kuuntelijassa

Kuuntelijassa on the inessive singular form of the Finnish noun kuuntelija (listener). It denotes a location inside the listener and is used to describe where perceived phenomena, reactions or cognitive processes occur. As an inflected form, kuuntelijassa illustrates how Finnish marks location with case endings, even with animate nouns such as kuuntelija.

Formation and grammar: The base kuuntelija takes the inessive ending -ssa, yielding kuuntelijassa. This pattern is analogous to other inessive forms, for example talossa (in the house) or opettajassa (in the teacher). The inessive answers questions like where something is happening or where an experience is taking place, typically in relation to the subject.

Usage and nuance: In everyday Finnish, kuuntelijassa is primarily a grammatical vehicle rather than a common standalone concept. It often appears in scientific, analytic or literary contexts to express that a perception, interpretation or emotional response occurs within the listener. The exact nuance depends on context, and the phrase may carry literal or metaphorical meaning.

Examples:

- Sanat herättivät tunteita kuuntelijassa. (The words aroused emotions in the listener.)

- Tutkimuksessa tarkastellaan, miten tarinan vaikutus syntyy kuuntelijassa. (In the study, the effect of the story is examined as it occurs in the listener.)

- Metafora siirtää vastuun kuuntelijassa tapahtuvaan tulkintaan. (The metaphor shifts responsibility to the interpretation that takes place in the listener.)

See also: Finnish grammar or case system; inessive case; kuuntelija as a noun.