Kielensisällisesti

Kielensisällisesti is a term in linguistics used to describe a hypothetical methodological stance that analyzes language data primarily through linguistic form—phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics—while treating pragmatic, contextual, and discourse factors as secondary or outside the scope of the analysis. The term is a constructed Finnish compound, loosely parallel to adverbial formations with -isesti, and is not widely attested in formal literature.

In practice, a kielensisällisesti analysis would examine grammar structure, word formation, and meaning of utterances, focusing on how elements fit together and generate referential content, rather than on speaker intention, discourse goals, or sociocultural context.

History and reception: The term appears mainly in online discussions and pedagogical thought experiments rather than in peer‑reviewed research. It is often presented as a hypothetical contrast to pragmatics-first or usage-based approaches.

Limitations and critique: Critics argue that kielensisällisesti can oversimplify real language use by underweighting context, implicature, and social variation. Proponents may respond that the approach clarifies the formal architecture of sentences and provides a controlled baseline for cross-language comparison.

Examples: For example, a kielensisällisesti oriented study of the sentence "Cats sleep" would analyze subject-verb agreement, the noun phrase structure, and lexical semantics, rather than evaluating the sentence's communicative purpose or potential irony. See also: linguistic analysis methods, pragmatics, sociolinguistics, syntax, semantics.