Keeleliseks

Keeleliseks is a term used in Estonian-language linguistic discourse to denote a perspective or description that is grounded in language structure itself. In scholarly writing, it is often employed to indicate that an analysis is being framed “in linguistic terms” or from a purely linguistic viewpoint, as opposed to approaches that emphasize social, historical, or practical contexts.

The expression derives from the Estonian word keel meaning language, and it functions as a marker used to qualify statements about language. When a study or observation is presented kee­leliseks, the focus is on elements such as phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and related theoretical constructs, rather than on external factors like language use in society or language acquisition in specific populations. The form can appear as an adverbial or adjectival phrase in academic sentences, signaling a language-centered methodology.

In practice, kee leliseks is common in introductory overviews of linguistic subfields, comparative descriptions of grammatical systems, and discussions of formal models. It helps distinguish methodological stance within a broader research landscape that includes sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics, and applied linguistics. The term remains primarily a descriptive device within Estonian-language texts and is used to orient readers toward a linguistic analysis rather than a multidisciplinary or applied angle.

See also: linguistics, Estonian language, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics.