tarkoittavissa

Tarkoittavissa is a Finnish adjective-form used to describe something that can be interpreted as having a particular meaning or intention. It is formed from the verb tarkoittaa, “to mean,” with the present-participial suffix -ttava to create tarkoittava, and the inessive suffix -ssa yields tarkoittavissa. In practice, tarkoittavissa conveys that the sense of a statement, symbol, or text is open to being understood in a certain way, or that multiple readings are possible. The sense is closer to “interpretable” or “meaning-bearing” rather than a specific, fixed meaning.

Etymology and morphology are important for understanding its usage. The root is tarkoittaa, and the combined form tarkoittava expresses the action of meaning or signifying. The suffix -ttavissa then marks potential or capability, producing a descriptor that something can be meaningfully read or interpreted. This construction is part of Finnish verb-derived participles that allow nuanced characterization of discourse objects.

Usage and nuance: tarkoittavissa is used mainly in linguistic, semiotic, or critical contexts to indicate interpretive potential. It can describe phrases, statements, symbols, or texts whose meaning is not fixed and may vary depending on reader, context, or theoretical framework. It is typically less common in everyday language, where more specific terms like tulkittavissa (interpretable) or tarkoitettu (intended) may be preferred, depending on whether the emphasis is on interpretation or authorial intention.

See also: tulkittava, tulkinta, merkitys, semantiikka, tarkoitus.