Väljaselgitamine

Väljaselgitamine is an Estonian term used to describe the act of clarifying or elucidating information by making implicit details explicit. The word combines välja (out, external) with selgitamine (clarification, explanation), and in practice it denotes the process of revealing the reasons, mechanisms, or implications behind a statement, result, or phenomenon.

In academic writing, journalism, education, and public discourse, väljaselgitamine aims to ensure that arguments are transparent and reproducible. It involves identifying the question or problem, gathering relevant information, analyzing evidence, and presenting a clear, justified explanation. It also invites consideration of alternative explanations and the disclosure of uncertainty or limitations.

Methodologically, it emphasizes explicit reasoning, evidence-based justification, and documentation of sources. It is not the same as summarization or mere reporting; its goal is to expose the underlying rationale and enable others to verify the conclusions.

Examples include a researcher detailing how a result follows from the data, including the methods and assumptions used; or a policy brief explaining how a proposed measure would work, the chain of effects, and potential risks.

See also: clarification, explanation, elucidation, justification.