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tähendus

Tähendus is a noun used in Finnish and Estonian to denote meaning, sense, or significance. In linguistic usage, it refers to the semantic content conveyed by a sign, such as a word, phrase, or symbol, rather than its physical form or sound. The concept is central to the study of semantics and semiotics in these languages.

In linguistics, tähendus encompasses lexical meaning (the meaning of individual words) and how meanings are assembled

Meanings are not fixed; they can vary with context, culture, and over time. In pragmatics, tähendus is

Dictionaries and language education describe tähendus in entries that specify the typical meaning of words, their

See also semantics, semiotics, denotation, connotation, pragmatics.

to
form
the
meaning
of
larger
expressions
(compositional
semantics).
Denotation
refers
to
the
entities
in
the
real
or
discursive
world
that
a
term
stands
for,
while
connotation
includes
the
associations
and
evaluative
overtones
that
a
term
may
carry.
shaped
by
speaker
intention,
inference,
and
social
use.
In
semiotic
theory,
the
meaning
of
a
sign
arises
from
the
relationship
between
signifier
and
signified
within
a
system
of
signs.
senses,
and
usage
notes.
The
study
of
tähendus
also
touches
on
polysemy,
synonymy,
and
translation,
where
the
meaning
of
expressions
is
compared
across
languages.