Tarkoittava

Tarkoittava is a Finnish term used as an adjective and present participle derived from the verb tarkoittaa, meaning to mean, signify, or intend. In linguistic and lexicographic contexts, tarkoittava is used to label expressions, constructions, or elements that convey a meaning or indicate a referent. The form can function both attributively and predicatively, agreeing with the noun it modifies.

In practice, tarkoittava is commonly found in discussions of semantics and grammar to describe the role of a word or phrase that signals its sense or reference. Examples include tarkoittava ilmaus (an expression that conveys a meaning) or tarkoittava lause (a sentence that specifies a referent). The sense of tarkoittava is close to “signifying” or “referential” in English, though it remains a relatively niche term outside academic usage.

Etymology and morphology: tarkoittava is formed by adding the suffix -va to the verb stem tarkoitta-, creating a present participle that can be used as an adjective. It is part of Finnish participial adjectives and may decline like other adjectives to agree with number and case.

Usage and context: The term appears mainly in academic discussions of semantics, pragmatics, and lexicography. Outside such contexts, it is less common in everyday Finnish. Related concepts include tarkoittaa, merkitys (meaning), viittaaminen (reference/deixis), and konnotaatio (connotation). Its precise use can vary by author, but the core idea is that tarkoittava elements contribute to the sense or reference of an expression.