Keelevahelist

Keelevahelist is an Estonian linguistic term referring to phenomena, forms, or elements that exist between languages, i.e., interlanguage or cross-linguistic features. The word combines keel (language) with vahe (between, transitional) and the suffix -list, forming an adjective or noun-adjacent term used to label items that are not fully native to either language in contact.

In usage, keelevahelist is common in discussions of second language acquisition, multilingual contact, translation studies, and language education. It describes features produced by speakers who are in the process of acquiring a language, including transfer from the first language, calques, lexical borrowings, or pronunciation that reflects influence of another language. It can encompass grammatical forms, vocabulary, and discourse patterns that are transitional rather than fully established in either language.

The concept is aligned with the broader notion of interlanguage, a transitional linguistic system that reflects both the learner's native language and the target language, evolving toward fluency over time. In Estonian academic writing, keelevahelist may appear as a label for phenomena observed in learner corpora, classroom discourse, or research on cross-linguistic influence.

Examples could include phonetic approximations of foreign sounds, direct translations of phrases, or syntactic patterns that mirror the learner's native language.

See also: Interlanguage, Language transfer, Code-switching, Second language acquisition.

Etymology: from keel, vahe, and the suffix -list.