kysymyssanaston

Kysymyssanaston, or the question-word lexicon, is a linguistic resource that collects interrogative words and related forms used to ask questions. In Finnish linguistics, the term denotes either a dictionary-like list or a section within grammar that catalogs kysymyssanat (interrogatives) and their inflected variants, together with notes on how they function in direct and indirect questions.

A typical kysymyssanasto includes core question words such as kuka (who), mikä (what/which), mitä (what as a partitive form), missä (where), milloin (when), miksi (why), and kuinka (how). It may also cover additional forms and composite expressions used to specify type, quantity, or manner, and it usually provides example sentences illustrating common syntactic positions of interrogatives and their role in both standalone questions and embedded clauses.

Usage and applications of a kysymyssanasto span several fields. In linguistics, it supports the study of interrogative syntax and morphology. In language education and lexicography, it aids learners in mastering question formation and in creating reference materials. In translation studies and natural language processing, it helps in parsing, recognizing, and generating questions across languages. Overall, the kysymyssanaston serves as a compact reference for understanding how question words function within a language and how they interact with verbs, nouns, and case inflections.

See also: interrogatives, Finnish grammar, lexicon, language resources.