Nouns and Noun Phrases - University of Macau Library

718 Syntax of Dutch: nouns and noun phrases
Dutch has an extended, argumental use of the vocative where the speaker uses
dokter/dominee as the subject of a yes/no-question, addressing the question to the
person referred to by the noun. As illustrated in (109a), the profession nouns can
then optionally be preceded by a definite determiner. Finally, constructions like
(109b) are typically used in addressing persons who would use the “label”
dokter/dominee as a vocative for the person under discussion.
(109) a. Wil (de) dokter/dominee misschien ook een kopje thee?
wants the doctor/vicar perhaps also a cup [of] tea
‘Would you also like a cup of tea, doctor/vicar?’
b. (De) dokter/dominee komt zo.
the doctor/vicar comes straightaway
‘The doctor/vicar will be with you in a moment.’
Other profession nouns, like ober ‘waiter’, can also be used as vocatives, as is
shown in (110a). They are, however, not normal in constructions like (110b&c).
Example (110b) is unacceptable without the article, and is stylistically marked even
with the article (it has a patronizing ring to it); example (110c) is excluded without
the article, and with the article the noun phrase acts as a normal referring
expression.
(110) a. Ober, twee bier, alstublieft.
waiter two beer please
b. Wil *(de) ober ook een biertje?
wants the waiter also a beer
c. *(De) ober komt zo.
the waiter comes so
Vocatives like mevrouw ‘madam’ and meneer ‘sir’ can be used in the same
way. In examples like (111a), the vocatives are used as a common way of politely
addressing an adult person. In examples like (111b) and especially (111c), on the
other hand, the social rank of the addressee becomes more prominent: mevrouw and
meneer are then used to express a difference in social status with the addressee
being placed high(er) on the social scale. These examples feel somewhat oldfashioned.
Note that the use of an article is not possible.
(111) a. Kan ik u helpen, mevrouw/meneer?
can I you help madam/sir
‘Can I help you, ma’am/sir?’
b. Wil (*de) mevrouw/meneer misschien ook een kopje thee?
wants the madam/sir perhaps also a cup [of] tea
c. (*De) mevrouw/meneer komt zo.
the madam/sir comes straightaway
Kinship nouns like grootmoeder ‘grandmother’ in (112) can also be used in a
way similar to the nouns in (109) and (111). As mevrouw/meneer in (111), these
kinship nouns are never preceded by a definite determiner. Note that in all these
examples the more intimate noun oma, which comes somewhat closer to a true
vocative, would normally be used.