Ilmaisukseltaan

Ilmaisukseltaan is a Finnish linguistic term used to describe the manner or form of expression in language and other expressive media. The expression highlights how something is communicated rather than what is communicated, focusing on the stylistic and tonal characteristics of the expression.

Formation and use

The term is formed with ilmaisus (expression) and the suffix -kseltaan, which signals a descriptive relation to the form of expression. In analysis, ilmaisukseltaan is applied to texts, speech, or artworks to name their expressive mode. It is commonly used with adjectives that describe a particular expressive category, such as ironinen (ironic), asiallinen (matter-of-fact), humoristinen (humorous), or vakaa (calm). Typical constructions include Teksti on ilmaisukseltaan ironinen or Puhe on ilmaisukseltaan asiallinen, where the main assertion concerns how the message is conveyed.

Relation to other descriptors

Ilmaisukseltaan is distinct from sisällöltään, which refers to content or meaning rather than form. While sisällöltään addresses what is said, ilmaisukseltaan addresses how it is said—the tone, style, and rhetorical approach. The term is frequently used in literary criticism, rhetoric analysis, media studies, and discourse research.

Considerations and limitations

Because ilmaisukseltaan reflects evaluative judgments about form, its use can be somewhat subjective and dependent on context. Analysts often corroborate with additional indicators of tone and style to avoid overgeneralization. It functions as a precise tool for discussing expressive quality without conflating it with content.

Summary

Ilmaisukseltaan provides a concise way to classify and discuss the expressive manner of communication, aiding clear descriptions of tone, style, and rhetorical approach in Finnish analysis.