Käikuteg

Käikuteg is a term used in sociolinguistics and interaction analysis to describe a patterned sequence of social actions that resembles a choreography of moves within collaborative tasks. The term denotes a recurring pair or small set of actions where a participant initiates a procedural move (for example proposing an item, requesting feedback, or announcing a next step) and immediately accompanies it with an auxiliary action (such as sharing material, signaling with a gaze, or performing a brief demonstration) that reinforces commitment to the proposed action. The sequence is designed to align participants’ attention and facilitate smooth progression of group work.

Etymology: The word is formed from Estonian roots käik meaning move or turn, combined with teg from tegema, “to do.” It was introduced in scholarly discussions on interactional timing and has since been used in analyses of classroom discourse, online collaboration, and moderation practice.

In usage: Käikuteg has been observed in various settings including in-person meetings, remote teamwork, and educational contexts, where it helps anchor joint activities by coupling a proposal with an observable act. Analysts note that its presence can signal leadership, clarify roles, and reduce ambiguity about next steps, while critics caution that the label may oversimplify varied turn-taking patterns across cultures.

See also: turn-taking, sequencing, action alignment, and discourse markers.