Zempisný

Zempisný is a neologism used in theoretical linguistics to describe a hypothetical property of clauses that signals the epistemic stance of the speaker toward the reported proposition. In discussions, zempisný constructions are proposed to encode indirectness or inference, as opposed to information obtained through direct perception. The term remains speculative and is not widely adopted in formal grammars or dictionaries.

Etymology and status: The word is a recent coinage with no widely accepted etymology. There is no standard orthography or codified definition in major reference works, and its use is limited to a small set of academic drafts and online discussions rather than peer‑reviewed publications.

Characteristics: Zempisný is described as an optional morphological or syntactic marker linked to evidentiality and epistemic modality. It may be proposed to occur on verbs or subordinate clauses to indicate that the content was inferred, deduced, or reported rather than directly observed. In cross‑linguistic surveys of evidential systems, zempisný is discussed as a theoretical construct for capturing cross‑linguistic patterns of indirect grounding, though concrete cross‑linguistic evidence remains limited.

Examples: In a hypothetical sentence, a zempisný marker on a clause could signal that the speaker arrived at the conclusion through reasoning about other information rather than through direct experience. As a result, the clause would carry a different communicative weight than a corresponding direct observation form.

Usage and reception: Zempisný has not achieved standard status in linguistic typology. It remains a speculative term used to frame discussions about evidentiality and epistemic stance, awaiting formal definition, empirical testing, and broader scholarly scrutiny.

See also: Evidentiality, Epistemic modality, Linguistic typology, Grammatical markers.