Refleksivt

Refleksivt is an adjective used in Norwegian and related Scandinavian languages to denote reflexive or self-referential qualities. The term derives from the Latin reflexivus and is linked to the concept of reflexivity across grammar, philosophy, and cultural discourse. In everyday language, it often describes actions where the subject acts upon itself or where a statement refers back to the subject.

In linguistics, refleksivt concerns reflexive constructions. These occur when the agent and the patient of an action are the same entity, typically marked by reflexive pronouns such as seg (Norwegian) or sig (Danish/Swedish). An example is a sentence like the subject performing an action on itself. Reflexive verbs or pronouns help distinguish self-directed actions from non-reflexive ones and are a common feature in many languages.

In philosophy and social sciences, reflexivity refers to the practice of considering how researchers’ own positions, biases, and interventions affect knowledge production. A refleksiv or reflexive approach emphasizes self-awareness, methodological transparency, and the examination of how social context shapes analysis and interpretation.

In literature and media, reflexivity often describes self-referential or metafictional devices that draw attention to the act of representation itself. Works described as refleksivt may foreground their own construction, narration, or the relationship between author, text, and reader.

See also refleksivitet, reflexivity, reflexive pronouns.