mittetäpsete

Mittetäpsete is a term in linguistic typology used to denote a class of approximate quantity expressions that encode imprecision about amount without signaling precise counts. It identifies a cross-linguistic phenomenon where speakers employ specialized forms to indicate estimation, rounding, or vagueness rather than exact numerals.

Etymology: The name appears to derive from roots related to measurement and accuracy in European language traditions; it was coined in modern scholarly discourse to describe these expressions. It does not correspond to a single established lexeme in a specific language.

Characteristics: Mittetäpsete expressions typically co-occur with modifiers such as around, about, near, or with non-numeral quantifiers like several or many. They may apply to quantities, durations, distances, or frequencies. They function to reduce committed precision and can carry epistemic or pragmatic nuance, signaling uncertainty, politeness, or social stance.

Usage and analysis: In grammars and corpora, mittetäpsete forms are analyzed as a separate layer on the measurement scale, distinct from precise numerals and from vague predicates. They influence how information is interpreted and how subsequent quantifiers scope.

See also: Vagueness in language; hedges; approximation; measurement expressions. Notes: The concept is a descriptive label used in theoretical discussions and may vary across languages and modalities.