singulardefinite

Singulardefinite is a linguistic term used to describe the combination of definiteness and singular number in a noun phrase. In discussions of grammar and syntax, it refers to how languages encode reference to a specific, single entity. The concept is typically analyzed as part of the broader system of definiteness, which marks whether a noun phrase denotes a definite or indefinite referent, and how number affixes or determiners interact with that referent.

Realization of singular definite varies across languages. In some languages, a dedicated singular definite determiner or article marks singular definiteness and may agree with the noun in gender or case. In others, determiner selection relies on demonstratives or article-like forms that signal definiteness without necessarily changing with number in a predictable way. Still others employ suffixes or prefixes on the noun itself to indicate singular definite reference, while some languages lack a grammatical definite marking altogether and convey definiteness through context or demonstratives.

Cross-linguistic patterns illustrate the diversity of singular definite marking. For example, languages with explicit singular definite articles often have forms that align with the noun’s singular, and sometimes gender or case. In English, the definite article the is used for both singular and plural nouns, so morphologically the singular definite is not distinct from the plural definite. Conversely, languages such as Turkish rely more on demonstratives or context rather than a dedicated definite article, while languages without articles (e.g., Russian, Japanese) encode definiteness in other syntactic or contextual ways.

Overall, singulardefinite serves as a useful label in typology for examining how languages encode definite reference for singular entities, highlighting the range from explicit article systems to context-dependent or demonstrative-based strategies.