reanalysointiin

Reanalysointi is a linguistic concept referring to the process by which speakers reinterpret a form, leading to a new analysis of its structure, meaning, or function. The related term reanalysointiin is the illative case form in Finnish, indicating direction toward or the target of reanalysis, as in discussions about moving toward a new interpretation or analysis of a linguistic item. The concept itself spans phonological, morphological, and semantic changes and can occur in historical language development as well as in real-time language use.

As a mechanism, reanalysis can arise from attempts to resolve ambiguity, reinterpret morpheme boundaries, or apply analogies across related forms. Phonological reanalysis involves shifts in how sounds are grouped or segmented; morphological reanalysis involves changes in how affixes or word classes are interpreted; semantic reanalysis involves shifts in meaning or function of a word or construction. Reanalysis is a key driver of language change over time, but it can also reflect cognitive processes in language acquisition and processing.

Well-known discussions of reanalysis often cite historical cases from various languages, such as the classic example of napron becoming apron in English, where a segmentation reinterpretation led to a new word form. More contemporary work also examines reanalysis in real-time language use, language contact, and sociolinguistic variation.

In summary, reanalysointi covers the study of how linguistic forms are reinterpreted to yield new analyses, with reanalysointiin marking the direction toward that reanalysis within Finnish usage. See also reanalysis, morphophonology, historical linguistics, and semantic change.