tárgykörjel

The term "tárgykörjel" is a Hungarian word that translates literally to "object sign" or "topic indicator." In the context of Hungarian grammar, it refers to a suffix or particle that is attached to a noun or pronoun to explicitly mark it as the direct object of a verb. This grammatical feature is not present in all languages, and its function is to clarify the role of a particular word within a sentence, especially in situations where word order might otherwise be ambiguous.

The most common tárgykörjel in Hungarian is the accusative suffix "-t" (or its allomorphs depending on vowel harmony and consonant clusters). For example, in the sentence "Látom a házat" (I see the house), the suffix "-t" attached to "ház" (house) clearly indicates that "ház" is the direct object being seen. Without this marker, the sentence could potentially be interpreted differently, or the grammatical relationship would be less explicit.

The use of the tárgykörjel is a significant characteristic of Hungarian syntax, contributing to the language's flexibility in word order. While the direct object typically follows the verb, the presence of the tárgykörjel allows for variations in sentence structure without sacrificing clarity regarding grammatical function. This makes it an important element for understanding and constructing grammatically correct Hungarian sentences.