"Doctor" and "baby" without noun markers

[dieastra]

I just posted this entry in the community linguaphiles but I thought I put it into here as well, as I know you all love a good discussion once in a while and maybe we all learn something new by it! If you want to check the replies in the comm, the entry is here: http://linguaphiles.livejournal.com/5988669.html

Hi, I'm from Germany and I am wondering about something that I repeatedly encounter recently in the British TV series "Call the midwife" (which is set in London in the 1950s if that is important).

I am pharaphrasing here, but there are often sentences spoken by the nurses and sisters which go like "I'll call doctor and he'll check whether baby is okay."

For me this sounds odd, as I would say "I call THE doctor so he can make sure YOUR baby is okay." Why are there no noun markers with those two specific words? Are there other words like that? You would not do this with "girl" or "boy" would you?

And on a side note, I also find it a bit odd that in the English language men for example apparently refer to their wife as just "the wife" and not proudly "my wife" as it is in Germany. It seems a bit impersonal. Do they also say "the boy" instead of "my boy"?

I am always trying to improve my English so I am musing about these things and why there is this difference. Many thanks for your help!

Comments

Re: yay, another digression

[dieastra.livejournal.com]

I hadn't known brilliant was a typical British word. We use it in Germany as well, but with different spelling - just brillant. I always have to think to not do it wrong!

I think believing has everything to do with how you grow up. What you get taught as a child. If you grow up like this, and everyone around you is the same, of course it comes very natural to you. But I just can't understand how someone can change something so important later in his life. I recently read an article about a man who fell in love with a Turkish woman living in Germany (and she with him). She stated outright that if he wanted to marry her, he needs to become a moslem. And so he did, just like that. How can you change from believing into one God to another in the split of a second? I don't get that.

And that's why I cannot see me changing something so importantly. It's too late for that. That does not mean that I still can live in a Christian way as I of course believe in treating others the way I want to be treated. This should be universal law, no matter which God.

I met a few people at Avalon, do you remember Su from Jackfic, the one who wrote all the shipping stories? Also I bumped into a girl from the MacGyver forum, by accident on the street. It led to the last wonderful evening in the pub, where I met Paya and we became friends.

If you ever make it over here, I'd love to show you around! In the meantime, yes, please show Jack and the team around! I'd really love to see those pictures.

Do you know this journal? She is more of an Atlantis fan and makes funny pictures with John and Rodney, here is the latest installment: http://sgamadison.livejournal.com/