The article as a meaning-forming operator in the English language Contents: Introduction

2.1 Indefinite meaning expressed by a/an
The indefinite article expresses classification, or relative, classifying generalization of the referent, which means that this article refers the object denoted to a certain class.
Specific use of a/an
The indefinite article is often used while introducing a new specific entity into the discourse.
For example:
A 12- year old boy got mad on his parents Friday night because they refused to let him go fishing on the Colorado River with relatives. So, while his parents were distracted during a barbecue with eight adult friends, he slipped away from his sister and three brothers, snatched the keys to a Volkswagen Beetle and drove off in one of his parent's four cars, prompting fears that he had been kidnapped <…..> El Cajon police sent teletype descriptions of the curly haired , 90-pound sixth-grader to law enforcement agencies throughout Southern California and the Arizona border area. The boy was found unharmed - but scared and sleepy - at about noon yesterday by San Diego Country sheriff 's deputies. (news)
The indefinite article a (12- year old boy) introduces a pecific, but unnamed and unknown boy; afterwards the boy is referred to by pronouns (him, he) and definite noun phrase (the curly haired , 90-pound sixth-grader and the boy).
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - December 7, 2013 (WPVI)
A teenager who disappeared nearly two months ago mailed her mother a letter several weeks after she was last seen, law enforcement officials said Friday <…..> Law enforcement officials said the letter, which they called unprecedented in similar investigations, has given them hope, though they still have "grave concerns" for her safety <…..> Police asked people to be on the lookout for the dark-haired girl <…> "We implore Abby that if she hears this, if she's able to see this, contact us," she said. "We will do everything we can to reunite the girl with her mother. (news)
The discovery of a mysterious blonde girl at a Roma camp in Greece has spurred more than 10,000 phone calls and emails to the charity trying to identify her <….>The girl, who was discovered in the home of a couple with 13 other children, speaks only a Roma dialect and is believed to be around four years old. The couple have been charged with kidnapping and police say they have given at least five different accounts of how the child came to be with them. [18]
Unspecific use of a/an
The indefinite article is also used where the noun phrase does not refer to any specific individual:
I'm looking for a millionaire, she says, but I don't see any around.(conv)
I feel terrible, I need a friend.
A millionaire and a friend are unspecific and mean 'any person of that kind'.
« They required a driver, guide, and translator for a young man who would be in Lutsk at the dawn of the month of July…» [10; 17]
«It is near 50 kilometers from Lutsk,” Father said. “He possesses a map and is sanguine of the coordi nates. It should be simple.” » [10; 18]
«“Have you ever had a girlfriend?” I asked the hero. “Have you?” “I am inquiring you.”» [10; 84]
«I've never eaten a picture.» [10; 10]
«I will never kiss a woman.» [10; 260]
«But once you get a girlfriend, well, you know.” “I know very well.”» [10; 85]
Classifying or generic use of a/an
The indefinite article can also serve to classify an entity:
My brother is a doctor (classifying)
or to refer generically to what is typical of any member of the class as in:
A doctor is not better that his patient (generic)
« But I do not do these things because we are a family…» (classifying) [10; 49]
« If you want to know why, it is because Grandfather is Grandfather first and a driver second» [10; 75]
«He says that the bitch was named for his favorite singer, who was Sammy Davis, Junior.” “A Jew,” the hero said. “What?” “Sammy Davis, Junior was a Jew.”» [10;83]
«I was very flabbergasted by his appearance. This is an American? I thought. And also, This is a Jew? He was severely short» [10;68]
«When a Jew encounters a pin, he asks: What does it remember like?» (generic) [10;212]
«he was a Gypsy. He was a Jew» [10;256]
«An American in Ukraine is so flaccid to recognize» [10;41]
« …by what you wrote about how impossible it must have been for your grandmother to be a mother without a husband» [10; 156]
«You are very hungry, yes?” “I'm a vegetarian.” “I do not understand”»