indirektsiooni

Indirektsiooni is a term originating from theoretical linguistics, specifically within the study of information structure and discourse. It describes a type of communicative act where a speaker indirectly conveys a proposition or a request through a statement that, on its face, appears to be something else. This is achieved by relying on shared background knowledge and inferential reasoning between the speaker and the listener. The listener must then interpret the speaker's underlying intention, which is not explicitly stated but rather implied.

The concept of indirektsiooni is closely related to speech act theory, particularly the distinction between locutionary acts (the literal meaning of an utterance), illocutionary acts (the speaker's intended meaning or purpose), and perlocutionary acts (the effect on the listener). Indirektsiooni primarily focuses on the relationship between the locutionary and illocutionary force, where the illocutionary force is conveyed indirectly.

Examples of indirektsiooni can include rhetorical questions that imply a negative answer, or statements of fact that serve as a subtle suggestion or complaint. For instance, saying "It's quite cold in here" might indirectly be a request to close a window or turn up the heating. The effectiveness of indirektsiooni depends heavily on the context, the relationship between the participants, and their ability to engage in pragmatic inference. Linguists study indirektsiooni to understand how meaning is constructed and negotiated in everyday communication beyond the literal interpretation of words.