lahjatusi
Lahjatusi is a term used in some linguistic and anthropological discussions to describe a specialized form of language that emerges in the context of social exchange and ceremonial gift-giving. The concept is not universally defined and remains mainly within niche analyses rather than a standard category in mainstream linguistics.
Etymology and origins are not consistently traced in the literature. The word appears to be a composite
Definition and scope. Lahjatusi refers to performative or formulaic language that social actors use during the
Usage and context. The concept has appeared in ethnolinguistic studies focused on gift economies, ceremonial exchanges,
Characteristics and variation. Typical features attributed to lahjatusi include elevated or ceremonial register, fixed phrases, indexing
Criticism and debate. Some scholars question whether lahjatusi constitutes a distinct linguistic phenomenon or whether its
See also: Gift economy, ritual language, ceremonial speech, politeness theory, sociolinguistics, performativity.