referenzielle

Referenzielle is a German adjective form related to the noun Referenz (reference). In linguistics and semantics, referenzielle describes linguistic items or phenomena that pertain to reference to particular entities—objects, persons, or concepts—in the discourse or the real world.

Referentiality is the property of expressions that identify or designate specific referents. Common referenzielle elements include definite noun phrases like the, demonstratives such as this or that, pronouns like he or it, and proper names. These elements contribute to establishing which entity is being talked about and how it is identified within a context.

In practice, referenzielle uses are central to topics such as deixis, anaphora, and definiteness. Deixis concerns context-dependent reference (time, place, person), while anaphora involves linking a later expression to an earlier referent. Definite descriptions and pronouns often carry referential meaning, guiding listeners or readers to the intended entity. Non-referential or predicative uses, by contrast, focus on properties or relations rather than identifying a specific referent.

Cross-linguistically, languages vary in how they encode referentiality. Some employ articles, case marking, or rich demonstrative systems to signal referents, while others rely more on word order or context. The study of referenzielle phenomena intersects with pragmatics, semantics, syntax, and cognitive science, illuminating how language guides identification and interpretation of entities in communication.

See also: reference, referentiality, deixis, anaphora, definiteness, pragmatics.