vihjeellis

Vihjeellis is a term used in discussions of Finnish-language rhetoric to describe a style of communication that relies on hints and insinuations rather than explicit statements. The term is not widely attested in standard Finnish dictionaries; the closest established Finnish terms are vihjeellinen (hint-like, suggestive) and vihjeellisesti (adverbially, in a hinting manner). The form vihjeellis is sometimes used in cross-linguistic or pedagogical contexts as a shorthand for vihjeellinen in analyses focusing on veiled or implied messaging.

Usage: In analysis, vihjeellis describes discourse that signals meaning through contextual cues, tone, or selective omission, inviting audience interpretation. It is contrasted with explicit rhetoric, where claims are stated directly. It often appears in media studies, political communication, and literature.

Etymology: From Finnish vihje meaning hint or cue plus the adjectival suffix -ellinen; the adverb is vihjeellisesti.

Examples:

- Finnish: Mainos oli vihjeellinen; se vihjasi tuotteen paremmuutta ilman suoria väittämiä. Translation: The advertisement was hint-like; it implied the product's superiority without direct claims.

- In English-language discussions, authors may describe speeches as vihjeellis when they rely on suggestion rather than explicit assertions.

See also: insinuation, implication, indirect speech, allusion.