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Taka Posted 21 years ago
Grammar

article

Culture shock is simply a reomoval or change in meaning of many of the familiar singals one encounters at home and the substitution for them of other signals which are strange.

Why 'a' for 'removal or change', not 'the'? And why 'the' for 'substitution', not 'a'?
  

Top answer

Dealer's choice, mostly, Taka. I can rationalize them to satisfy myself: removal and change are defined later in the clause, but the writer is making this a 'new' idea. The because the idea is now in place and 'substitution' happens one-for-one; it also varies the vocabulary.

— Mister Micawber

  • Dealer's choice, mostly, Taka.
  • I can rationalize them to satisfy myself: removal and change are defined later in the clause, but the writer is making this a 'new' idea.
  • The because the idea is now in place and 'substitution' happens one-for-one; it also varies the vocabulary.
  • As you surmise, the articles could easily be reversed with no change in meaning.
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17 Answers
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Dealer's choice, mostly, Taka. I can rationalize them to satisfy myself: removal and change are defined later in the clause, but the writer is making this a 'new' idea. The because the idea is now in place and 'substitution' happens one-for-one; it also varies the vocabulary.

As you surmise, the articles could easily be reversed with no change in meaning.
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MM, could you please elaborate it?

I'm not sure I really understand what you mean...
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Sorry, what part don't you understand, Taka? What I mean is that article choice here is the writer's option, and I doubt s/he thought much about it.
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Mister Micawber Sorry, what part don't you understand, Taka?

This part.

removal and change are defined later in the clause, but the writer is making this a 'new' idea. The because the idea is now in place and 'substitution' happens one-for-one; it also varies the vocabulary.

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"Culture shock is simply a removal or change in meaning of many of the familiar signals one encounters at home and the substitution for them of other signals which are strange."

I wonder whether the definite ar
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MrPedanticAnd I suppose a cautious writer might wish to imply that culture shock is only one removal or change in meaning of the familiar signals – in other words, that the part I've underlined might define other phenomena as well.

'A' for one removal or change. OK. But why 'the' for 'substitution'?

Plus, could you explain more
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Hello Taka

By the "in other words" part, I meant:

'Culture shock' may be defined as a removal or change in meaning of many of the familiar signals one encounters at home and the substitution for them of other signals which are strange.

But that doesn't necessarily mean that if you're experiencing removal or change in meaning, etc., you're necessarily exper
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For the sake of parallelism, I would simply use 'the' in both places.
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Hi guys,

Or perhaps 'a' in both places?

As long as parallel articles are used in this kind of sentence, I wouldn't think much about the articles. But if 'unparallel' articles are used, it makes me start to think that the writer had a reason, and thus to ponder the impact of the articles on the meaning.

Best wishes, Clive
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Clive
But if 'unparallel' articles are used, it makes me start to think that the writer had a reason, and thus to ponder the impact of the articles on the meaning.

Exactly, Clive! That's why I posted the question.

What do you personally think the reason is?
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