Referoiva

Referoiva is an adjective in Finnish used to describe paraphrastic or reported speech content. It derives from the verb referoida, meaning to paraphrase or to report content. In linguistic and educational contexts, referoiva refers to the practice of conveying another person’s utterance or source material in the speaker’s or writer’s own words, rather than quoting it directly.

In usage, referoiva describes a way of presenting information that emphasizes meaning and coherence over exact wording. It is closely related to paraphrase and to indirect or reported speech, and it is commonly employed in writing, journalism, and academic work to summarize sources, restate ideas, or relay statements succinctly. Referoiva phrasing often involves conjunctions such as että (that) or other framing devices to integrate the content into the writer’s narrative.

Relation to other terms: the noun referointi denotes the act or process of paraphrasing, while referoiva serves as the descriptor for a sentence, passage, or style that paraphrases rather than quotes verbatim. In Finnish grammar, referoiva expressions are typically contrasted with suora lainaus (direct quotation) and with epäsuora lainaus (indirect quotation), though referoiva paraphrase can overlap with the latter.

Examples: Suora lainaus: Hän sanoi, "Olen väsynyt." Referoiva: Hän kertoi olevansa väsynyt. Longer paraphrase: Tutkijat totesivat, että lämpötilan nousu vaikuttaa kasveihin, mikä voi heikentää satoa.