kaksoselta

Kaksoselta is a Finnish linguistic term used to indicate that information or an observation comes from a twin. The form combines the noun kaksos—meaning "twin"—with the suffix -elta, a marker of source or origin. In effect, kaksoselta translates roughly as "from a twin" and is used to attribute statements to a twin or to report something heard from a twin. For example, kaksoselta kuultu tarina means "a story heard from a twin," and Tietoja on saatu kaksoselta means "the information came from a twin." The usage is more common in informal speech and in ethnographic or interview-style writing than in formal prose.

Etymology and related forms: The construction derives from kaksos (twin) plus -elta. It sits among a family of Finnish source-marking expressions that attach an oblique-case suffix to a person-based noun to indicate origin, such as kaverilta (from a friend) or vanhempien mukaan (according to the parents). While not as common as other attribution formulas, kaksoselta is recognized in contemporary Finnish in contexts dealing with family or twin-related narratives.

Usage considerations: Because the source is a twin, the phrase can imply shared experiences or potential bias and may require clarification about which twin or memory reliability. It remains relatively informal and may sound unusual outside certain conversational or ethnographic contexts.

See also: Finnish language; source attribution; twins.