specifikumas

Specifikumas is a linguistic term describing the property of a noun phrase to designate a specific, identifiable entity within discourse. In practical terms, a specific reading names a particular item known to the speaker and listener, while a non-specific reading refers to any member of a kind, not a uniquely identified individual. The concept is distinct from definiteness, and in many languages it is not marked by articles but rather by demonstratives, possessives, numerals, or context.

Across languages, specificity can be signaled in different ways. Languages with definite and indefinite articles (such as English) typically encode a specific referent through the definite article the; non-specificity often uses the indefinite article a/an. In languages without articles, such as Lithuanian (where specifikas is studied) or Russian, speakers rely on demonstratives (this, that), pronouns, possessives, or discourse context to indicate a specific referent.

In discourse and information structure, specifying a referent often affects focus and givenness: a specific noun phrase tends to be linked to known or previously mentioned referents, while a non-specific noun phrase introduces a new or general entity. Specificity interacts with other grammatical and semantic categories, including definiteness, referentiality, and quantification, and it plays a key role in how speakers interpret and manipulate information flow.

Specifikumas is studied across semantics, pragmatics, and syntax, with cross-linguistic work exploring how different languages encode specificity through articles, determiners, demonstratives, and context. See also definiteness, indefiniteness, demonstratives, referentiality, and noun phrase.