Scenes with characters leaving out definite articles? Or using too many?

August 7, 2024 11:29 AM

In an effort to demonstrate how crucial the proper use of the word “the” is to sounding like a native speaker, I’m looking for movie or TV scenes that depict something like a Russian person leaving out definite articles when speaking, or a French person using too many of them. Need to be suitable for the workplace and not denigrating to non-native speakers, but silly is fine.
posted by ahthefrench to Writing & Language (12 answers total)

I immediately thought of Chance in a Million, but now that I see the description in the article, I'm reminded that he leaves out a lot more than just "the":

His style of speaking is a key component of his comic nature. He speaks only in short staccato sentences similar to a telegram, devoid of personal pronouns and conjunctions: "Can’t talk Alison. Car being towed. Problem with lawn furniture."

Still, if you can find any episodes, you might enjoy checking them out to see if they'd be useful (or just because they're funny).
posted by kristi at 12:54 PM on August 7

I feel like this is very common in stereotypical comedy Russian/Slavic accents. The classic example would be Boris & Natasha, found here discussing Moose and Squirrel. Omitting the definite article is one of the defining features of their (very broad, not-at-all-authentic) Russian accent. Borat is a similar example, though I doubt you could find seven consecutive words that are suitable for the workplace.
posted by ourobouros at 1:31 PM on August 7

As long as you don't mind dated stereotypes, you can go back to Yacov Smirnoff. He does drop the occasional definite article.....
posted by Bigbootay. Tay! Tay! Blam! Aargh... at 1:48 PM on August 7

I'm pretty sure Teddy KGB, the character played by John Malkovich in Rounders does this, but, depending on your audience, a guy named Teddy KGB may or may not be appropriate.
posted by OHenryPacey at 2:52 PM on August 7

Lampshaded by Peter Sellers' character in Murder by Death. He plays "Mr Wang," and over-the-top parody of Charlie Chan. Note that it's yellowface and intentionally offensive.
posted by basalganglia at 3:23 PM on August 7

It's hard to get more wholesome than Chekhov in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. Note that the actor is American and faking the Russian accent.
posted by heatherlogan at 4:07 PM on August 7

Just missed the edit window -- on rewatch of some clips, Chekhov *does* use articles, so that is a bad example!
posted by heatherlogan at 4:12 PM on August 7

Too many "the"s is a characteristic of Starfire's speech in the Teen Titans and Teen Titans Go! cartoons.
posted by jomato at 4:13 PM on August 7 [1 favorite]

The Pink Panther movies are on Prime. Peter Sellers is amazing asking for a "rheum" at a hotel, and everything else. I can't remember misuse of definite articles, though.
posted by Enid Lareg at 4:33 PM on August 7

"Excuse, please!" Mr Moto has word to say to you (if you excuse rather racist sterotypes....)

I suppose it is akin to any French character going "It is, how you say, en garde mon ami!"
posted by Bigbootay. Tay! Tay! Blam! Aargh... at 5:15 PM on August 7

Despicable Me 4 has a French villain, Maxime Le Mal, who says something like, "He runs and hides like ze mouse, and we find him like ze cat!"
posted by praemunire at 5:33 PM on August 7

Zat is what I call my cat: Ze Miaou.....
posted by Bigbootay. Tay! Tay! Blam! Aargh... at 5:39 PM on August 7