ulkoaluesanan

Ulkoaluesanan is a term used in linguistic discussions to denote a word that conveys an external value judgment about a referent, rather than describing intrinsic qualities. The concept focuses on how speakers signal social appraisal through lexical items that reflect a stance originating outside the referent.

It is formed from Finnish ulko- meaning external, arvo meaning value, and sana meaning word. The term is used mainly in discourse-analysis and sociolinguistics to distinguish evaluative terms that reflect an observer's judgment from those that describe objective properties.

Characteristics include that the items can be adjectives, nouns, or participles functioning as evaluative modifiers; they typically appear in attributive or predicative positions and express external assessment rather than an inherent attribute. Interpretation depends on context and stance.

Usage examples: Observers describe the policy as beneficial. Critics called the plan reckless. In Finnish discourse you might see phrases like ulkoaluesanan mukaan tämä ratkaisu on hyvä, illustrating attribution of value to a referent from an external source.

See also: evaluative language, stance, appraisal theory, sentiment analysis.