Lähdemerkitys

Lähdemerkitys is a term used in Finnish linguistics to denote the most basic or earliest attested meaning of a word or sign. It refers to the semantic core from which later senses develop through processes such as extension, metaphor, or narrowing. In this sense, lähdemerkitys can be viewed as the source or primary meaning.

Applications of the concept appear in studies of semantic change, lexicography, and translation, where tracing the lähdemerkitys helps explain how a term’s sense evolves over time and how older meanings influence contemporary use. It is often contrasted with secondary or extended meanings that arise through metaphorical or contextual shifts.

Determination of the lähdemerkitys relies on historical texts, dictionaries, and comparative linguistics across related languages, aiming for the earliest clearly attested sense. In practice, identifying a single, fixed sense can be uncertain due to sparse sources, polysemy, and cultural change, so the lähdemerkitys is frequently a best-supported approximation rather than an absolute fact.

Relation to other terms: the concept aligns with notions such as etymological meaning or basic sense, but it differs from usage meaning (the sense in current use) and from connotative meaning (associative overtones). Different scholars may prefer different labels, and the term’s exact scope can vary across studies.