Determination (linguistics)

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In linguistics, determination is a category of linguistic reference ( reference ). It differentiates between the parameters indefinite , definite , specific and generic . Determination is often expressed in European languages using the noun or the noun phrase , but it can also be controlled using the verb . In other languages, determination is controlled by inflection .

Types of Determination

Determination assigns a noun the relationship it can have with its extra-linguistic reference object. A distinction is made primarily between definite and indefinite references; this is illustrated below using a few examples from the German language.

Indefinite reference

Indefinite reference occurs when a noun behaves in any way to a class of extra-linguistic reference objects ; i.e., no reference is made to a specific copy: 

„Gegenüber wohnt ein Känguru.“

This type of reference can in German by the particles any be enhanced if this arbitrariness is to be highlighted.

Definite reference

Definite reference must be divided into at least two sub-categories:

  • definite type
  • definite token

Definite type

In German, the determinatives determine such and what kind of noun by type, i.e. In other words, they refer to the properties of a reference object: 

„Was für ein Känguru ist das?“

„Solch ein Känguru hab ich noch nie erlebt.“

Definite token

The determinatives Welch and DIES and Jen contrast pinpoint a particular token within a class of underlying assets, which is distinguished from other members of this class: 

„Welches Känguru wohnt gegenüber von dir, dieses oder jenes?“

The definite article d- ( the / die / das ) also belongs to these determinatives, but has additional functions. For example, he can refer to a generic prototype that represents a whole class of reference objects: 

„Das Känguru ist ein Symbol für Australien.“

Quotential determination

In German there are also determinatives that refer to a subset of reference objects: 

„Jedes Känguru kann springen, manch ein Känguru kann auch boxen, aber kein Känguru kann rückwärts gehen.“

„Viele Kängurus leben in Australien, aber manche auch woanders.“

Piece or fabric name?

The question of whether a reference object for a noun is countable (English countable noun, count noun ) or not countable (English uncountable noun, uncount noun ) is regulated by the determination (for more details see countable noun ).

Determinative morphology

The morphology is concerned as a branch of linguistics with the question of expressing grammatical categories in any form linguistic signs. The Hungarian language, for example, expresses the category determination in both nominal and verbal inflection. Compare the following sentences: 

Nekem van egy könyvem. (indefinit: „Ich habe ein Buch.“)
Nálam van a könyv. (definit: „Ich habe das Buch.“)

It can be seen that Hungarian, like German, has articles , namely an indefinite ( egy ) as well as a definite ( a or before vowel- like subsequent words az ). However, unlike German, Hungarian also has two different verb forms that congruent with the object in the category Determination (indefinite / definite): 

Olvasok egy könyvet. (indefinit: „Ich lese ein Buch.“)
Olvasom a könyvet. (definit: „Ich lese das Buch.“)

This phenomenon, that a grammatical category is expressed twice in a referential subject, is called redundancy . However, if the object of the sentence ("book") is suppressed, the expression of the grammatical category Determination via the verb form is retained (while German uses a pronoun to distinguish between {definit / indefinit}): 

Olvasok. (indefinit: „Ich lese.“)
Olvasom. (definit: „Ich lese es.“)

Other languages, such as Czech , have no articles: 

Mám knihu. (indefinit oder definit: „Ich habe ein/das Buch.“)

Instead, determination is often expressed through the choice of the verbal aspect, e.g. by adding a prefix to the verb stem. The verbal aspect actually primarily expresses the grammatical category {imperfective / perfective}. So it relates to whether the action is completed or incomplete, but often indirectly refers to a possible object. Compare the following sentences: 

Četl jsem knihu. (imperfektiv: „Ich habe ein Buch (aber nicht unbedingt das ganze) gelesen.“)
Přečetl jsem knihu. (perfektiv: „Ich habe das (ganze) Buch gelesen.“)

Determination flexion

Some languages ​​express the determinant value {definite} using suffixes ; compare the definite noun phrase "the sun" in the Balkan languages : 

albanisch diell=i
bulgarisch slănce=to
rumänisch soare=le

Also in the Scandinavian languages : 

isländisch sól=in
färöisch sól=in
norwegisch sol=a/sol=en
schwedisch sol=en
dänisch sol=en

In Icelandic , the suffix = in can also precede the noun as an article ( hin sól ); but this is very rare in everyday language.

These are definitely inflections ; for example, the final is changed in Albanian: 

mace „eine Katze“
macja „die Katze“

An article suffix with the determination value {indefinit} is known from Persian , an otherwise articleless language: 

mard „(der) Mann“
mard=i „ein Mann“

Suffixes are also used in the Kurdish languages to express the values ​​{definite / indefinit}:

"Sun" Northern Kurdish
( Kurmanji ) 		Central Kurdish
( Sorani ) 		South Kurdish
definitely roj -Ø roj = eke roj-e
indefinite roj-ek roj-êk roj-êk

In Ossetian , determination is indicated by shifting the accent: 

færǽt „eine Axt“
fǽræt „die Axt“

Attributive Determination

In the Baltic and some Slavic languages , the determination of the noun phrase is expressed using different adjective forms; compare, for example, in Lithuanian : 

lit. jaunas vyras „ein junger Mann“
lit. jaunasis vyras „der junge Mann“

Or in Slovenian : 

sn. nov avto „ein neues Auto“
sn. novi avto „das neue Auto“

Determinative particles

In the Austronesian language Cebuano there are so-called particles (i.e. non-inflectable words) that precede the noun - but only if this is the object of a transitive verb: 

Mipalit si Juan sa sakyanan. (definites Objekt: „Juan kaufte das Auto.“)
Mipalit si Juan og sakyanan. (indefinites Objekt: „Juan kaufte ein Auto.“)

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