"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

[dieastra.livejournal.com]

Really! I would have not thought it. But yes, I assumed they all were women as well (just because on the internet in general seem to be more women, discussion all the ships in TV shows and writing fanfictions etc.).

I only got suspicious when they discussed wanting to build an army of Jaffa figures and wanted space-ships and doing fights, and when they commented on the size of the boobs of the Sam Carter figure ;)

I don't have any experience with relationships whatsoever, and can do what pleases me without asking anyone, but I think the key would be having a box with money each contributes to, which goes for the rent of the apartment or whatever else bill has to be paid, but everyone also should have an ammount for themselves, which they can spend as they want, without having to answer any quesstion. Like pocket money for children.