Keeletöö

Keeletöö is a term used in Estonian to describe work where language is the central focus. Its exact meaning depends on context, but it generally refers to tasks, disciplines, or activities that involve language work. The word is formed from keel (language) and töö (work).

In education, keeletöö describes assignments and exercises aimed at developing language skills such as grammar, spelling, vocabulary, style, and readability. In publishing and media, it denotes editorial tasks including proofreading, language editing, and consistency checks. In linguistics and fieldwork, keeletöö can refer to research activities such as data collection, transcription, analysis, and documentation of language use. In language policy and terminology work, it may involve standardizing terms, compiling dictionaries, and planning language resources.

Because keeletöö spans different domains, it is a broad, context-dependent concept rather than a single defined profession. Common elements across uses include attention to linguistic accuracy, clear expression, and adherence to appropriate conventions or standards. The term is primarily found in Estonian-language contexts and is applied to both written and spoken language tasks.

See also: linguistics; language education; editing and proofreading; translation; language policy and planning.