vertailukielen

Vertailukieli is a Finnish term that translates to "comparison language" or "language of comparison." It refers to the linguistic elements and structures used when comparing two or more entities, concepts, or situations. This involves a range of grammatical features and lexical choices that explicitly signal a relationship of similarity, difference, superiority, inferiority, or equality.

In Finnish grammar, vertailukieli encompasses various grammatical cases, suffixes, and specific words. For instance, the comparative and superlative forms of adjectives and adverbs are key components, indicating degrees of difference. The use of conjunctions and adverbs like "kuin" (than), "samoin kuin" (as well as), "eri kuin" (different from), and "verrattuna" (compared to) are crucial for establishing comparative relationships.

The concept of vertailukieli is not limited to grammatical structures. It also involves idiomatic expressions and conventional phrasing that are commonly used for making comparisons in everyday language and more formal contexts. Understanding vertailukieli is important for comprehending the nuances of meaning in Finnish, especially when analyzing texts that involve argumentation, evaluation, or contrast. It helps to identify the basis of comparison and the speaker's or writer's perspective on the relationship between the compared items.