Ilmaisullaan

Ilmaisullaan is a Finnish grammatical form used to express the manner or instrument by which something is conveyed, roughly translated as “with his/her expression.” It is formed from the noun ilmaisu (expression) combined with the adessive case suffix -lla/llä to indicate “with” or “by” and a third‑person possessive suffix to attribute the expression to a subject. In practice, the form appears mainly in written Finnish, particularly in descriptive or literary prose, where it helps to ascribe a character’s facial or vocal expression to the subject.

Usage and nuance: The construction foregrounds the subject’s demeanor rather than the content of what is said, conveying attitude, emotion, tone, or subtleties of meaning. It can add nuance to narration by signaling how something is expressed rather than what is explicitly stated. It is less common in formal speech and can be ambiguous if the surrounding context does not clarify whose expression is intended.

Examples: Examples are typically short and narrative in nature. A sentence such as “Hän vastasi ilmaisullaan” would translate roughly as “He/She answered with expression.” A broader instance could be “Hänen ilmaisullaan oli epäluuloa,” meaning “In his/her expression there was suspicion.” The form is mainly a stylistic device used to convey mood and attitudinal nuance.

See also: Finnish grammar; ilmaisun, adessive case, possessive suffixes.