article for mythology

[Musicgold]

Hi,

I read the following sentence # 1 in a book. If 'mythology' is a common noun, why there is no article before the phrase 'Greek mythology'?
For example, see sentece #2 and #3, I found on the net. 'The' has been used for common nouns 'alphabet' and 'language'.

1. Before we analyze this, let us consider a story from Greek mythology.

2. The Greek alphabet has been in continuous use for the past 2,750 years or so since about 750 BC.
3. The Greek language is an Indo-European language. It is the official language of Greece and Cyprus

Thanks,

MG.

[Jamie (K)]

The reason is that "mythology" is an uncountable noun. "Myth" is countable, and "mythology" is uncountable, so it's just like "tennis" or "mathematics". We wouldn't say, "He plays the tennis," or, "This is a problem from the mathematics."

It would be possible in French and Spanish, but not in English.

[Musicgold]

Jamie (K),
Thanks. However, my question is about the definite article, that can go before 'Greek Mythology'. Even uncountable nouns can take definite articles.

In addition, I remember reading this :A map showing different mythologies through continents....
Here 'mythology' is a countable noun.

[Jamie (K)]

If I remember correctly, you're a French speaker.

Some languages, like French and Spanish, when talking about a thing or things in general, put a definite article before its noun. So, when they want to say, "He likes baseball," they say instead, "He likes the baseball." If they want to say, "She studies literature," they say instead, "She studies the literature." If they want to say, "He teaches mythology," they say instead, "He teaches the mythology."

In English, the rule is that we don't use a definite article in this context. We would say:

"She studies literature." (This means that she studies literature in general.)
"He teaches mythology." (This means he teaches mythology in general.)
"He likes baseball. (He likes the sport of baseball in general.)

Sometimes adding the definite article can change the sentence's meaning:

"He likes baseball. (He likes the sport of baseball in general.)
"He likes the baseball. (He likes one actual physical ball used for playing the sport.)

"She loves horses." (She loves all horses.)
"She loves the horses." (She loves certain specific horses that we've already mentioned.

[Musicgold]

Jamie (K),
Thanks. No, I am not a French speaker. My problem is more serious ;). In my native language, there is no concept of articles! Everything is based on the context of the sentence.

Also, what is your view about the sentence with the word 'mythologies'?

[Jamie (K)]