kertomisen

Kertomisen is a Finnish noun that refers to the act of telling or narrating stories or information. It is formed from the verb kertoa, “to tell,” with the noun-forming suffix -minen, yielding kertominen, “the act of telling.” The form kertomisen is the genitive singular of kertominen and is used to indicate possession or relation, for example kertomisen taito (the art of storytelling) or kertomisen vaikutus (the impact of storytelling).

In grammar, -minen creates abstract nouns from verbs, and the genitive -n marks a dependent noun in phrases. Kertomisen can thus be combined with adjectives and other nouns to describe types of telling or contexts, such as alli-ed combinations like suullisen kertomisen perinne (the tradition of oral storytelling) or kirjallisen kertomisen keinoja (means of written storytelling).

Contexts and forms: Suullinen kertominen, or oral storytelling, has historically been a central form of cultural transmission and entertainment. Kirjallinen kertominen refers to writing and presenting narratives, including novels, short stories, and other written forms. In contemporary use, kertomisen is often discussed in relation to narrative techniques, such as kertomisen rakenne (narrative structure), kertomisen rytmi (pacing), and kertomisen valinta (voice and perspective).

Relation to related fields: Kertomisen is a core concept in narrative studies and discourse analysis, serving as a linguistic and cultural lens on how people convey events, meaning, and identity through telling. It intersects with folklore, literature, education, journalism, and media studies, where the effectiveness of kertominen is linked to clarity, engagement, and memory. See also: storytelling, narration, discourse, folklore.