Okrelniki

Okrelniki, a term used in Polish linguistics, denotes a broad class of function words that determine the reference of a noun within a noun phrase. They are commonly analyzed as determiners, a category that governs how a noun is identified, quantified, or qualified. The exact scope of the class varies by language and grammar tradition, but it typically includes articles, demonstratives, possessives, numerals used as determiners, and certain quantifiers.

In languages that have articles, determiners subdivide into definite and indefinite articles, demonstratives, possessives, numbers, and quantifiers. Some grammars treat all of these forms as a single determiner class (okrelniki), while others separate articles from demonstratives or possessives. The label is used to discuss how such words restrict and specify the reference of a noun, rather than describe inherent properties of the noun itself.

Polish usage highlights how the concept operates without a dedicated definite or indefinite article. The noun phrase reference is signaled by demonstratives and possessives, and by numerals when used as determiners. Examples include ta książka (this book), moja książka (my book), and dwa psy (two dogs). The determiner position is typically immediately before the noun and often agrees with it in gender, number, and case in languages with rich agreement.

Syntactic behavior varies across languages. Determiners usually precede adjectives and other modifiers and contribute to information structure by signaling definiteness, specificity, or quantity. The study of okrelniki intersects with broader discussions of noun phrases, determiners, and cross-linguistic variation in syntax. See also: determiner (linguistics), Polish grammar.