Lähdesana

Lähdesana is a Finnish term used in linguistics to refer to a root word or a base form of a word from which other words are derived through inflection or derivation. It is the fundamental element of a word’s lexical meaning, without any grammatical suffixes or prefixes attached. Understanding the lähdesana is crucial for analyzing the morphology of the Finnish language, which is characterized by extensive agglutination.

In Finnish, a lähdesana typically represents the core concept. For example, the lähdesana for "house" is "talo." From this base form, various inflected forms can be created, such as "talossa" (in the house), "talosta" (from the house), or "taloni" (my house). Similarly, derived words can be formed, like "talollinen" (house owner) or "talous" (economy), both of which retain a connection to the original lähdesana but have evolved to represent distinct meanings.

Identifying the lähdesana helps linguists and language learners to understand the relationships between words and how new words are formed. It is a foundational concept in Finnish grammar and lexicology, enabling a systematic approach to word analysis and comprehension. The principle of the lähdesana is similar to that of root words or stems in other languages, but the specific rules for identification and modification are unique to Finnish morphology.