Volatiivseks

Volatiivseks is an Estonian linguistic term referring to the translative form of the adjective volatiivne. The root volatiivne denotes volition, will or wish, and the volatiivseks form marks a change of state toward that volitive quality. In Estonian grammar, translative forms express becoming or resulting in a new state, and volatiivseks is the specific translative used to indicate becoming volitive.

Formation and form guides: The translative suffix -seks attaches to the adjective volatiivne to produce volatiivseks. This form functions as a predicative complement in sentences that express a change of state, often with verbs such as saama (to become) or jääma (to stay). For example, a phrase like ta sai volatiivseks would be analyzed as “he became volitive.” The construction is primarily a tool of linguistic description and is not common in everyday speech.

Function and usage: Volatiivseks serves in grammar descriptions to illustrate how Estonian can encode a transition into a volitive state. It is part of the broader study of mood, modality and predicative adjectives, rather than a productive everyday usage. Its appearance is mainly in academic or descriptive contexts where researchers discuss how forms convey intention, will or exhortation within predicative constructions.

Cross-linguistic context: The concept of a volitive mood exists in some languages (often labeled optative or jussive in other traditions). Estonian handles volition and exhortation through various grammatical means, with volatiivseks representing a translative way to describe a shift toward volition in linguistic analysis.

See also: volatiivne, translative case, Estonian grammar, mood in language, optative mood.