osoittamisen

Osoittamisen is a Finnish noun meaning the act of pointing out, indicating, or showing something. It denotes the process of directing attention to a person, object, fact, or location, whether by a physical gesture, by language, or by another signaling method. The term is used across registers from everyday speech to formal discourse, and it can describe both literal pointing and more abstract forms of indicating information.

Etymology and form: Osoittaminen is formed from the verb osoittaa (to indicate, to point) with the nominalizing suffix -minen. The word appears in the genitive osoittamisen, meaning "the act of pointing out" as a concept, e.g., "osoittamisen tarkoitus" (the purpose of pointing out) or "osoittamisen merkitys" (the significance of indicating). It can be combined in phrases such as "osoittamisen harjoittaminen" (practice of pointing out) or "osoittamisen epäselvyys" (unclearness of indicating).

Contexts and usage: In education and communication, osoittamisen clarity affects understanding, for example when a teacher uses pointing out as a method to emphasize key steps. In linguistics or cognitive science, the term may appear when discussing how demonstratives, gestures, and accompanying speech work together to convey meaning. In writing and argumentation, careful osoittamisen helps anchor claims to evidence or examples.

See also: osoittaa, osoittaminen, demonstratiiviset sanat.