Harkitsemasta

Harkitsemasta is a Finnish non-finite verbal form related to the verb harkita, which means to deliberate or consider. As a gerundive expression, harkitsemasta denotes the act of weighing options or reflecting carefully before making a decision. In English translations it is commonly rendered as deliberation or consideration, depending on the context. The form is encountered primarily in normative or analytical writing that discusses reasoning processes and decision-making.

Linguistic notes and morphology: harkitsemasta is formed from the verb harkita with the nominalizing and inflectional endings that express an ongoing or general activity. In Finnish, related nominal forms such as harkitseminen or harkinta are more frequent in everyday usage, but harkitsemasta appears in formal, academic, or policy-oriented registers to emphasize the act of deliberate reflection as a concept rather than a specific instance of thinking.

Usage and context: The term often appears in discussions of ethics, risk assessment, policy analysis, and strategic planning, where careful consideration of options, consequences, and uncertainties is important. Typical collocations include phrases like harkitsemasta vaihtoehtoja (to weigh options) or harkitsemasta riskejä (to weigh risks). As a non-finite form, it commonly functions as a thematic noun in sentences describing processes or recommended practices.

See also: harkitseminen, harkinta, pohdinta, päätöksenteko.