tallmessig

Tallmessig is an adjective used in Norwegian (and to some extent in related Scandinavian languages) to describe something that relates to numbers, quantities, or statistical measurement. It characterizes data, analyses, or results that are numerical rather than qualitative or descriptive.

Etymology and sense: the word combines tall, meaning "number," with the suffix -messig, which forms adjectives indicating a characteristic or mode. The term is most common in formal or academic writing and is used to mark a quantitative rather than a qualitative approach.

Usage: tallmessig is typically used to distinguish numerical or statistical approaches from qualitative ones. Common collocations include tallmessige data, tallmessig analyse, and tallmessige resultater. It can also describe methods, such as en tallmessig undersøkelse, where data are collected and analyzed in numerical terms.

Relation to other terms: synonyms or near-synonyms include numerisk and kvantitativ, while kvalitativ is its usual counterpart. In everyday language, speakers may prefer numerisk or kvantitativ for clarity, depending on the context and discipline.

Context and variation: tallmessig usage is most common in Norwegian academic and technical writing, including statistics, economics, and social science reports. The exact phrasing can vary by country and discipline, and some contexts may favor more general terms like numerisk or kvantitativ over tallmessig.

Overall, tallmessig serves as a concise descriptor for data, analyses, and results that are measured or presented in numerical terms, complementing qualitative descriptions in research reporting.