definithet

Definithet is a theoretical term in linguistics used to describe a proposed mechanism by which definiteness is established in referential expressions. It denotes a contextual feature that signals whether a speaker treats a referent as uniquely identifiable within the current discourse or situation. In some accounts, definithet operates alongside standard definite articles or demonstratives but functions as an annotation of referential status rather than a surface form.

Origins and scope: The term emerged in discussions of cross-linguistic variation in definiteness encoding and in analyses of discourse salience. It is typically treated as a functional property, not tied to a particular language’s overt morphology.

Mechanics and interaction: A noun phrase marked definithet is, in theory, more strongly constrained to refer to a unique, identifiable entity within the discourse than an unmarked form. The presence or absence of definithet can influence determiner choice, anaphoric resolution, and interpretation by listeners. In some frameworks, definithet interacts with memory and salience to shape how speakers align referents with discourse structure.

Reception and critique: As a theoretical construct, definithet has been defended for capturing nuances of referentiality that standard definiteness analyses miss, but it has also faced criticisms for potential over-parameterization and limited empirical validation.

See also: Definiteness, Definite article, Demonstrative, Anaphora.