Belirleme

Belirleme is a Turkish noun that refers to the act or process of determining, specifying, or identifying something. It can denote the act of deciding a course of action, setting criteria, or establishing facts, as in phrases like belirleme süreci (the determination process) or belirleme aşaması (the stage of identification).

In linguistics and grammar, belirlilik or definiteness is a related concept, but Turkish typically marks definiteness through demonstratives, possessives, and context rather than a dedicated definite article. Some Turkish grammars discuss belirlilik and related notions under the umbrella of belirlilik kategorisi or belirlilik kavramı, describing how referents are made identifiable to the listener or reader. In this usage, belirleme concerns how a noun phrase signals its referential status, often through surrounding words rather than a fixed article.

The word is formed from the verb belirlemek (to determine, to specify) with the suffix -leme, which creates an abstract noun for the action. Related forms include belirlemek (to determine), belirleyici (determinative or determinative), and belirlenmesi (its determination or being determined). Common collocations include belirleme kriterleri (determination criteria), belirlenecek olan (the thing to be determined), and belirleme süreci (the determination process).

Etymologically, belirleme derives from bel- (to mark or define) combined with -leme, a productive suffix for noun formation in Turkish. It is used in formal, technical, or academic language as well as in everyday speech to refer to the act of making determinations or clarifications. See also belirlilik (definiteness) and belirtme (indication or reference).