Kielierityksenä
Kielierityksenä is a term found in Finnish-language sociolinguistic discourse describing the use of language variation to mark social boundaries, affiliation, and identity within multilingual and multi-dialect communities. The concept treats language features not merely as communicative tools but as symbolic resources that signal belonging to or distance from particular social groups.
Etymology and scope: The word combines kieli (language) with eriytys (differentiation, separation) and the suffix -nä,
Key mechanisms: Central to kielierityksenä is the indexicality of linguistic features—the idea that certain sounds, words,
Applications and examples: The concept is used to analyze how bilingual or multilingual communities maintain heritage
Reception and relation: Kielierityksenä is one of several terms in sociolinguistics addressing language and identity, alongside
See also: Sociolinguistics; Ethnolinguistic repertoire; Code-switching; Language ideology.