indirectlywhich

indirectlywhich is a speculative linguistic concept referring to a hypothetical grammatical construction or semantic nuance that allows for the expression of uncertainty or indirectness about a specific antecedent within a relative clause. It is not a recognized term in standard linguistics or grammar.

The theoretical idea behind indirectlywhich suggests a scenario where a relative pronoun, such as "which," might subtly modify its relationship to the noun it modifies, implying that the connection is not direct or definite. This could manifest as a slight ambiguity in meaning or a deliberate withholding of complete certainty regarding the referent. For instance, one might imagine a sentence where "indirectlywhich" would convey that the characteristic being described in the relative clause might apply to the noun, or perhaps to something closely associated with it, without definitively stating it.

Linguists exploring such concepts often delve into the intricacies of how languages encode certainty, doubt, and attribution. While no established grammatical feature or word directly corresponds to "indirectlywhich," discussions around evidentiality, hedging, and modal verbs touch upon similar themes of nuanced certainty. The concept, therefore, exists primarily in theoretical discussions about the potential for language to express very fine gradations of meaning. It is important to note that "indirectlywhich" is not a standard term and would likely be met with confusion in conventional linguistic contexts.