Minimoitavaksi

Minimoitavaksi is a Finnish linguistic and practical term used primarily in planning, policy language, and technical writing. It denotes the state or outcome that should be achieved: something that is to be minimized. The form is derived from the verb minimoida (to minimize) and is the translative form of the passive participle minimoitava, indicating a goal state into which a process or action is directed.

Grammatically, minimoitavaksi combines the principle of the passive participle with the translative suffix -ksi, which in Finnish expresses becoming or transformation into a target state. Used in contexts such as risk assessment, environmental planning, and regulatory documents, minimoitavaksi marks what should be reduced or kept as small as possible.

Usage and meaning: In formal text, minimoitavaksi often appears in phrases that designate objectives or targets. It signals that a consequence, impact, or cost should be minimized through specified measures. It is commonly found alongside nouns like haitat (damages), riskit (risks), kustannukset (costs), or päästöt (emissions).

Examples:

- Raportissa on käytetty ilmaisua haitat minimoitavaksi, eli toimenpiteillä on tarkoitus pienentää haittavaikutuksia. (In the report, the damages are to be minimized, i.e., the measures aim to reduce impacts.)

- Riskiä minimoitavaksi asetettu tavoite ohjaa suunnittelua. (A goal to minimize risk guides the planning.)

Notes: minimoitavaksi is relatively specialized and more typical in official or technical Finnish than in everyday speech. In everyday usage, speakers may prefer constructions such as minimoidaan or tulisi minimoida instead.