tõlgenduse

Tõlgenduse is the Estonian term for interpretation, referring to the act of explaining or rendering meaning from a source such as a text, speech, artwork, or data, as well as the resulting understanding. In everyday language, tõlgendus can denote an explanation of events or statements, while in scholarly contexts it often carries a more precise sense of analytic interpretation within a theoretical framework. The word is closely related to the verb tõlgendama, meaning to interpret or render meaning.

In literary and philosophical studies, tõlgendus is central to hermeneutics, the theory and practice of understanding. Scholars examine how readers, historical context, and cultural conventions shape meaning, often invoking the idea of the hermeneutic circle—the notion that interpretation is influenced by both parts and whole of a text and by prior knowledge. Debates address questions such as whether interpretation uncovers the author’s intended meaning or whether meaning is produced by readers.

In other disciplines, tõlgendus applies to law, science, and the arts. Legal interpretation involves determining statutes and norms' meanings; in science, interpretation refers to translating data into models or explanations; in music and performance, interpretation describes how artists render a work. The term thus spans normative, descriptive, and performative uses, reflecting its broad applicability to understanding.

Etymology: tõlgendus derives from the verb tõlgendama, linking to notions of explanation, rendering, and interpretation, with a history in Estonian linguistic and scholarly usage. The term recognizes the nuanced, context-dependent nature of meaning across domains.

See also: hermeneutics, interpretation, exegesis, translation, semiotics.