metakielisenä

Metakielisenä is a Finnish term that translates roughly to "as meta-linguistic" or "in a meta-linguistic way." It refers to an approach or a perspective that focuses on language itself, rather than on the content or meaning conveyed by the language. This involves analyzing the structure, properties, and use of language as a subject of study.

When something is described as metakielisenä, it implies an examination of language from an external or analytical viewpoint. This could involve discussing grammar rules, word origins, the evolution of language, or how language is used in different social contexts. It's about stepping back from direct communication to observe and understand the mechanics and nature of the communication tool.

For example, a teacher explaining a grammatical concept to students might be acting in a metakielisenä manner. They are not simply using language to convey information about another topic, but rather are using language to discuss the rules and structures of language itself. Similarly, a linguist analyzing sentence construction or phonological patterns is operating metakielisenä. The term emphasizes the self-referential or analytical quality of the discourse concerning language.