tölfræðileg

Tölfræðileg is an Icelandic adjective meaning related to statistics or statistical reasoning. It is used to describe data, analyses, methods, or conclusions that rely on statistical techniques or interpretation. In practice, it distinguishes quantitative, data-driven aspects from qualitative descriptions.

Etymology and formation: the word is derived from tölfræði, the Icelandic term for statistics, with the standard adjectival suffix -leg, which forms words that mean pertaining to or characteristic of. As with other Icelandic adjectives, tölfræðileg changes form to agree with the noun it modifies.

Common usage and examples: tölfræðileg gögn refers to statistical data, tölfræðileg úrtak to a statistical sample, and tölfræðilegar aðferðir to statistical methods. Phrases such as tölfræðileg sönnun or tölfræðilegar niðurstöður are used to denote statistical evidence or results derived from statistical analysis. The term appears across academic texts, research reports, journalism, and textbooks whenever quantitative analysis is central.

Context and nuance: tölfræðileg is typically employed to emphasize the methodological or evidentiary basis of claims, as opposed to purely qualitative observations. It signals that conclusions are grounded in numerical data, probability, and inference. While the concept is universal in statistics, its Icelandic usage mirrors the language of scientific and analytical discourse, ensuring clear communication about data-driven findings.

See also: tölfræði (statistics), rannsóknir (research), gögnum (data), lýsing á gagnaöndun (data analysis).