sanallisesti

Sanallisesti is a Finnish adverb meaning “in words” or “verbal,” used to describe expressing something with language rather than through numbers, symbols, or visual formats. It is formed from the adjective sanallinen (word-based, verbal) plus the adverbial suffix -isesti. The term is commonly employed to distinguish modes of communication or description, such as when information can be presented sanallisesti (in words) or numerisesti (numerically), graafisesti (graphically), or visuaalisesti (visually).

In practical use, sanallisesti describes explanations, instructions, or descriptions that are rendered as prose or spoken language rather than in tables, charts, or mathematical notation. It is often applied in educational, research, or professional contexts to indicate that information should be understood through natural language expression rather than formal symbolic representations. The concept also appears in tasks that require layperson-friendly summaries or narrative descriptions, where the emphasis is on clarity and accessibility rather than precision through quantitative data.

Etymologically, sanallisesti is built from sana (word) and the adverbial suffix -isesti, reflecting its meaning of doing something “in words.” Related Finnish terms include suullisesti (orally, through spoken language) and kirjallisesti (in writing). While sanallisesti highlights language-based description, it is distinct from but complementary to other modalities such as numeerisesti or graafisesti, which specify data conveyed through numbers or visuals. Overall, sanallisesti denotes a linguistic, text-based mode of expression within Finnish usage.