Määretingimused

Määretingimukset are the linguistic conditions that determine when and how a determiner-like element appears in a noun phrase to signal referential properties such as definiteness, specificity, or identifiability. The term is used in linguistics to describe the interplay between a noun and its marking or accompanying words that help fix which entity is being talked about.

In typology, determiner use varies across languages. Some languages have explicit articles or definite markers, while others rely on demonstratives, possessives, quantifiers, or context to convey similar meanings. Määretingimukset help explain why a language may require a determiner in some contexts but not in others, and how different determiner types contribute to the interpretation of a noun phrase. They also relate to discourse factors such as givenness, referential salience, and focus.

In Finnish, for example, there is no dedicated definite article. Determiner-like meaning is conveyed through other elements such as demonstratives (tämä, tuo), possessives (minun, hänen), or quantitative reference. The noun phrase kirja can be indefinite in isolation, while tämä kirja specifies a particular book in the discourse. Thus, the määretingimukset in Finnish concern how demonstratives, possessives, and related elements interact with noun phrases to express definiteness and reference, often guided by context and discourse.

See also: determiners, definiteness, noun phrase, Finnish grammar.