definitywnymi

Definitywnymi is a term used in theoretical linguistics to denote a proposed class of determiner-like expressions capable of yielding both definite and indefinite readings depending on discourse context. The term appears in discussions of how determiner and noun phrases interact with pragmatics and world knowledge, and it is treated as a neologism rather than a standard category in mainstream typology. The form definitywnymi is the instrumental plural of the hypothetical adjective definitywny in Polish, used in examples to illustrate the concept.

Definition and scope: Definitywnymi constructions are described as operating at the level of determiner phrases and are argued to rely on pragmatic inference rather than fixed morphosyntactic markers. They are typified by context-sensitivity: in one discourse they may be interpreted as definite, while in another they may read as indefinite. The idea has been discussed mainly in the context of cross-linguistic typology and discourse-based approaches to definiteness, where languages vary in how determiner-like meaning is encoded or inferred.

Usage and examples: In discussions, authors typically present hypothetical sentences or scenarios to show how a single definitywnymi-marked NP could yield different readings without explicit morphosyntactic change. For example, a sentence in narrative or argumentative discourse might lead listeners to infer a definite reading in one segment and an indefinite reading in another, depending on salience, specificity, and shared knowledge. The goal is to capture how readers or listeners negotiate meaning through context rather than solely through syntax.

Reception and status: The notion of definitywnymi remains niche and debated. Some scholars view it as a useful thought experiment for examining the boundaries between definiteness and indefiniteness, while others criticize it as lacking sufficient empirical support. The term has not achieved widespread adoption in major grammars or corpora, and its practical applicability is a topic for ongoing research.

See also: definiteness, indefiniteness, determiner phrases, pragmatics, cross-linguistic semantics.