utalást

Utalás, in linguistic and literary usage, refers to a reference or allusion to something beyond the immediate text. It is often indirect, inviting readers or listeners to infer connections with other works, historical events, cultural knowledge, or familiar motifs. Utalások can serve to enrich meaning, create intertextual links, or signal shared cultural codes without spelling out every detail.

In contrast to direct quotation (idézet) and scholarly reference (hivatkozás), utalás does not reproduce exact words or formal citations. Instead, it hints at sources, motifs, or contexts, relying on the audience’s ability to recognize the allusion. This makes utalás a common device in fiction, poetry, film, journalism, and everyday speech, where a casual remark or a scene can evoke a broader network of associations.

Types of utalás include explicit allusions, where a source or well-known figure is clearly referenced, and implicit allusions, which require more interpretive effort. Intertextuality is a closely related concept that describes how texts shape and are shaped by other texts through such allusions. Cultural, historical, or literary allusions are especially common in national literatures, where shared references deepen resonance but may also limit accessibility for those less familiar with the context.

See also intertextuality, allusion, idézet, hivatkozás.