Sanakuvia

Sanakuvia is a term used in Finnish literary discourse to describe a technique of creating vivid mental images primarily through language. The word combines sana meaning “word” and kuva meaning “image,” and it is used to denote instances where imagery is produced by carefully chosen words rather than direct exposition. While not universally standardized as a formal genre, sanakuvia is discussed as a mode of expression that emphasizes sensory detail, concrete detail, and active verbs to evoke a scene or mood.

In practice, sanakuvia can appear in poetry, prose, or translations, and often relies on metaphor, synecdoche, or metonymy to compress impression into a compact verbal image. Writers may use concise lines or sentences that leave space for interpretation, relying on the reader’s associative capacity to complete the image. The approach contrasts with more narration-heavy or explicative styles, favoring implication over explicit description.

Scholarly discussion around sanakuvia typically considers the balance between linguistic economy and perceptual vividness, the role of rhythm and sound, and cross-linguistic transfers of the technique. It is also used in language education to teach descriptive writing and imagery.

See also: imagery, metaphor, figurative language, synesthesia, ekphrasis.