Sõnaselget

Sõnaselget is a term used in contemporary Estonian-language discourse to describe a person who aims to clarify or explain language in an accessible way. In practice, it is employed in discussions about pedagogy, rhetoric, and lexicography to denote someone who makes terms, phrases, or complex ideas more transparent for readers or listeners. The word is generally treated as a neologism rather than a standard dictionary entry, and its exact nuances can vary between authors and contexts.

Etymology and formation are not firmly established in formal sources. It is commonly analyzed as a compound built from sõna (word) and selge (clear) with a suffix-like ending that evokes agentive meaning. This construction is understood metaphorically rather than as a conventional, productive word-formation pattern in Estonian, which contributes to its stylistic or ironic appeal in some texts.

Usage and interpretation vary. In a straightforward sense, sõnaselget may describe teachers, editors, translators, or writers who prioritize clarity and plain language, striving to demystify linguistic terms for a broader audience. In other contexts, the term can carry light irony or critique, signaling over-explanation or pedantry when used humorously.

See also: explicator, clarifier, pedagogy, Estonian linguistics. Notes and definitions are not uniformly fixed across sources, and the term appears predominantly in online discussions and contemporary essays rather than in standard dictionaries.