Sisulause

Sisulause is a term used in Estonian linguistics to describe a subordinate clause that conveys the content of another clause. Also called a content clause or complement clause in some grammatical traditions, sisulause functions as the object, subject, or complement within a larger sentence. The concept is common in discussions of embedded clauses across Finnic and other language families.

In typical usage, a sisulause is introduced by a subordinating connector or complementizer and carries the main propositional content of the sentence. In Estonian, illustratively, the complementizer et often marks a declarative content clause, as in Ma ütlesin, et ta tuli “I said that he came.” Content clauses can express statements, questions, or beliefs and may appear as direct objects, complements of adjectives, or as extraposed subjects, depending on the language’s syntax.

Examples help distinguish sisulause from main clauses: Ma arvan, et ta jääb. (I think that he will stay.) Kas sa tead, kas ta tuleb? (Do you know whether he is coming?) Here, the embedded clauses Ta tuli and Ta tuleb provide the factual content or inquiry within the larger sentence. The distinction between content clauses and other subordinate clauses is important for analyses of argument structure, reporting, and quotation.

See also: Complement clause, content clause, embedded clause, noun clause.