Keelelisel

Keelelisel is an Estonian term used to denote something that relates to language or to linguistic analysis. In scholarly Estonian, it functions as an adjective or adverb to frame statements within a language-focused perspective. The form keelelisel is an inflected variant derived from the root keel (language) and the adjective keeleline, and it appears in contexts such as keelelisel tasandil, meaning “on a linguistic level.”

In usage, keelelisel signals that the discussion or evaluation centers on language-related aspects—such as grammar, phonology, semantics, or typology—as opposed to social, psychological, or neurological dimensions. The corresponding adverbial form keeleliselt is commonly used to say “linguistically.”

The term is most prevalent in Estonian-language linguistics, grammar, and academic writing. It helps readers distinguish analyses that are specifically about language structure and use from those addressing broader or non-linguistic factors. While there is no exact one-to-one English equivalent, direct translations include “linguistically” or “from a linguistic standpoint.”

Notes on scope and nuance: keelelisel is a neutral, descriptive descriptor rather than a theory in itself. Its appropriateness depends on precisely signaling that language is the focal point of the discussion, analysis, or comparison.

See also: Estonian language, Linguistics, Grammar, Linguistic terminology.