What The?

[Silvercrest]

Actually, the two other ships with the most on screen mentions could easily be "mistaken" in that way. The Enterprise... to remove hostilities between the Romulan and Klingon Empires isn't going well or The Defiant... Maquis don't seem to be relenting. See what I mean?

I still think it sounds like crap to say "The Voyager," but I'm not convinced that if I'd heard it called that for seven years it wouldn't be perfectly 'normal.'

-Withers-​

Good point, but you're talking about nouns that can be mistaken under particular circumstances. I'm talking about nouns that describe physical objects, so it sounds like you're mentioning the object every time you apply the article "the". Regardless of the circumstances. I dunno-- it's the best idea I can come up with.

I guess the question is whether there are any similar ship names that would sound equally weird when you apply an article. Personally, I think referring to "The Constitution" would sound odd, for the same reason.

I think "The Voyager" would still sound weird even after hearing it for seven years.

See, on ENT, I cringed every time they referred to 'Enterprise' WITHOUT 'the' in front of it. Ewww, just horrible.

I always cringed whenever Archer referred to the "Starship Enterprise" for no reason. Yes, we know you're a starship, or you wouldn't have gotten this far into interstellar space. Can you maybe say something informative? "The Earth ship Enterprise", perhaps?

Other shows would have referred to the "U.S.S Enterprise", the "Federation ship Defiant", or the "Federation Starship Voyager." Introducing your ship as the "Starship Enterprise" is like introducing yourself as "A guy named Archer."

 

[Withers]

This comes quite often around here

Since it comes up so often and you've been here for those times do you by any chance know if those conversations confirmed that it was only referred to as "The Voyager" (in English) once or whether any reasoning behind this phenomenon was given in an article about the show or from one of the creators in an interview?

Good point, but you're talking about nouns that can be mistaken under particular circumstances. I'm talking about nouns that describe physical objects, so it sounds like you're mentioning the object every time you apply the article "the". Regardless of the circumstances. I dunno-- it's the best idea I can come up with.

I guess the question is whether there are any similar ship names that would sound equally weird when you apply an article. Personally, I think referring to "The Constitution" would sound odd, for the same reason.

I think "The Voyager" would still sound weird even after hearing it for seven years.

I can't really establish a good grammatical rule to explain this that doesn't immediately have a dozen exceptions. The Constitution does sound a little odd... but The Titan and The Rio Grande sound fine. It's whacky either way you shake it.

I always cringed whenever Archer referred to the "Starship Enterprise" for no reason.

I think they needed to put something there to make the title seem more important. It still gives me chills on those occasions when Kathy goes balls to the wall and says "I am Captain Katherine Janeway of the Federation Starship Voyager" It's very impressive sounding. Maybe if Archer had used his rank and name more often the "starship" bit wouldn't have been so necessary? I dunno.

-Withers-​

 

[Silvercrest]

I can't really establish a good grammatical rule to explain this that doesn't immediately have a dozen exceptions. The Constitution does sound a little odd... but The Titan and The Rio Grande sound fine. It's whacky either way you shake it.

Dang, you're right. Okay, I give up.

I always cringed whenever Archer referred to the "Starship Enterprise" for no reason.

I think they needed to put something there to make the title seem more important.

True, and it's obvious that's what they were doing. But they really picked the wrong thing. When every ship you hail is also a starship, it doesn't mean anything.

 

[T.D. Possum]

It still gives me chills on those occasions when Kathy goes balls to the wall and says "I am Captain Katherine Janeway of the Federation Starship Voyager" It's very impressive sounding.

While I agree that it's impressive sounding, my brain always insists on imagining the next words out of her mouth to be: "Bite me." Which makes it even more impressive.

Go on. Imagine her saying it. Or say it out loud yourself if you want. It's great stuff, man.

Back on topic: I'm quite sure I heard some aliens refer to the ship as "The Voyager" once. Maybe the people from the planet in "Random Thoughts?" Not sure who said it, but I am almost positive it was said.

On a similar note, I liked it very much when the Kazons would refer to Voyager's crew as "the Federations".

 

[Michael]

This comes quite often around here

Since it comes up so often and you've been here for those times do you by any chance know if those conversations confirmed that it was only referred to as "The Voyager" (in English) once or whether any reasoning behind this phenomenon was given in an article about the show or from one of the creators in an interview?

I'm afraid not.

Most of the time people just remark on how weird it sounds with the "the" and trot out their theories on why they did it this way in Voyager.

 

[Withers]

Go on. Imagine her saying it. Or say it out loud yourself if you want. It's great stuff, man.

Oh, I do this all the time. Seattle drivers (having learned to drive in Chicago) are infuriating so at least once a week, in the privacy of my own car of course, I declare "I am Philip Steven VerLee II of the Midnight Blue Toyota Corolla directly to your aft and I insist you increase your velocity at once!"

-Withers-​

 

[Arix]

Hmmm, it is a bit of a dilemna isn't it?

My test is imagining the ship we're naming is approaching, and is identified by the sensors of another ship (as often happens in Trek) - so the Tactical officer will announce which ship is approaching.

"Its Voyager" indeed sounds better than "Its the Voyager".

I was going to suggest its because Voyager ends with -er, that makes it sound weird when you add a The in front of it. But then I try the same test with (my random example) Fighter.

"Its Fighter" sounds weird, while "Its the Fighter" sounds normal!

By that same token, it doesn't work in reverse either imo.

"Its Enterprise" just sounds weird, it should always be "Its the Enterprise".

Same goes for "Its Defiant" compared with "Its the Defiant".

Actually, I was just trying to come up with other ship names which were like Voyager, and the only one that is the same (that I could think of) is Serenity from Firefly.

"Its the Serenity" just sounds plain ol retarded.

My only conclusion is that it has something to do with the... associations of the names. -shrugs- Voyager and Serenity are names almost like... people. While Enterprise and Defiant are more... I dunno, like objects, or ships I get (which makes sense, haha) and for some reason they just need 'the' in front of them to sound right!

 

[propita]

Oh, I do this all the time. Seattle drivers (having learned to drive in Chicago) are infuriating so at least once a week, in the privacy of my own car of course, I declare "I am Philip Steven VerLee II of the Midnight Blue Toyota Corolla directly to your aft and I insist you increase your velocity at once!"

-Withers-​

Would that such tactics actually worked. **sigh**

 

[Zameaze]

Go on. Imagine her saying it. Or say it out loud yourself if you want. It's great stuff, man.

Oh, I do this all the time. Seattle drivers (having learned to drive in Chicago) are infuriating so at least once a week, in the privacy of my own car of course, I declare "I am Philip Steven VerLee II of the Midnight Blue Toyota Corolla directly to your aft and I insist you increase your velocity at once!"

-Withers-​

Withers, so you're the one causing all the Toyota run aways.

 

[Withers]

My only conclusion is that it has something to do with the... associations of the names. -shrugs- Voyager and Serenity are names almost like... people. While Enterprise and Defiant are more... I dunno, like objects, or ships I get (which makes sense, haha) and for some reason they just need 'the' in front of them to sound right!

This is about as close as I can get to a definitive "rule" regarding this phenomenon. Every grammatical rule I can come up with immediately has at least a handful of exceptions... which makes me think, ultimately, this comes down to whether it is said often or not whether or not we think it sounds weird.

Withers, so you're the one causing all the Toyota run aways.

A boys gotta get paid.

-Withers-​