Why is it now Enterprise and not THE Enterprise?

[Cliffy]

I recall us commenting on this last year when Enterprise (the show) first came out. My theory is that the producers are making a conscious effort to have the (on-screen) characters refer to the ship without the definite article as a way of distinguishing it from past incarnations of the show. I thought it was kinda a cool idea – a very small thing which would sail under most viewers’ radar but which would nonetheless add a different feel to this crew’s adventures.

–Cliffy

[gonzoron]

*Originally posted by AmbushBug *
**
“Kirk to Enterprise, come in, Enterprise…”
**

OK, you’ve got me on that one, but on the whole, it was “the”

Trouble with Tribbles:
“I didn’t mean to say that the Enterprise should be hauling garbage. I meant to say that it should be hauled away AS garbage”

Generations:
“Who am I to argue with the captain of the Enterprise?”

[Cervaise]

*Originally posted by Steve Wright *
**When, I wonder, will we see the armies of the Suliban descending on Qo’noS with their orbital sanders, to smooth off all the Klingons’ foreheads? **

So the Suliban are orbital mechanics?

[TheeGrumpy]

*Originally posted by Tars Tarkas *
**That extra spaceship enterprise from TMP is mentioned in the Star Trek Chronology as a spaceship design from a failed pilot propsal, but is included as an extra spaceship in Enterprise 1701’s lounge. No other info on it has been mentioned, but i bet if they were to make an “extra” Special Edition of TMP they’d digitally change the Enterprise into Enterprise NX-01. Either that, or the Temporal Cold War changed the name of Humanities first warp 5 ship. **

There is a special edition of ST:TMP. I haven’t seen it, but I doubt such a trivial correction would have been made. Especially since, IIRC, the DVD was released over a year ago – before the premiere of “Enterprise.”

And it is Enterprise and not “the.” Maybe I’m just a sucker for naval parlance. I think it sounds more distinguished. Note: I have heard many (if not most) contemporary Navy and Coast Guard personnel refer to vessels as “the,” so I guess they don’t teach that at the academy anymore.

[Tars_Tarkas]

That’s why i said “extra” I haven’t had the chance to see it yet, as i’ve been blowing my cash on daikaiju movies and renting HK action flicks.

[robby]

*Originally posted by Pixellent *
Calling it “Enterprise” goes back to actual naval usage. Sailors tend to refer to their ships without the definite article attached.

10+ years in the U.S. Navy here, and I’ve always heard the definite article used.

[YPOD]

Maybe the use or dropping of the definite article is determined by the context. For example, let’s say Kirk/Picard or Archer simply want to bring or send something to the ship - they would say “send it to the Enterprise,” or if they can’t get a tramsmission - " I can’t raise the Enterprise."

If they want to refer to the crew, ship and mission, as a single entity, in that case the article is dropped, and it becomes something like “Enterprise was designed for that;” or “Enterprise can do that.” Dropping an expected article calls more attention to the statement, and makes you think more.

[YPOD]

Maybe the use or dropping of the definite article is determined by the context. For example, let’s say Kirk/Picard or Archer simply want to bring or send something to the ship - they would say “send it to the Enterprise,” or if they can’t get a tramsmission - " I can’t raise the Enterprise."

If they want to refer to the crew, ship and mission, as a single entity, in that case the article is dropped, and it becomes something like “Enterprise was designed for that;” or “Enterprise can do that.” Dropping an expected article calls more attention to the statement, and makes you stop and think about it more.