Alteraatio

Alteraatio is a Finnish noun meaning alteration, modification, or change of state. It is used across disciplines to denote processes that modify the properties, form, or condition of something. The term derives from Latin alteratio, via standard borrowing into Finnish.

In geology and mineralogy, alteration refers to secondary chemical changes in rocks caused by fluids, heat, or pressure, producing minerals different from the primary rock. These changes can affect rock color, texture, and chemical composition and are important for understanding ore deposits, metamorphic histories, and soil formation. Common examples include hydrothermal alteration, sericitization, chloritization, and kaolinization.

In linguistics, alteration describes systematic changes in sounds or forms within a language, such as phonetic adjustments that occur in specific environments or over time. It is related to phonology and historical linguistics and is often discussed alongside terms like phonological alternation or morphophonemic change rather than as a stand-alone concept.

In medicine and biology, alteration can refer to modification of tissue structure, cellular function, or phenotype. It is used in phrases like altered states of consciousness or metabolic alterations to describe deviations from normal physiology due to development, disease, or environmental factors.

In legal and administrative contexts, alteration denotes changes made to documents or records after their original creation, typically requiring authorization and dating to maintain evidentiary integrity.

See also: alteration, modification, transformation.