Antudlause

Antudlause is a term used in Estonian linguistics to refer to a clause that presents information already assumed to be known by the listener or reader within a discourse. The word is formed from antud meaning given or stated and lause meaning clause. An antudlause serves to establish shared ground and sets the context for subsequent information, contrasting with information that is newly introduced (uuslause).

In practice, antudlause contributes to the flow of information by signaling what is already known or presupposed, which helps listeners orient themselves before new content is added. It often contains demonstratives or pronouns that point back to previously mentioned entities, such as see/that or other references, and it may appear at the beginning of a sentence or clause sequence. The construction influences intonation, punctuation, and the overall discourse structure, reflecting the given-new information pattern common in many languages.

The concept is primarily used in linguistic analysis and language pedagogy within Estonian studies. It is useful for examining how speakers manage topics and shared knowledge, and for understanding how emphasis and cohesion are achieved in texts.

Examples:

- Antudlause: "See raamat on mul juba olemas." Uuslause: "Seetõttu soovitan sul seda lugeda."

- Antudlause: "Tal on pikk kogemus." Uuslause: "Seetõttu on tal palju näiteid jagada."

Notes: Antudlause is a niche concept, related to general discourse pragmatics and the study of given information across languages.