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Some languages have no definite or indefinite article, for example, I think, Polish. So the Polish word kot could mean "a cat" or "the cat". So in a glossed example, and not knowing the context, how do we represent this in the translation? I guess it could be 'a/the cat', or could you pick one form - definite or indefinite - and stick with that form throughout an essay etc.?

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Do you really mean in the interlinear gloss, i.e. in the metalanguage representation (2nd line of most linguistic examples), or do you mean in the free translation (3rd line of most linguistic examples)? – lapropriu Nov 14 '12 at 22:53
@lapropriu I mean the free translation :) – Danger Fourpence Nov 15 '12 at 10:47
I've seen semanticists give example pairs with specified contexts. I've also seen people give 2 translations. 'a/the' looks ok to me too, but I think picking one form as a convenient shorthand is not ideal. Suppose a reader doesn't carefully read your paper but just glances at your examples. – lapropriu Nov 15 '12 at 21:55
A definite article attracts more attention to the noun than indefinite, since reader will try to establish a previous context, and I guess it is rather undesirable in examples not referring to articles. – Lyth Nov 15 '12 at 22:45
Does not English use zero article in such circumstates? I saw several examples when zero article was used when it was hard to choose. – Anixx Nov 16 '12 at 1:11
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As was said in the comments, just selecting one arbitrarily and sticking to it is probably a bad idea as this could be confusing. Your best options are probably to either:

  1. Provide the necessary context so as to resolve the definiteness of what is being referred to.

  2. Use 'a/the' in the translation line. An example of this can be found in the WALS Online entry for definite articles in the example from the Cherokee language.

It probably depends on the purpose of your example. If it is to point out that the language does not possess definite or indefinite articles (as in the Cherokee examples), then the second option would be the way to go, otherwise it's up to you I guess.

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