kehyskenttä

Kehyskenttä, often translated as "frame field" or "contextual field" in English, is a concept in linguistics and cognitive science that describes the abstract mental structures or frameworks that influence how we understand and process information. It refers to the pre-existing knowledge, expectations, and assumptions that an individual brings to a situation, which in turn shapes their interpretation of incoming data. These fields are not static but are dynamic and can be influenced by experience and learning.

When encountering new information, a kehyskenttä acts as a filter, highlighting certain aspects while downplaying others. For example, the kehyskenttä associated with "going to a restaurant" might include expectations about ordering food, paying a bill, and interacting with staff. If a situation deviates significantly from this established frame, it might lead to confusion or a re-evaluation of the incoming information. The concept suggests that our understanding is not a direct reflection of reality but is mediated by these internal cognitive structures. Researchers use the idea of kehyskenttä to explain phenomena such as how stereotypes are formed and maintained, how metaphors work, and how individuals make sense of complex or ambiguous situations.