takaisinjohtona

Takaisinjohtona is a Finnish term used in discourse analysis to describe a rhetorical or textual device that returns the discussion to a previously mentioned topic or thread. The word combines takaisin meaning back or return and johtona, a form indicating function or role, roughly translated as “as a lead.” In this sense, a takaisinjohtona serves to re-anchor a narrative or argument to an earlier idea, improving coherence and aiding the reader or listener in following the argument.

The term is relatively specialized and appears mainly in academic discussions of Finnish rhetoric, journalism, and translation studies. It is not a common everyday expression, and its exact usage can vary between authors.

In practice, takaisinjohtona may appear as a reference to an earlier claim, a rephrased reprise of a previous example, or a transitional sentence that explicitly directs attention back to prior material. Examples: 1) Artikkelin kirjoittaja käyttää takaisinjohtonaa palatakseen alkuperäiseen teemaan. (The author uses a takaisinjohtona to return to the original topic.) 2) Haastattelussa kysymys toimi takaisinjohtona, joka palautti keskustelun aiempaan aiheeseen. (The question functioned as a back-reference that brought the discussion back to the earlier topic.)

See also: anaphora, reference, cohesion, discourse marker.