Mittekeelelised

Mittekeelelised is a term used in Estonian linguistics and communication studies to refer to elements of communication that are not part of the linguistic system. It denotes those aspects that accompany or stand beside spoken or written language and are not themselves language. The term is formed from mitte- (not) and keelelised (linguistic), indicating a distinction from language as a system of signals.

The scope of mittekeelelised includes paralinguistic features such as intonation, speech rate, volume and rhythm; kinesics such as gestures, facial expressions, gaze, and body posture; proxemics, including physical distance and orienting positions; and nonlinguistic signs or artifacts that convey information outside the linguistic code, such as clothing, objects, and environmental cues. In broader discussions, it may also cover culturally specific norms of interaction.

In research, mittekeelelised are observed as a complement to linguistic content, helping to interpret meaning, affect, and stance. They are relevant in fields such as cross-cultural communication, psychology, pedagogy, and media studies. The boundary between linguistic and non-linguistic elements is not always clear; some features—such as prosody—are treated by some researchers as part of linguistic signaling, while others classify them as paralinguistic.

Related concepts include paralinguistics, kinesics, proxemics, and nonverbal communication more generally.