Definitvdefinitiv

Definitvdefinitiv is a linguistics term used to describe a proposed two-layer system of definiteness marking within noun phrases. The concept envisions a noun phrase bearing two sequential markers that convey distinct notions of definiteness: a primary definite marker identifying referents as identifiable to participants, and a secondary discourse-definiteness marker signaling the referent’s status within the current discourse, such as givenness or salience. The term is a portmanteau that riffs on elements of definiteness and definitivity, and it is mainly discussed in theoretical or constructed-language contexts rather than as an established feature of natural languages.

In analytical treatments, definitvdefinitiv is typically modeled as either two clitics attached to a noun phrase or as a compound determiner. The two components are often labeled DEF (definite) and DF (discourse-definite). The combined form yields a noun phrase that is intended to be both referentially identifiable and integrated into the discourse flow. The idea is considered in relation to givenness, discourse cohesion, and the ways languages manage multiple determiner systems, including parallels to repeated demonstratives or layered definiteness in fictional grammars.

Examples are primarily hypothetical. In a constructed grammar, the noun phrase the-DEF-DF book could be glossed as “the definite book that is discourse-known.” Another instance might be a-DEF-DF person referring to an individual already introduced in the conversation. Because the concept remains theoretical, empirical evidence and cross-linguistic attestation are limited and debated.

See also: definiteness, determiner, givenness, double determiner, clitic doubling.