Yleiskarttatermin

Yleiskarttatermin is a term used in Finnish cartography and geographic information science to refer to general or generic vocabulary that applies across maps, rather than terms tied to a specific thematic domain. It denotes terms that are common to most maps, including elements of map construction, presentation, and metadata.

The word combines yleis- (general), kartta (map), and termin (term). In practice the concept appears in glossaries, educational materials, and standards to distinguish everyday map language from specialized vocabulary used for particular subjects or dataset types. The term can appear in singular or plural forms, and may be encountered in various inflected variants within Finnish technical texts.

Usage of yleiskarttatermin typically occurs in contexts focused on terminology standardization, language planning, and teaching. It helps learners and data users build a foundational vocabulary for reading and producing maps before tackling domain-specific terms related to hydrography, topography, urban planning, or other fields. By grouping terms as yleiskarttatermit, publishers and standards bodies aim to facilitate clear communication and multilingual translation of common map concepts.

Examples of terms often treated as yleiskarttatermit include mittakaava (scale), karttamerkki (map symbol), and legenda or selite (legend). These terms are considered general and widely applicable across different types of maps rather than tied to particular thematic content. The concept supports terminology management within cartography and geographic information systems. See also cartography terminology, glossaries, and standards for geographic information.