motiiveiltaan

Motiiveiltaan is a Finnish adverb used to indicate a perspective related to motives. It is formed from the noun motiivi (motive) with the derivational suffix -iltaan, which signals that the following discussion concerns the underlying reasons or incentives behind actions, events, or statements. The word is primarily found in formal or analytical Finnish, such as scholarly writing, journalism, and criminology, where authors aim to examine why something happened rather than merely describing what occurred.

Usage and nuance are important: motiiveiltaan foregrounds the intention or justification behind a decision or act, allowing a distinction between observable events and their motivating factors. It can be contrasted with other ways of analyzing an event, such as focusing on sequence, consequences, or legal classifications, by explicitly addressing motive as a lens of interpretation. The term is most effective when the author seeks to categorize or compare different explanations based on their motivational grounds.

In practice, motiiveiltaan is used to frame discussions around motives without asserting them as proven facts. It supports nuanced analysis by highlighting that motives may be inferred, contested, or multifaceted. Related concepts include motiivit (motives) and motiivianalyysi (motive analysis).