Keelevaates

Keelevaates is an Estonian linguistic term used to describe a viewpoint that centers on language itself. It denotes analyses that prioritize linguistic form, structure, and medium over content, function, or discourse. In scholarly contexts, keelevaates signals that the discussion proceeds from a language-centered perspective, often to illuminate grammar, sound patterns, vocabulary usage, and stylistic features.

Etymology and scope: The word combines keel (language) with vaates, a form indicating perspective or viewpoint. The concept covers aspects such as phonology, morphology, syntax, lexicon, semantics, and stylistics, and is typically applied when researchers want to separate linguistic form from broader communicative or social interpretations.

Use in writing: In Estonian academic discourse, keelevaates is commonly used to frame analyses of texts or corpora by focusing on linguistic structures. For example: Selles töös käsitletakse nähtust keelevaates, keskendudes keele struktuuridele ja sõnavara valikutele.

Relation to other approaches: Keelevaates contrasts with discourse- or content-centered analyses, and it should be understood as one analytical stance among others. The term is primarily used in Estonian-language scholarship and may require paraphrase or translation to convey its nuance in non-Estonian contexts.