telicity
te
te
li
ˈlɪ
li
ci
si
ty
ti
ti
British pronunciation
/tɛlˈɪsɪti/

Definition & Meaning of "telicity"in English

Telicity
01

the property of a verb or an event that indicates whether it is viewed as having a definite endpoint or culmination, distinguishing between activities and accomplishments or achievements

What is "telicity"?

Telicity is a linguistic concept that refers to the inherent property of a verb or action to indicate whether it has a defined endpoint or goal. An action is considered telic if it has a clear completion point, while it is considered atelic if it does not. For example, in the sentence "She built a sandcastle," the verb "built" is telic because it implies a completed action with a specific endpoint, which is the finished sandcastle. In contrast, in the sentence "She is running," the verb "running" is atelic because it describes an ongoing action without a specified endpoint. Understanding telicity helps clarify the nature of actions in language, particularly in relation to time and aspect.

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