Keelduse

Keelduse is an Estonian term used to describe the act of refusal or denial in discourse. It encompasses both simple refusals to comply with requests and formal denials within administrative or legal contexts. The concept is discussed in fields such as pragmatics and conversation analysis as a spectrum of strategies speakers use to reject a proposal while attempting to preserve face and social harmony. The word derives from the Estonian verb keelama, meaning to forbid or refuse; keelduse appears in inflected forms according to grammatical role.

In everyday language, refusals range from direct statements of no to hedged forms and conditional refusals that include an alternative or compensation. Direct refusals emphasize clarity, while hedged refusals soften impact through phrasing, pauses, or deferment. In formal settings such as applications for permits or benefits, keelduse denotes the act or outcome of denial and may be accompanied by reasons or references to criteria.

Cross-cultural communication research notes that Estonian refusals often balance directness and politeness, influenced by social context and relation between interlocutors. The term is primarily used in Estonian-language texts, with related terms including keeld (a prohibition or refusal) and keelduumine (the act of refusing). Understanding keelduse aids analysis of how refusals function in everyday interaction and bureaucratic procedures.

See also: Estonian language, Keeld, Keeldumine.