Utsagn

Utsagn is a Norwegian noun meaning a statement or utterance. In everyday language it refers to something a person has said, an assertion about a fact, or the content of speech. In linguistic and grammatical contexts, utsagn is used to describe the declarative part of a clause—i.e., the form used to state propositions rather than to ask questions or issue commands.

Etymology and usage context

The word is formed from ut- meaning outward or forth and sagn meaning saying or utterance, with roots in Old Norse sagn meaning a saying or tale. In modern Norwegian, utsagn is common in both general usage and linguistic analysis to denote the act of saying something or the content of a declarative sentence.

Grammar and distinctions

In Norwegian grammar, utsagn is typically contrasted with interrogative clauses (spørsmål) and imperative clauses (kommando). A typical utsagn expresses a proposition that can be true or false. Examples include "Det regner i dag" (It is raining today) and "Jeg liker sjokolade" (I like chocolate). The term emphasizes the factual content of the statement rather than the illocutionary force or the communicative act, which may also be described with related terms such as uttalelse.

Related terms

Related concepts include påstand, which highlights the asserted claim or proposition behind the statement, and uttalelse, an utterance or statement focusing on the act of saying. In educational and linguistic contexts, utsagn helps distinguish declarative content from questions and commands and serves as a basic unit in analyzing sentence structure.