verbaalinen

Verbaalinen is a Finnish adjective meaning "verbal" or "spoken" and is used in linguistics and communication studies to describe aspects of language produced through speech. In Finnish, it is typically used to distinguish spoken language and spoken expressions from written language and nonverbal forms of communication. Common phrases include verbaalinen viestintä (verbal communication) and verbaalinen ilmaisu (verbal expression).

In English-language contexts, the word "verbal" is used to translate Verbaalinen, but Finnish nuance often emphasizes oral rather than written dimensions. The term appears mainly in Finnish-language texts and bilingual discussions; outside of Finland, Verbaalinen is rarely used as a standalone term. When describing language phenomena, scholars may refer to verbal features such as phonology, intonation, syntax, and vocabulary that occur in speech, as well as the processes of spoken discourse.

Because the word is primarily a language-specific term, it is generally avoided in English-only discourse. The concept aligns with broader topics such as verbal communication, written language, and nonverbal communication.