Mittetegelikust

Mittetegelikust is an Estonian term used in literary, media, and critical discourse to describe something that is not real or not actually factual, yet is presented in a way that resembles reality. The word is built from the elements mitte (not) and tegelik (real) with the suffix -ust, yielding a noun that denotes a state or quality of non-reality.

In practice, mittetegelikust appears in discussions about texts, broadcasts, or online content that blur the line between fact and fiction. Analysts may use the term to classify narratives, visuals, or representations that simulate real-world conditions while conveying unreal or fictitious content. It can also be used to describe counterfactual scenarios or imaginatively constructed worlds that are treated as if they were real within a given work or discourse.

Usage and scope are limited and somewhat informal. Mittetegelikust is not a widely standardized technical term, and its precise boundaries are debated among scholars and commentators. It is often contrasted with concepts such as poolik tõde (half-truth), misinformation, post-truth, and fictionality, highlighting the spectrum between verifiable fact and constructed or imagined content.

Related topics include media literacy, narrative realism, and the analysis of representations. When used, mittetegelikust signals attention to how appearances of reality are manufactured or deployed, and it invites scrutiny of claims to truth within cultural or informational contexts.