Entäminen
Entäminen is a term used in Finnish discourse studies to describe a conversational move that begins with the particle entä. The act involves using entä to introduce a new topic, pivot the discussion, or invite a response, often serving as a soft transition between topics. Etymology: it combines the Finnish particle entä, meaning “and what about” or “what about,” with the -minen suffix to form a noun denoting the process or act.
Definition and function: Entäminen functions as a discourse marker-based strategy that helps manage turn-taking and topic
Context and usage: The phenomenon appears across informal speech, interviews, talk shows, and online conversations. It
Relation to other concepts: Entäminen is related to broader concepts of discourse markers and politeness strategies.
Limitations: The term is not universally standardized and may be described differently in various studies. Some
See also: Discourse marker, Topic shift, Finnish language, Conversation analysis.