand (= per), 'n soort van 'n (cf. p. 265), 'n honderd rand (cf. p. 260).

57 De Bruto (1970: 38) even regards the frequent pronunciation of 'n as [ə] as an anglicism but in Le Roux's (1968: 25-33) detailed study of the pronunciation of 'n he makes no mention of English influence. De Bruto is presumably incorrect. It is interesting to note that the indefinite article in Yiddish (< German ein) has also been reduced to a schwa, as it has been in other southern German dialects.

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7.23.3.2

Insertion of the indefinite article before professions and nationalities. Although the use of an article in such positions is possible in Dutch, it is not the general rule (except when the noun is preceded by an adjective). If it is used, it is heard more frequently with nationalities than with professions. No such distinction seems to exist in Afrikaans which follows English usage in practice. Ponelis (1979: 120) only deals with insertion of the article before professions. Taking examples such as Jan is/word/bly dosent aan die POK he says ‘In die omgangstaal word daar nou egter algemeen 'n hier ingeroep onder Engelse inwerking: Jan is 'n dosent aan die POK.’

7.23.4

HAT recognises vir die afwisseling and makes no mention of vir die verandering (as in Dutch). In practice, however, vir 'n verandering seems to be the most common expression, the substitution of the indefinite for the definite article being presumably in imitation of ‘for a change’.