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> Baby doesn't know Why do some people say 'baby' without any article? Shouldn't it be 'your baby', 'a baby' or 'the baby' or something like that? You wouldn't

> Baby doesn't know Why do some people say 'baby' without any article? Shouldn't it be 'your baby', 'a baby' or 'the baby' or something like that? You wouldn't say 'sister doesn't know' or 'boss doesn't know'. I'm not a native English speaker.

djrogers 10y ago
In this context, baby is sometimes used as a proper noun to indicate a singular, specific baby. It sounds more personal than 'that baby', and has been in fairly common use for as long as I can remember in both Canada and the US (at least here on the west coast). Oh, and you may in fact here the phrases 'sister doesn't know' or 'boss doesn't know' in some circumstances, although in those instances it would be more of a slang/affectation/colloquialism and not as common as 'baby'.
Afton 10y ago
Interesting question! In this case 'Baby' is a standin for the baby's name. I would characterize this as 'reasonably standard' for spoken language, but a little odd in written language, but could help convey a conversational tone. I originally thought this was an example of metonymy, but I don't think it is (this is more like 'role-instead-of-name'), so I don't know what the term for this is, and I'm finding it surprisingly hard to search for. I can imagine using it for a profession or job as well, but the contexts of use seem reasonably specific.
- technofiend 10y ago
  >could help convey a conversational tone. Plus saying "your baby" is potentially overly familiar and possibly confrontational. Using baby with no article makes it indeterminate - it's the idea of their baby as opposed to the actual baby itself.
- fibbery 10y ago
  I agree that it is a stand in for a name. Some ideas on why that might be: -- sometimes babies don't immediately have names, and we need a way to refer to them -- professionals who work around babies and in birthing tend to address both the baby and the adults by their family relationships (it's Mom, Dad, Grandad, etc. instead of George and Laura). This is presumably because that helps it keep clear what everyone's the relationships is to the baby, and what role they should play in the whole process. -- babies aren't really people with their own unique identities when they are first born, so maybe it is kind of awkward to address them with their full adult name.
Mindless2112 10y ago
> You wouldn't say 'sister doesn't know' Parents do sometimes use "brother" or "sister" without an article when speaking to their young children.
deleted 10y ago
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djrogers 10y ago

In this context, baby is sometimes used as a proper noun to indicate a singular, specific baby. It sounds more personal than 'that baby', and has been in fairly common use for as long as I can remember in both Canada and the US (at least here on the west coast). Oh, and you may in fact here the phrases 'sister doesn't know' or 'boss doesn't know' in some circumstances, although in those instances it would be more of a slang/affectation/colloquialism and not as common as 'baby'.

Afton 10y ago

Interesting question! In this case 'Baby' is a standin for the baby's name. I would characterize this as 'reasonably standard' for spoken language, but a little odd in written language, but could help convey a conversational tone. I originally thought this was an example of metonymy, but I don't think it is (this is more like 'role-instead-of-name'), so I don't know what the term for this is, and I'm finding it surprisingly hard to search for. I can imagine using it for a profession or job as well, but the contexts of use seem reasonably specific.

technofiend 10y ago
>could help convey a conversational tone. Plus saying "your baby" is potentially overly familiar and possibly confrontational. Using baby with no article makes it indeterminate - it's the idea of their baby as opposed to the actual baby itself.
fibbery 10y ago
I agree that it is a stand in for a name. Some ideas on why that might be: -- sometimes babies don't immediately have names, and we need a way to refer to them -- professionals who work around babies and in birthing tend to address both the baby and the adults by their family relationships (it's Mom, Dad, Grandad, etc. instead of George and Laura). This is presumably because that helps it keep clear what everyone's the relationships is to the baby, and what role they should play in the whole process. -- babies aren't really people with their own unique identities when they are first born, so maybe it is kind of awkward to address them with their full adult name.

Mindless2112 10y ago

> You wouldn't say 'sister doesn't know' Parents do sometimes use "brother" or "sister" without an article when speaking to their young children.

deleted 10y ago

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