hahmottelun

Hahmottelun is a Finnish term used in cognitive science and linguistics to denote the process by which a person forms a mental representation of sensory input or abstract information. It encompasses perception, interpretation, and conceptualization, producing a coherent image or understanding.

The term derives from the verb hahmottaa, meaning to grasp, envision, or form a mental image, with the noun form hahmottelu. The genitive singular form is hahmottelun, used to indicate possession or the process of this formation (as in "the process of hahmottelun"). In Finnish usage, it appears mainly in scholarly contexts but can also describe everyday cognitive processing.

Hahmottelun covers both concrete sensory imagery (how we visually imagine a scene) and abstract conceptualization (constructing a narrative or model from data). It is related to, but distinct from, mere perception, emphasizing the active construction of meaning rather than passive reception. In research, it is used to analyze how people interpret information, make inferences, or form expectations.

See also: perception, mental imagery, cognitive representation, phenomenology. In English-language literature, the exact term hahmottelun is not common; scholars usually translate it as mental representation, perceptual interpretation, or conceptualization.