[Grammar] “Can I help you?” said the voice.

[emp0608]

Hi folks,
Could anyone explain to me why the definite article is used for the first ‘voice’? It’s from A Minute to Midnight by David Baldacci.
They got out and looked around.
“See anyone?” asked Blum.
“No. No cars, either, but the garage might be around back.”
“Can I help you?” said the voice.
They turned to look around for the person.
“Can I help you?” said the voice again.

Thanks as always,
emp0608

 

[GoesStation]

It's referring to a voice which has been mentioned previously.

 

[emp0608]

It hasn't been mentioned previously. That's why I find the use of the definite article very unusual.

Here's a longer quote:
The home was large, new, and contemporary in design, with lots of metal and glass.
“Looks like something you’d see a tech mogul build in Palo Alto,” commented Pine as she slowed the SUV and pulled to a stop in front of the house.
They got out and looked around.
“See anyone?” asked Blum.
“No. No cars, either, but the garage might be around back.”
“Can I help you?” said the voice.
They turned to look around for the person.
“Can I help you?” said the voice again.
The sound seemed to be coming from the front door.
“They must have one of those video security systems,” said Pine. They stepped up to the front door and Pine held up her badge.

 

[Tdol]

We use it for speech coming from a machine.

 

[jutfrank]

Yes, it is odd. The writer apparently wants to make reference to the voice as if the reader already knows the identity of the voice. It's hard to guess why he'd want to do that, but that is what he wanted to do. Perhaps later context might shed some light on that decision.

 

[Tdol]

They use it for person too, so I guess they are thinking of it as unique.

 

[teechar]

One more correction.

“No. No cars, either, but the garage might be around the back.”

 

[emsr2d2]

I believe "around/round back" is OK in AmE.

 

[teechar]

I believe "around/round back" is OK in AmE.

That's a new one to me. Thanks for clarifying it. I would certainly never say it without "the".

 

[emsr2d2]

Nor would I, but I'm certain I've heard it multiple times by AmE speakers. When they wake up, I'm sure one of them will confirm (or otherwise!)

 

[GoesStation]

"Around back" is perfectly fine in casual American English.

 

[emp0608]

I have received an email from one of Baldacci’s staff members, in which she explains as follows: “In this instance, since there was only one voice speaking, I suspect that David chose to use “the voice” (to indicate a specific voice coming from the security system). That said, “a voice” would have been correct as well. It is simply a matter of the author’s preference.” (I’m posting this with her permission.)

 

[emsr2d2]

I have received an email from one of Baldacci’s staff members, in which she explains as follows: “In this instance, since there was only one voice speaking, I suspect that David chose to use “the voice” (to indicate a specific voice coming from the security system). That said, “a voice” would have been correct as well. It is simply a matter of the author’s preference.” (I’m posting this with her permission.)

Wow! That is the first time I have ever known someone actually try to contact an author to ask why they wrote what they did. More to the point, I'm impressed that they replied!

 

[jutfrank]

I can't quite see the point of asking one of Balducci's staff members. Only the author himself is able to satisfactorily answer your question.

 

[emsr2d2]

I can't quite see the point of asking one of Balducci's staff members. Only the author himself is able to satisfactorily answer your question.

I imagine David Baldacci is a bit too busy to deal with the amount of correspondence he probably gets from all over the world. Most authors have agents or other staff members who deal with such enquiries. If the staff member in question knows his writing style well enough, she might well have given a satisfactory answer. At any rate, it's the closest the OP is going to get to a direct answer from the author.

 

[jutfrank]

If the staff member in question knows his writing style well enough, she might well have given a satisfactory answer.

This isn't really anything to do with his style, I don't think. I don't think she's any more qualified than we are to guess what was going on in his mind regarding the choice of article used.

In fact, when she says it's simply a matter of the writer's preference, I think she's got it quite wrong. This is not merely a matter of preference—the question is why he chose to make reference to the voice in that way.

 

[emp0608]

To be honest what she writes sounds more like an excuse to me, although I really appreciate her writing back to me. Another thing I should mention is that the fact she has allowed me to share a part of her email with the forum members may indicate that she has obtained a permission from Mr. Baldacci himself.

 

[Tarheel]

To be honest what she writes sounds more like an excuse to me, although I really appreciate her writing back to me. Another thing I should mention is that the fact she has allowed me to share a part of her email with the forum members may indicate that she has obtained [STRIKE]a[/STRIKE] permission from Mr. Baldacci himself.

We don't use the article (a) there.

 

[emp0608]

In the same book, 'a voice' is used this wayine and Blum were crossing the front parlor of the Cottage when a voice called out. “I guess you don’t remember me.”

 

[Rover_KE]

Right—a voice is exactly what we'd have expected to read way back in post #1 rather than the voice.