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From: rob@ptsfa.UUCP (Rob Bernardo)
Newsgroups: net.nlang
Subject: Re: Why the vax, but not the Unix??
Message-ID: <688@ptsfa.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 16-Jun-85 14:58:08 EDT
Article-I.D.: ptsfa.688
Posted: Sun Jun 16 14:58:08 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 21-Jun-85 01:35:18 EDT
References: <27400001@gypsy.UUCP> <546@hou2b.UUCP> <561@umd5.UUCP>
Reply-To: rob@ptsfa.UUCP (Rob Bernardo)
Organization: Pacific Bell, San Francisco
Lines: 47
Summary: UNIX is like the name of a book, VAX like a name of a make of product.

>Why "the VAX" and not "the UNIX"? 

1. Generally "the" is not used with names in English (except for names
that descriptive, e.g. "the United States").
[The function of "the" along with a description is to make reference
to a specific object for which there is no available name.]

2. Names of authored works are a more complex situation.
This is because the name for the work in the abstract
is often used in making reference to a particular instance.
For example, "Hamlet" is the name of what Shakespeare authored
but I could say

	The "Hamlet" I have is missing act 2; my dog got at it.

in reference to particular physical copy, or

	The "Hamlet" I have is missing act 2; the publisher goofed."

in reference to particular printing or edition.

3. Similarly, "UNIX" is the name of an authored work and as a name without
a 'a' or 'the' refers to the software in the abstract. And if you were
to refer to a particular version or physical copy of UNIX you would
use "UNIX" with a 'a' or 'the', as in:

	The UNIX we have is basically System V with some Berkeley enhancements.o

in reference to a particular version, or

	The UNIX we have is corrupt. We will have to restore the filesystem from	a backup tape.

in reference to a particular physical copy.


4. Names of makes of products are only somewhat similar to names of authored
works. They are similar insofar as when they are used to refer to a particular
physical instance, you use 'a' or  'the'. But they are dissimilar insofar as
the article is preserved even when referring to the product in general.
I do not have time to present examples wiht "VAX". The system is coming
down is a few seconds.
-- 


Rob Bernardo, San Ramon, California
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