Epätyypillisenä

Epätyypillisenä is the translative form of the Finnish adjective epätyypillinen, meaning not typical or atypical. The form is used to express a change into a state or role, roughly “as an atypical [one/thing].” It commonly appears in sentences with verbs such as olla (to be) or esiintyä/kuvata (to present as), functioning to classify the subject relative to norms or expectations.

Grammatical notes: The translative suffix in Finnish is -na or -nä after the stem, so epätyypillinen becomes epätyypillisenä in the singular. This form denotes a state or role rather than manner. For expressing “in an atypical manner,” Finnish typically uses the adverbial form epätyypillisesti, formed with -isesti, which is distinct from the translative -na/-nä.

Usage and nuance: Epätyypillisenä is used when describing someone or something as occupying an atypical position, role, or characterization. It answers questions like “in what sense is this person/thing categorized?” Examples include statements where someone is described as being “as an atypical member,” or where a situation is viewed “as atypical.” The choice between epätyypillisenä and its adverbial counterpart epätyypillisesti depends on whether the author intends a state/role (translative) or a manner of action (adverb).

Examples:

- Hän esiintyi epätyypillisenä hahmona keskustelutilaisuudessa. (He appeared as an atypical character at the discussion.)

- Tilanne nähtiin epätyypillisenä tilanteena. (The situation was seen as an atypical one.)

- Hän toimii epätyypillisenä esimerkkinä tässä projektissa. (He acts as an atypical example in this project.)

See also: epätyypillinen, epätyypillisesti, translatiivinen taivutus.