koostajad

Koostajad is an Estonian term used to describe individuals who contribute to the creation of a work without being the primary authors. The plural form refers to more than one such contributor. In publishing and other media, the label is used to recognize people who helped assemble, compile, or otherwise add substantial content or organization to a work.

The word derives from the Estonian verb koostama, meaning to put together or assemble, with the agent noun suffix -ja. A single contributor is a koostaja, and multiple contributors are referred to as koostajad. The term is commonly encountered in bibliographic records, catalogs, and publication notes as a way to credit those who contributed beyond the core authorship.

Usage and context vary, but generally koosstajad encompass roles such as editors, compilers, translators, translators, or collaborators who provided material, structure, or organization for a work. In practice, the designation helps distinguish these contributions from those of the primary author (autor) or editor (toimetaja), reflecting a broader range of involvement. The exact responsibilities implied by koostajad can differ between publishers and disciplines, so the specific duties are often described in the publication’s acknowledgments or metadata.

Overall, koostajad serve to acknowledge collective effort in producing a work, recognizing that the final product results from multiple contributors who are not necessarily the principal authors.