aikavertailua

Aikavertailu is a narrative technique used to move the story temporally away from the current moment in order to reveal past events that are relevant to the present situation. The term is formed from the Finnish words for time (aika) and comparison or contrast (vertailla/vertailu), and in literary studies it describes a deliberate shift in chronology that highlights background information or motives. The noun aikavertailu can appear in various grammatical forms; for example, aikavertailua is the partitive singular form used in sentences such as “tarina käyttää aikavertailua” or “takautuma.” The device is closely related to takautuma, commonly translated as flashback, and to retrospektiivinen kerronta.

In practice, aikavertailu appears in literature, film, television, and journalism. It serves to illuminate character backstory, explain events that shape current actions, or reveal consequences that would otherwise be hidden. It can be conveyed through a character's memory, a diary fragment, a storyteller recounting past events, or a voiceover. Temporal signals such as explicit time markers, shifts in narrative perspective, or tense changes help the reader or viewer recognize the shift from the present timeline to the past.

Aikavertailu is typically balanced with a clear main timeline to avoid confusing the audience. When used sparingly and clearly, it enhances motivation, suspense, and thematic depth; when overused or poorly signposted, it can disrupt the narrative flow. In Finnish discussions of narrative technique, takautuma remains the most common term for the concrete realization of a past event, while aikavertailu serves as a broader descriptor for non-linear storytelling.