Katkelmista

Katkelmista is the plural elative form of the Finnish noun katkelma, meaning a fragment or excerpt. It literally means “from fragments” or “from excerpts” and is used to indicate that something is drawn from or originates in fragments of text or multiple sources. As a grammatical form, katkelmista commonly appears in sentences that describe source material or material compiled from various pieces, for example: Teos on koottu katkelmista (The work is assembled from fragments).

In literary and editorial contexts, katkelmista is used to talk about works or methods that rely on fragmentary pieces rather than a continuous narrative. It can describe a collage-like or montage style, where meaning emerges from juxtaposed excerpts, notes, or archival fragments. The term is also applicable in scholarly discussions of compilations, textual criticism, or archive-based editing, where material is selected and arranged from fragmentary sources.

The related noun katkelma refers to a single fragment, while katkelmista emphasizes plurality and origins in fragments. The concept is often contrasted with continuous prose or fully unified texts, and it is used to describe both creative practices and editorial processes.

See also: katkelma, fragment, excerpt, montage, collage.