jätkuladust

Jätkuladust is a theoretical term used in Estonian linguistics to describe the persistence of a discourse thread or action across interruptions, enabling continuity in meaning, reference, or narrative progression. It denotes a state or quality rather than a concrete event and is most often discussed in the context of discourse analysis and sentence-to-sentence cohesion.

The word is formed from jätku, meaning continuation, combined with a nominal suffix, and in its inflected form jätkuladust it functions as a genitive singular. As a concept, jätkuladust is used to analyze how speakers maintain topic or referent across pauses, how actions begun in one clause appear to continue in subsequent clauses, and how overall coherence is achieved in extended talk or writing.

In practical studies, jätkuladust is observed when topics reappear after interruptions, when referents are carried forward through discourse, or when a narrative keeps an action unfolding beyond an initial moment. It is considered one of several mechanisms that support cohesion, alongside discourse markers, parallel references, and topic maintenance. The term may be used selectively by researchers and is not universally standardized across all Estonian-language discourse theories.

Related ideas include cohesion, topic maintenance, referential continuity, and the broader study of how discourse structure preserves meaning over time. As with many theoretical terms, usage and interpretation of jätkuladust vary among scholars and linguistic traditions.