Even Greener Pastures

NEAL! What is happening to my posts? I posted a detailed reply to this earlier and poof! It’s no where to be found!

Are you sure you really posted it, Steven? Don't get me wrong, I'm just trying to make sure, because this is potentially quite worrying, you know.

Duden might say that the indefinite article is “often” omitted with certain nouns, but that was not what I was taught in the 70s and 80s. I was taught it was always omitted with certain nouns and it is not optional to omit it. And, I’ve never heard anyone use an indefinite article not followed by an adjective before those certain sorts of nouns, either in writing or in speech. Not once. The rule is if the noun is not preceded by an adjective, the indefinite article ein or eine is omitted as long as the noun refers to origin, profession, an official position, a worldview, a religion, or a social status. Then examples are given. That’s what I learned and all I’ve ever heard when native speakers speak and I’ve never seen it written otherwise, ever.

You won't get any argument from me, Steven. I definitely agree with you more than with Mr. Duden's heirs in this instance - if anybody said something like "Ich bin ein Professor" to me, I'd conclude they either weren't a German native speaker or quite urgently needed their head examined.
But as it was, everybody just appreciated the sentiment, I think - it wouldn't have occurred to anybody to start quibbling about whether or not the indefinite article was surplus to requirements.


On the other hand, you know, after I'd posted my - perhaps unnecessarily flippant - comment, it did cross my mind that it was probably quite fortunate Khrushchev hadn't decided to wall off Vienna instead.