klusiivit

Klusiivit is a linguistic concept describing the inclusive–exclusive distinction in first-person plural references, and, in some languages, in other pronoun or verb forms. In languages with a clusivity contrast, a single "we" can be expressed in two distinct ways depending on whether the addressee is included in the reference set. The inclusive form refers to "we" including the listener, while the exclusive form refers to "we" that excludes the listener.

A common manifestation is a pair of 1PL pronouns. For example, in Indonesian and Malay, kami is used for "we" excluding you, and kita for "we" including you. In other languages the distinction may be encoded in verb agreement, clitics, or affixes rather than separate pronouns.

The distribution is global but especially prominent in Austronesian languages, where inclusive and exclusive forms are a standard part of pronoun systems; many languages also exhibit more complex clusivity patterns, including variation across number (singular/plural) and sometimes dual forms. The precise set of forms and how they interact with other grammatical categories can vary by language.

Function and usage: Clusivity helps speakers express social meaning and speaker–listener relations, shaping discourse and politeness strategies. It can affect information flow and translation decisions.

In linguistic analysis, klusiivit is distinguished from other pronoun systems by the inclusive/exclusive contrast, and researchers study how clusivity develops diachronically and how it interacts with syntax and morphology.