eikohdekielisen

eikohdekielisen is a Finnish term that translates to "already spoken" or "previously uttered" in English. It is used in linguistics and discourse analysis to refer to information, concepts, or phrases that have been introduced into the conversation or text by a previous speaker or writer. The term implies that the audience or reader is already familiar with the mentioned element, and therefore it can be referred to back to without explicit re-explanation.

The concept of eikohdekielisen is closely related to the idea of givenness in information structure. Information that is eikohdekielisen is considered "given" information, contrasting with "new" information that is being introduced for the first time. This distinction is crucial for understanding how speakers and writers manage the flow of information and maintain coherence in communication.

In practice, eikohdekielisen elements can be actual words or phrases, but they can also refer to shared knowledge, context, or assumptions between participants. For example, if two people are discussing a specific book, any subsequent mention of "the book" would be considered eikohdekielisen because its identity has already been established. This linguistic device allows for more efficient and natural communication by avoiding redundancy. Recognizing and utilizing eikohdekielisen elements is a fundamental aspect of effective communication in Finnish.