Sekundaarseteks

Sekundaarseteks is a hypothetical grammatical category used in linguistics to mark the secondary purpose or incidental goal of an action within a sentence. In theoretical grammars it is described as an additional case or translative-like marker that signals that the action is performed for an auxiliary objective beyond the main event. It is not part of established mainstream grammars, but it is discussed as a thought experiment in discussions of case systems and argument structure.

Etymology and naming: the term combines Estonian nuancing of sekunda “secondary” with a suffix seteks, which in this context is imagined to indicate purpose or translative function. The concept is typically presented as a potential extension to existing cases rather than a current feature of natural languages.

Morphology and syntax: in proposed analyses, sekundaarseteks is a marking on a noun phrase that represents the secondary objective of a verb’s action. It may appear as a separate particle or as a suffix-like element attached to the dependent noun, and it can interact with tense, aspect or modality in a given theoretical framework. Some treatments view it as a dedicated case, others as a functional marker that operates across subordinate clauses.

Example: a sentence such as “Ta ostis raamatu sekundaarseteks lugemiseks” is given in illustrative grammars to mean “He bought the book for the secondary purpose of reading it.” Another example might place the marker on a noun within a purpose clause, signaling auxiliary intent rather than the primary event.

History and reception: sekundaarseteks remains a hypothetical construct used mainly in theoretical discussions and in the design of constructed-language grammars. It has limited or no official status in established languages and is treated as a methodological illustration rather than a universally accepted feature.

See also: translative case, purpose clause, case theory, secondary argument.