Belirticileri

Belirticileri is a linguistic term used in Turkish grammar to refer to the class of deictic expressions that point to referents in discourse or the physical context. The word belirtici literally means “indicator,” formed from belirt- (to indicate) with the suffix -ici (pertaining to). In many grammars, these expressions are treated as demonstratives, a broader category that includes words used as adjectives before nouns as well as pronouns standing on their own. Because Turkish terminology varies, some sources distinguish belirticileri from other demonstratives by focusing on their function as indicators of reference in context.

Belirticileri appear in two primary functions. As determiners, they modify a noun to indicate reference in space or discourse, as in bu kitap (this book), şu araba (that car near the listener), and o ev (that house far away). As pronouns, they replace a noun or noun phrase, as in bunlar (these), şunlar (those near), and onlar (those far or simply they used demonstratively in plural contexts). Turkish commonly uses a three-way distance system: bu (this/these), şu (that/those near you), and o (that/those far away).

Usage and notes. While belirticileri are often equated with demonstratives, some grammars reserve the term for the broader category that also encompasses related demonstrative adjectives and pronouns. They interact with number and case in Turkish (e.g., bu kitaplar, bunlar), and their role can be purely deictic or referential, depending on sentence structure. In language teaching and linguistics, belirticileri are typically discussed alongside other deictic terms under the umbrella of demonstratives and deixis.