Työvaihesanan

Työvaihesanan is a Finnish term used primarily in discussions of terminology management and technical writing to denote a word that marks a specific phase in a work process. It is formed from työ (work) + vaihe (phase) + sanan (the genitive of sana, 'word'), effectively meaning "the word of a work phase."

Etymology and semantic role: It is a compound coined to describe a class of labels used to designate stages in workflows, checklists, or process documentation. Such words function as labels or headings rather than actions; they help segment a process into named steps.

Usage: In practice työvaihesanat appear in glossaries, process diagrams, or manual structures, often as nouns like "suunnittelu" (planning), "valmistelu" (preparation), "toteutus" (execution), "tarkastus" (inspection). They may also appear as part of controlled vocabularies to ensure consistency across documents.

Variants and related terms: Related concepts include työvaihe (work phase) and sanasto (glossary). Työvaihesanan is distinct in referring specifically to the naming words that label phases, not the phases themselves.

Status and criticism: The term is not widely standardized in Finnish dictionaries or major style guides. Its use is largely contextual and organizational, depending on internal terminology policies. Critics note that it could complicate cross-organizational communication if not clarified.