jedoznaczno

Jedoznaczno is a term used in Polish linguistics and philosophy of language to describe the theoretical property of a linguistic expression to bear a single, determinate meaning across contexts. The form joins the elements jed- meaning “one” and oznaczyć meaning “to signify,” with the noun-forming suffix -ność. It is discussed in semantics and the study of signs, but it is not a widely established label in mainstream grammar.

Etymology and scope: The idea treats a sign as having a core sense that remains stable despite context, akin to univocity in logic. Jedoznaczność would imply that, for a given expression, there is one primary sense and referent that is not significantly negotiated by usage or situation. In practice, natural language often resists this ideal due to polysemy, metaphor, and pragmatic inference.

Relation to other concepts: Some scholars distinguish jedoznaczność from oneznaczność or jednoznaczność. While jednoznaczność commonly denotes unambiguous interpretation, jedoznaczność emphasizes a single, fixed core meaning across contexts. In theory, the distinction can matter in analyses of lexical semantics, sign theory, and the design of artificial languages.

Applications and limitations: The concept is mostly used as an analytic tool in discussions of meaning stability, lexical design, and knowledge representation. It serves to frame questions about how much context should influence interpretation and where fixed semantics are desirable, such as in formal or computational systems. In natural language, however, perfect jedoznaczność remains an idealization rather than a common reality. Related terms include jednoznaczność and univocality.