Harkitaan

Harkitaan is a Finnish verb form derived from the verb harkita, meaning to weigh or to consider. In its present passive form, harkitaan is used in formal, impersonal constructions to indicate that a matter should be considered or deliberated. It is most common in legislative, administrative, and policy contexts, where speakers or writers propose that a step be reviewed before any decision is taken. The form has no explicit subject; it conveys a general or collective subject, often appearing in sentences such as “Harkitaan tämän toimintamuodon vaikutuksia” or “Harkitaan, miten se vaikuttaa.”

As a discourse marker, harkitaan signals deliberation rather than immediate action. Its use invites readers or listeners to pause, assess options, and weigh potential consequences before proceeding. The related noun harkinta denotes the process of weighing options or deliberation. Harkitaan is commonly found in parliamentary records, government reports, and formal proposals, but it also appears in elevated or ceremonial styles of Finnish writing.

Understanding harkitaan helps illuminate Finnish procedural language, where responsibility is often attributed to a non-specific subject until a decision is made. In translation, it is typically rendered as “let us consider” or “it should be considered,” depending on context.