To "The" or not to "The"

[Bry_Sinclair]

Ok, very random, but what the hell!

In TOS and TNG, the ship was always referred to as the Enterprise, but then in VOY and ENT the ship was called just Voyager or Enterprise respectively (minus the 'the'). I've since noticed that the novels seem to be following the latter pattern.

I have to say I prefer the 'the' being in there. I can understand why the PTB dropped it on VOY, as "the Voyager" just sounds stupid.

Thoughts? Preferences?

 

[Xhiandra]

The Enterprise.
The Defiant.
Voyager.

Made me cringe early on in ENT when they said "on Enterprise", but it's probably just habit: we're used to hearing the "the", so it sounds weird without; "The Voyager" would sound weird for the same reason.

 

[Pavonis]

I prefer the ships' names not use the definite article.

 

[Christopher]

In TOS and TNG, the ship was always referred to as the Enterprise, but then in VOY and ENT the ship was called just Voyager or Enterprise respectively (minus the 'the'). I've since noticed that the novels seem to be following the latter pattern.

Actually, that goes at least as far back as Diane Duane's novels in the '80s. She had the characters refer to the ship as "Enterprise" rather than "the Enterprise" (and the same with other ships' names).

According to the U.S. Navy Style Guide, the definite article should never be used before the names of USN vessels (at least not in formal usage). Apparently that's a recent ruling, but I imagine the preference for dropping the article for fictional ships reflects that preference for real ships. (Similarly to the way the US Navy discontinued the rank of commodore in 1983 and Star Trek followed by not using the commodore rank in its '80s and '90s series. Fiction is a product of its era.)

 

[C.E. Evans]

In opposition to the conditioned usage ingrained in most by VOY, I routinely call Janeway's ship "the Voyager." Sometimes, though, I'll refer to NCC-1701 and her successors as merely "Enterprise" as well.

 

[Sci]

I prefer to use the definite article, and it seems that until recently this was an accepted formal practice. I have no problem with the idea that United Earth starships of the 22nd Century were referred to without the article, and that the article came back into general usage some time after the founding of the Federation. (Perhaps Vulcan or Andorian influence?)

 

[GSchnitzer]

My earliest recollection of Enterprise without the The is in 1979's Star Trek: The Motion Picture (or maybe we should call it Star Trek: Motion Picture). The "Ilia-Probe" consistently says Enterprise instead of The Enterprise ("carbon units infest Enterprise")--which makes sense, what with her robotic-mechanical speech pattern. But Kirk says it once, too:

"That's all we know about it; except that it's now two point two days from Earth. Enterprise is the only Federation starship that stands in its way."

 

[Xhiandra]

The probe saying it reflects the fact that V'Ger considers the Enterprise to be a living entity, not a vessel to transport the colony of lifeforms inhabiting it against its will.

 

[Sci]

The probe saying it reflects the fact that V'Ger considers the Enterprise to be a living entity, not a vessel to transport the colony of lifeforms inhabiting it against its will.

Ah, but that's why the Navy advises people not to use the definite article as well -- it's a deliberate attempt to anthropomorphize a ship. Same reason ships are called "she" rather than "it."

 

[Christopher]

One thing I read earlier while doing a bit of research was that the British insist on avoiding "the" before a ship's full name, because saying "the HMS Somesuch" would essentially be saying "the Her Majesty's Ship Somesuch," which doesn't make sense. But they might not have a problem with saying "the Somesuch" informally.

 

[CorporalClegg]

The article has always annoyed me.

I really don't know why. But I'm glad they're trying to do away with it.

 

[CoveTom]

Isn't there an episode where someone does say "the Voyager?" Maybe Tom Paris? I seem to recall that. But I agree it sounds weird with Voyager. I prefer using the article with Enterprise and Defiant, however. I think it sounds more natural.

 

[Timo]

...That one is from "Parallax", when Tom first spots the mirror image of their own ship.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Sindatur]

...That one is from "Parallax", when Tom first spots the mirror image of their own ship.

Timo Saloniemi

I actually watched 2.03 - 2.06 last night, and heard Voyager at least once being referred to as The Voyager.

 

[bbailey861]

One thing I read earlier while doing a bit of research was that the British insist on avoiding "the" before a ship's full name, because saying "the HMS Somesuch" would essentially be saying "the Her Majesty's Ship Somesuch," which doesn't make sense. But they might not have a problem with saying "the Somesuch" informally.

This is essentially the way it is treated in Canada as well. You'll never hear 'The' HMCS Regina, only HMCS Regina, however you will occasionally hear something like "Oh, I just heard LCdr Jones got posted to the Regina" in general conversation.

 

[Alrik]

One thing I read earlier while doing a bit of research was that the British insist on avoiding "the" before a ship's full name, because saying "the HMS Somesuch" would essentially be saying "the Her Majesty's Ship Somesuch," which doesn't make sense. But they might not have a problem with saying "the Somesuch" informally.

NASA's shuttle fleet was treated pretty much the same way. You didn't hear people call them The Discovery, or The Atlantis. It was/is simply Discovery or Atlantis.

 

[MacLeod]

True, but would one say :-

"I was the commander of Atlantis" or
"I was the commander of the Atlantis"?

 

[Sci]

True, but would one say :-

"I was the commander of Atlantis" or
"I was the commander of the Atlantis"?

The former.

 

[Greg Cox]

You know, dare I admit that this has always perplexed me? I go back and forth, depending on what sounds right at that particular moment.

 

[MacLeod]

I would tend to say I do that as well

either works

"I'm the Captain of Enterprise" or "I'm the Cpatain of the Enterprise"

though does adding 'the' place more empthasis on the ship rather than the person?

To expand it some what a standadrd hailing message in ST might go something like

"This is Captain Kirk, Commanding the the Federation starship Enterprise" does removal of 'the' make it sound better/right or nort so it becomes "This is Captain Kirk Commanding Federation Starship Enterprise"?