osoittavatilmoittavat

Osoittavatilmoittavat is a theoretical term used in Finnish linguistics to describe a hypothetical verbal construction that combines demonstrative deixis with illocutionary reporting in a single predicate. The word is a compound formed from Finnish forms related to pointing or indicating (osoittavat) and reporting or announcing (ilmoittavat). It is not part of standard Finnish grammar but is discussed in scholarly writings as a way to think about multifunctional predicates that carry both deictic orientation and information source.

Etymology and typology

The term is introduced in linguistic discussions as a compact label for a possible fusion of deixis and evidential or reportive meaning. In analyses, osoittavatilmoittavat can be treated as a single predicative unit that encodes two pragmatic forces, or viewed as a theoretical construct illustrating how languages might combine pointing and reporting into one morphological or syntactic form. The concept is related to broader topics such as evidentials, deictic markers, and the syntax–pragmatics interface.

Usage and function

Proponents argue the concept helps explain discourse compression in certain contexts where speakers need to indicate both the referent and the status of the information simultaneously. Critics warn that the idea is highly theoretical and risks ambiguity or overgeneralization if treated as a productive category in natural language. The term remains primarily in the realm of theoretical discussion rather than descriptive grammar, with debate ongoing about its empirical basis and cross-linguistic applicability.

Cross-linguistic parallels

Similar discussions appear under evidentiality and mirativity in typology, where languages encode source or level of certainty alongside deictic reference. Some researchers compare osoittavatilmoittavat to multifunctional predicates in other languages, while others prefer explicit marking of deixis and evidentiality as separate grammatical layers.

See also

Evidentiality, Deixis, Illocutionary act, Multifunctional predicates, Finnish linguistics.