Odlinost

Odlinost is a conceptual term used in social sciences and humanities to denote the degree of distance or remoteness between entities, such as individuals, groups, or places. It captures physical separation as well as social, cultural, and emotional distance that can influence interaction, communication, and access to resources. In several Slavic languages the word carries meanings related to distance, remoteness, or aloofness, though its precise interpretation depends on context.

Etymologically, od- is a common prefix meaning away or from, and -linost functions as a root associated with proximity or alignment in scholarly usage. The term appears in theoretical writings as a shorthand for the composite state of being distant in multiple dimensions, rather than a single measurable attribute.

In anthropology and sociology, odlinost is used to discuss how distance shapes social networks, information flow, and cooperation. Researchers may estimate odlinost with perceptual scales, geographic distance metrics, or social-network metrics, and examine its associations with participation, diffusion processes, or well-being. Urban design and policy analysis sometimes consider odlinost to assess barriers to inclusion or service access.

In literary and cultural studies, odlinost helps describe character dynamics, cultural separation, and the effects of mobility on identity. The concept also appears in discourse analysis to address how speakers construct and respond to perceived distance in conversation.

See also: distance, social distance, isolation, psychological distance, remoteness, accessibility.