oznaovací

Označovací is a term used in linguistic descriptions, particularly in Czech grammar, to refer to a class of words that mark reference to a thing, person, or place and help indicate deixis. In many grammars, these words are described as demonstratives and are closely related to pronouns and adjectives that point to something in the discourse.

In Czech, oznacovací forms can function either as determiners modifying a noun or as stand‑alone pronouns. When used before a noun, they inflect for gender, number and case to agree with the noun (for example, forms that translate roughly to this/these or that/those). When used as pronouns, they refer to the item without repeating the noun (for example, this, that, these, those). They convey information about distance from the speaker and, in some contexts, definiteness or attention.

The distinction between oznacovací and related terms varies by school of grammar. Some authors use oznacovací interchangeably with ukazovací (demonstrative), emphasizing the pointing or marking function rather than a broader deictic system. Others treat oznacovací as a broader label that encompasses demonstratives, demonstrative adjectives, and demonstrative pronouns within a single category.

Usage and examples in Czech include expressions such as tento dům (this house), ta kniha (that book), toto auto (this car) when modifying a noun, and toto (this/that) as a pronoun in stand‑alone position. Collectively, oznacovací forms contribute to the cohesion of discourse by signaling reference and spatial or contextual orientation.

See also: demonstrative pronoun, demonstrative adjective, deictic.