Lähendusel

Lähendusel is a term used in Estonian linguistic and discourse studies to denote a device for signaling the intended sense or interpretation of a statement within a text. The word is formed from lähendus, meaning sense or meaning, combined with a suffix that marks a particular contextual or interpretive relation. In scholarly writing, lähendusel helps authors specify that a claim should be understood within a defined semantic frame rather than as a literal or unconditional statement.

The concept functions as a methodological tool for disambiguation and analysis. By indicating that a proposition is true “in the sense of” a given frame, theory, or comparison, researchers can narrow the scope of interpretation, compare meanings across languages or texts, and clarify how context shapes understanding. Lähendusel is especially relevant in discussions of polysemy, metaphor, figurative language, and translation studies, where precise sense-shaping is essential for rigorous argumentation.

Etymology and status: the term derives from lähendus, meaning sense or meaning, with a grammatical or functional suffix that marks its usage as a marker within discourse. It is primarily encountered in linguistic and pragmatics literature and is not a separate field of study. Instead, lähendusel functions as a linguistic tool within analyses of semantics, interpretation, and discourse construction.

See also: semantics, pragmatics, discourse analysis, translation studies, meaning.