typification

Typification is the act or process of designating something as a type or of classifying things into types. It is used across disciplines to create frameworks that organize observation, experimentation, and nomenclature. A typification provides a standard reference point—a type—that other instances are compared against and named in relation to.

In biology and related nomenclature, typification is a formal process that anchors the name of a taxon to a physical specimen, called the type. The type specimen (holotype) is the primary reference; if it is missing or inadequate, researchers may designate a lectotype or a neotype. This practice stabilizes the application of names across time and researchers.

In linguistics, typification contributes to language typology, the comparative study of languages according to structural features such as word order, morphology, or phonology. Typological classifications illuminate cross-language patterns and variation rather than implying any absolute ranking.

In sociology and philosophy, typification describes how observers categorize the world into “types” or idealized models. From Weber’s ideal type to phenomenological usage, typification helps interpret social action and experience by comparing concrete cases to abstract or prototypical categories.

Typification is not the same as data typing in computer science, but the general idea—creating, using, and referencing standard categories—appears in many fields as a methodological tool for analysis, description, and communication.