varhaisenvarhaiset

Varhaisenvarhaiset is a term occasionally used in discussions within historical and comparative linguistics to describe the earliest attested forms of a given linguistic feature. The phrase is not a widely standardized category in mainstream Finnic linguistics and is largely encountered in speculative, exploratory, or methodological discussions about how early forms are identified in texts and inscriptions. It is typically contrasted with later early forms (varhaiset) and with more developed innovations that follow in a language’s history.

Etymology and usage. The term is formed from Finnish varhainen and varhaiset, both related to early forms, with varhaisenvarhaiset intended to emphasize the very first attested manifestations of a feature. Because there is no universal consensus on its boundaries, the label is used selectively by researchers to signal a subclass of early data that precedes more widespread early variants in a given lineage. The exact scope depends on the corpus, dating methods, and the feature under study.

Definition and scope. In practice, varhaisenvarhaiset refers to the most ancient, directly attested instances of a linguistic property within available sources, such as old manuscripts, inscriptions, or glosses. Analysts may set criteria based on dating, geographic distribution, or textual context. The concept is often employed in diachronic inquiries to explore how an attribute emerged before it became more widely distributed.

Criticism and alternatives. Some scholars argue that varhaisenvarhaiset is ambiguous or redundant and prefer clearer descriptors like “earliest attested forms” or specify exact dates and sources. Others caution against over-interpretation of sparse early data when defining such a category.

See also. Diachronic linguistics, historical linguistics, Finnic languages, early texts.