Mittekõnekeelne

Mittekõnekeelne is an Estonian term used in linguistics and related fields to describe communication forms that do not rely primarily on spoken vocalization. The word is formed from mitte (not), kõne (speech), and keele (language), literally “not-spoken language.” It is a descriptive label rather than the name of a single language, applied to modalities and systems that convey language without voice.

The term is commonly used to contrast with kõnekeelne, meaning spoken or oral language. It appears in discussions of multimodal communication, accessibility, and deaf education, where non-speech forms are analyzed for their linguistic structure and communicative function. In this context, mittekõnekeelne can refer to sign languages, such as Eesti viipekeel (Estonian Sign Language), which are full natural languages with their own grammar and lexicon, as well as other nonverbal or visual-gestural communication practices and, in some discussions, writing systems used independently of speech.

In Estonia and elsewhere, mittekõnekeelne emphasizes that language can be realized through means other than vocal speech, highlighting the diversity of human communication. It is particularly relevant for discussions about accessibility for Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities, language rights, and the study of how sign languages interact with spoken and written forms in multilingual environments. While it helps categorize non-spoken modes, it does not imply that such modes are merely substitutes for speech; rather, they constitute legitimate, complete linguistic systems or communicative strategies in their own right.