suhtelisel

Suhtelisel is the adessive singular form of the Estonian adjective suhteline, which means relational or relative. The term is used in linguistic and stylistic contexts to describe something that depends on or is understood in relation to another element. As a declining adjective, suhteline changes its ending to agree with the noun it modifies; in the adessive singular it appears as suhtelisel, and in the plural adessive as suhtelistel.

In usage, suhtelisel is typically found in formal or academic language when expressing a basis, manner, or perspective that is defined by a relation to something else. It helps articulate things like “on a relational basis,” “at a relational level,” or “in a relational sense.” The closely related adverb suhteliselt means “relatively” or “in a comparatively small degree,” but it is not interchangeable with the adessive form of the adjective.

Examples:

- Need relative phrases are often heard: suhtelisel tasemel tähendab see meie arvamuste koordineerimist. (This means coordinating our opinions at a relational level.)

- Põhjused tuleb hinnata suhtelisel alusel. (The reasons must be evaluated on a relational basis.)

- Ta vaadleb probleemi suhtelisel viisil. (He is addressing the problem in a relational manner.)

See also: suhteline, suhteliselt. The term demonstrates how Estonian adjectives inflect for case to convey nuanced relationships between elements in a sentence.