gramaticals
Gramaticals is a term used in some linguistic discussions to denote a broad class of markers that encode grammatical relations and functions within clauses. In this sense, gramaticals are elements of language that help indicate who did what to whom, when events occur, and how speakers relate to the speech act, rather than naming objects or events themselves. Gramaticals may surface as independent words (function words), as clitics attached to hosts, or as bound affixes within verbs or nouns.
Typologically, gramaticals show wide variation. Some languages employ many distinct function words and clitics; others integrate
Examples in hypothetical or constructed languages illustrate the concept. In language X, a particle kai marks
Debate exists about whether gramaticals should be treated as a separate category or simply as part of
See also: grammar, functional word, clitic, affix, grammaticalization, morphosyntax.