Keskusteluaiheena

Keskusteluaiheena is a Finnish term that means "as a topic of discussion." It denotes the function or role of something within a discussion, such as a meeting, debate, or written analysis, indicating what is being discussed or focused on.

Formation and grammar: The word is formed from the compound keskusteluaihe, meaning "topic of discussion," plus the essive suffix -na to express "as" or "in the role of." In the singular, the form is keskusteluaiheena; in contexts with multiple topics, the plural form would be keskusteluaiheina. This construction illustrates how Finnish uses the essive case to express role in discourse.

Usage and context: Keskusteluaiheena is common in formal Finnish, including meeting agendas, minutes, reports, and argumentative texts, where it helps specify the subject under consideration. Examples include: Kokouksen keskusteluaiheena on talouskasvu; Yleisökeskustelun keskusteluaiheena olivat koulutuksen kehittäminen ja ympäristöasiat. The form is typically used in written or formal spoken language.

Relation to other expressions: In everyday speech, speakers may convey the same idea with phrases such as keskustelun aiheena or aiheena keskustelussa, which are more common in casual registers. Keskusteluaiheena remains a productive example of how Finnish expresses role or function within a discourse through the essive case, particularly in texts that outline topics of discussion.