Uttrykkskraft

Uttrykkskraft is a term used in Nordic linguistics and rhetoric to describe the expressive power or emphatic strength of a text, utterance, or discourse. Etymologically, it combines uttrykk (expression) and kraft (power), and it is used to capture how strongly language conveys emotion, stance, or stylistic effect beyond its literal propositional content. The concept is applied in fields such as linguistics, discourse analysis, translation studies, advertising, and political rhetoric.

A high uttrykkskraft indicates that language employs features that amplify impact, such as metaphor, vivid imagery, intensifying adjectives, rhythmic or alliterative patterns, and prosodic cues in speech. A low uttrykkskraft relies on more straightforward wording with fewer rhetorical devices, producing a subtler or more neutral effect. Factors influencing uttrykkskraft include lexical choice, syntactic structure, figurative language, and, in spoken language, tone, pace, and intonation.

Analyses of uttrykkskraft are typically qualitative, focusing on stylistic devices, rhetorical strategies, and audience reception. Quantitative approaches may count instances of figurative language, assess sentiment or intensity, or measure prosodic features in speech. The concept is useful for evaluating translation quality, advertising effectiveness, political or journalistic rhetoric, and the overall expressive character of a communication act.

See also: uttrykkskraft, tone, register, stilistikk, retorikk. Note that uttrykkskraft is not a universal metric; its assessment can be subjective and language- and culture-dependent.