telicita

Telicita is a term used in linguistic semantics to describe the degree to which a predication commits to an endpoint of an event. It is a graded notion that supplements the traditional contrast between telic and atelic predicates by capturing partial or varying levels of endpoint realization.

The term is a neologism—formed from telicity with a diminutive suffix—to denote a measurable quality rather than a strict category. It appears in some theoretical discussions of aspect and event structure, but it is not universally adopted across the field. As such, telicita is often introduced to discuss how strongly a clause implies a goal, culmination, or finished state.

In analyses, telicita is treated as a scalar feature that can apply to verb phrases or entire clauses. High telicita signals a strong endpoint-bound reading, as in bake a cake, reach the destination, or complete a project. Low telicita signals a weaker or more open-ended endpoint, as in run, read for a while, or wander about without a specified termination. The concept is linked to culmination and goal attainment, while remaining sensitive to lexical meaning and contextual factors that can raise or lower the apparent telicita of an expression.

Examples commonly discussed include: “John baked a cake” (high telicita) versus “John runs” (low telicita). In some cases, telicita may vary with context or with modifications that specify quantity, duration, or completion.

Critics note that telicita can overlap with established notions of telicity and perfectivity, and its measurement may be context-dependent. As a theoretical construct, it remains primarily used in discussions of event structure rather than as a widely used empirical variable.

See also: Telicity, Event structure, Aspect, Verb semantics.