tyyppisanan

Tyyppisanan is a term used in Finnish linguistics to refer to a type noun, namely a noun chosen as a representative example to illustrate a particular noun-class pattern in nominal morphology. The concept helps linguists and language teachers describe how a given inflection pattern behaves across cases, numbers, and possessive forms. The singular form "tyyppisana" or the possessive-inflected form "tyyppisanan" appears in some grammars, with the plural "tyyppisanat" used for multiple such example nouns. The exact definition and usage vary by author and textbook.

In practice, a tyyppisana is not necessarily a common word with concrete semantics; it is often a neutral or generic noun selected to demonstrate morphology. For instance, a grammar might designate a noun with chosen features (certain stem class, animacy, or syllable structure) as the tyyppisana to show how the corresponding declension class behaves. The aim is didactic clarity and cross-linguistic comparison rather than to analyze a real lexeme.

Relation to other concepts: It overlaps with the idea of "mallisanat" (model words) and with general discussions of noun classes and inflection paradigms in Finnish grammar and typology. The term is more common in teaching materials and descriptive grammars than in everyday language description.

Note: There is no single, universally adopted definition; readers should consult the specific grammar or study where the term is used.