Põhjusajaks

Põhjusajaks is a relatively obscure term used in Estonian linguistics and rhetorical analysis to describe a type of justification in which the timing or temporal sequence of events is presented as the primary reason for an action or decision. The term is not widely attested in dictionaries and appears mainly in theoretical discussions of causality, argument structure, and discourse justification.

Etymology and sense: The word combines põhjus 'cause' with the suffix -ajaks, which marks a temporal purpose or duration. In this formation, -ajaks signals that the justification relates to a time frame (for the duration of) rather than only to a static fact. This mirrors other Estonian compounds that encode purpose or temporal scope.

Usage and interpretation: In scholarly writing, "põhjusajaks" may describe arguments where urgency, deadlines, or event ordering are treated as the main justification for a decision. It is typically discussed as a discourse or pragmatics phenomenon rather than everyday vocabulary. Example: a policy is defended as põhjusajaks because the timing of events created urgency.

Status and reception: Because evidence for widespread usage is limited, "põhjusajaks" is best described as a tentative or emergent concept. Its future status depends on broader acceptance in Estonian linguistic and rhetorical literature. See also causality, time in rhetoric, Estonian linguistics.