mittespetsiifilisuse

Mittespetsiifilisuse is a theoretical label used in linguistics and discourse studies to describe an intermediate level of referential specificity in speech and text. It refers to expressions that are more informative than indefinite references but less constrained than fully definite or maximal identifiers, enabling efficient communication while leaving some interpretive space for the listener.

The term is a neologism that has appeared in discussions of referential choice and information structure, often in cross-linguistic or cross-disciplinary contexts. It is intended to capture a mid-range point on a continuum of specificity, where speakers rely on context, shared knowledge, and discourse cues to narrow the referent without over-committing to a single identification.

Core features of Mittespetsiifilisuse include a balance between efficiency and disambiguation. Expressions described as mid-specific can be realized through adjectives, appositives, relative clauses, or short descriptive phrases that limit the referent but do not uniquely identify it in every context. They frequently depend on the surrounding discourse, prior mentions, and shared expectations to resolve remaining ambiguity.

Examples in practice are common in narrative and informational texts. For instance, referring to “the scientist who led the project” or “the policy proposal introduced yesterday” signals more precision than a generic term yet stops short of naming a single, uniquely identifiable individual or document in all contexts. Such usage is particularly relevant for media reporting, dialogue systems, and language teaching, where managing referential load is important.

Relations to other concepts include definiteness, specificity scales, and information structure. Researchers explore Mittespetsiifilisuse alongside general vs. definite references, given/new information, and discourse coherence, while noting challenges in empirical measurement and cross-language comparability.