Definitely

There is an interesting discussion going on at the SFist regarding the local use, or rather the lack thereof, of the definite article when referring to interstates and freeways.

Basically, it is, like, so totally SoCal to refer to roads as "the" 405, or "the" 805. While is it very SF to merely say, "take 101 to San Mateo," "it's just off 280" or "take 280 to get to the airport." No "the"s.

The point of the letter to the editor/SFist is that it makes you look like a newbie, which is bad for someone writing for the SFist, if you refer to it as "the" 101. What's worse, it makes you sounds like you are from hell LA.

It's a fun read, especially the comments.

But my thinking is this: it is not so much a local SF thing to avoid the definite article when referring to roads. I think it is just an annoying greater-LA thing. In Nashville, no one says "take the 440 and then take the 40 when you pass the Murfreesboro road exit." That just sounds like some sort of bumpkin' who might refer to the family car as "the machine." I imagine "newfangled" is also part of their vocabulary.

When I want to sound particularly unsophisticated, I might refer to something I saw "on the tee-vee." Emphasis on the "the." Although I do refer to paper dailies as "the paper" and in this case use "take" to mean "subscribe" (Do you take the paper? Only on Sundays.). But I also think that sounds more sophisticated, not less.

And for the old-timers who might refer to "the" TV*, Google is now launching a site just for them: TheGoogle.com.




*Why does the sentence "I saw it on the tee vee." sound uneducated but "I heard it on the radio." sounds proper?

I'm just askin'.