johdanto

Johdanto is the introductory section of a text in Finnish. It serves to present the topic, state the purpose, and set the scope and expectations for the reader. The johdanto appears across genres, including scholarly articles, books, essays, reports, speeches, and online content, and its exact form varies with the type of work.

Etymology and purpose: the word is derived from the Finnish verb johtaa, meaning to lead or guide. As a label for the opening part, johdanto denotes the portion that leads the reader into the subject and the ensuing argument or narrative. Its main aim is to prepare the reader by establishing context and relevance.

Typical content: a johdanto usually includes an attention grabber or motivation, background information, and definitions of key terms. It states the work’s aims or research questions, outlines the significance or rationale, and often provides a brief overview of the structure or plan of the text. In scholarly writing, the introduction may situate the work within existing literature and, in longer studies, indicate the scope and boundaries of the inquiry.

Genre variations: in academic articles the johdanto is often followed by a more detailed literature review and methods section, while shorter texts may combine context and aims more briefly. Narrative or public-facing works may use the introduction to establish tone, setting, or the incentive for reading, rather than to present a formal research agenda.

Relation to other parts: the johdanto does not present results or conclusions; instead, it orients the reader and frames what will be argued or described. Its length and depth vary with genre, audience, and intended impact.