Tulkataan

Tulkataan is a Finnish verb form derived from tulkita, meaning to interpret or translate. It is the present passive form, used to express that interpretation or translation is being performed without specifying who performs the action. The form is common in definitions, explanations, and analytical prose where a general or impersonal statement is intended.

Grammar and nuance: In Finnish, the present passive is formed with suffixes that agree with vowel harmony, and for tulkita the form is tulkitaan. Depending on context, tulkitaan can convey either “it is interpreted” or, more implicitly, “one interprets.” This impersonal voice allows writers to present conclusions or interpretations as established or widely accepted rather than attributing them to a specific agent.

Usage: Tulkataan frequently appears in academic writing, journalism, legal or philosophical discussions, and instructional texts. It often introduces a conclusion, interpretation, or methodological step. Typical phrasing includes formulas like “Tulkitaan seuraavasti,” meaning “It is interpreted as follows,” which signals a structured explanation.

Related terms: The noun tulkinta denotes an interpretation or interpretation itself, while tulkki refers to an interpreter, and tulkkaus can denote interpretation or translation services. These related words shape how tulkitaan fits into Finnish discourse on meaning, translation, and explanation.

See also: Finnish language, Finnish grammar, interpretation and translation terminology.