Päätelmäsanaa

Päätelmäsanaa is a Finnish linguistic term describing a word or phrase that signals a conclusion or inference in discourse. It functions as a discourse marker or final connective that guides the listener or reader toward the result of a line of reasoning. In practice, Päätelmäsanaa appears at the start of a concluding clause or sentence and frames the ensuing assertion as the outcome of prior statements.

Common forms include: "näin ollen," "näin," "siis," "siispä," "loppujen lopuksi," and "yhteenvetona." These markers differ in formality and exact meaning (deduction, summation, emphasis), but share the role of signaling conclusion rather than introducing new information. They are distinct from ordinary conjunctions that link clauses, and from fillers that do not affect propositional content.

In Finnish language studies Päätelmäsanaa is discussed under discourse markers and rhetorical devices. It is analyzed in terms of position, clause structure, and discourse function, with attention to register and genre. In formal writing, its use tends to appear in concluding sections, whereas in speech it helps structure persuasive arguments.

Etymology: the term combines päättelemä? with sana, literally meaning a "conclusion word." The concept appears in linguistics and rhetoric as a way to identify markers that indicate ending or consequence rather than to provide the logical operation itself.

See also: Discourse marker; Finnish rhetoric; Conjunction; Inference.