A method for determining the absolute position (φ) of a moving carrier for scale marks of an incremental encoder with respect to a sensor arrangement, scale segments having segment lengths (L0,L1,L2...) differing by pairs being present between the scale marks on the carrier, comprising the following steps: a) generating a first measuring signal (x) with a first sensor of the sensor arrangement, b) correspondingly generating a second measuring signal (y) with a second sensor of the sensor arrangement, which second sensor is disposed offset relative to the first sensor along a direction of movement of the carrier, characterised by the further steps: c) for each scale segment: theoretically determining the respective theoretical phase shift (Δαt) between theoretically ideal measuring signals (xi, yi) of the first and the second sensor, d) generating a first (xm) and a second model signal (ym) based on a set of parameters (P1,P2,...), and which respectively model the first (x) and the second associated measuring signal (y), using starting values for the parameters (P1,P2,...), e) repeatedly carrying out the steps: aa) adapting the respective model signal (xm,ym) to the associated measuring signal (x,y) by adapting the parameters (P1,P2,...) based on an adaptation criterion and the current values of the measuring signals (x,y), bb) determining the current model phase shift (Δαm) between the model signals (xm,ym), cc) selecting the theoretical phase shift (Δαt) corresponding to the current model phase shift (Δαm) and choosing as a current scale segment for the absolute position (φ) the scale segment related to the selected theoretical phase shift (Δαt), dd) determining the absolute position (φ) of the carrier with respect to the sensor arrangement from the known position of the current scale segment and from a relative position (φ rel) within the current scale segment, which is defined based on the current phase position (αm) of the model signals (xm, ym) within the current scale segment. a) generating a first measuring signal (x) with a first sensor of the sensor arrangement, b) correspondingly generating a second measuring signal (y) with a second sensor of the sensor arrangement, which second sensor is disposed offset relative to the first sensor along a direction of movement of the carrier, c) for each scale segment: theoretically determining the respective theoretical phase shift (Δαt) between theoretically ideal measuring signals (xi, yi) of the first and the second sensor, d) generating a first (xm) and a second model signal (ym) based on a set of parameters (P1,P2,...), and which respectively model the first (x) and the second associated measuring signal (y), using starting values for the parameters (P1,P2,...), e) repeatedly carrying out the steps: aa) adapting the respective model signal (xm,ym) to the associated measuring signal (x,y) by adapting the parameters (P1,P2,...) based on an adaptation criterion and the current values of the measuring signals (x,y), bb) determining the current model phase shift (Δαm) between the model signals (xm,ym), cc) selecting the theoretical phase shift (Δαt) corresponding to the current model phase shift (Δαm) and choosing as a current scale segment for the absolute position (φ) the scale segment related to the selected theoretical phase shift (Δαt), dd) determining the absolute position (φ) of the carrier with respect to the sensor arrangement from the known position of the current scale segment and from a relative position (φ rel) within the current scale segment, which is defined based on the current phase position (αm) of the model signals (xm, ym) within the current scale segment. aa) adapting the respective model signal (xm,ym) to the associated measuring signal (x,y) by adapting the parameters (P1,P2,...) based on an adaptation criterion and the current values of the measuring signals (x,y), bb) determining the current model phase shift (Δαm) between the model signals (xm,ym), cc) selecting the theoretical phase shift (Δαt) corresponding to the current model phase shift (Δαm) and choosing as a current scale segment for the absolute position (φ) the scale segment related to the selected theoretical phase shift (Δαt), dd) determining the absolute position (φ) of the carrier with respect to the sensor arrangement from the known position of the current scale segment and from a relative position (φ rel) within the current scale segment, which is defined based on the current phase position (αm) of the model signals (xm, ym) within the current scale segment.