Translatív

Translatív, or translative, is a grammatical case used in some languages to express a change of state or becoming into a new category or role. It marks a transition from one state to another as a result of a process, such as transformation or assignment. The translative is typically contrasted with locative cases (which denote location) and with essive (temporary state). It is described in many grammars as part of the system of state or aspect rather than a simple spatial case.

In Finnish, the translative is commonly formed with the suffix -ksi, with adaptations for vowel harmony. Examples include talo becoming taloksi (into a house) and opettaja becoming opettajaksi (into a teacher). The construction is often used with verbs of becoming, such as tulla (to become): Henkilöstä tuli opettaja, or more explicitly Henkilöstä tuli opettajaksi. The translative signals the resulting state after a change, not merely a location or ongoing condition.

Cross-linguistically, the translative is treated as one of several state-related cases in Finno-Ugric and related grammars. It is usually distinguished from other cases by its semantic function—denoting movement toward or attainment of a new state—rather than griping location, duration, or temporary states. The term translativ derives from Latin translativus and is commonly used in descriptive grammars and comparative work to describe how languages encode becoming or transformation.

See also: essive, illative, other finite-state or deictic case systems in Finno-Ugric languages; grammatical cases and markers for state change.