viittailivat
Viittailivat is a Finnish verb form that is used to describe the act of gesturing or signaling by signs. In standard Finnish, the more common past-tense form for signaling in this sense is viittasivat, while viittailivat appears mainly in dialectal or literary contexts. The form conveys nonverbal communication performed by a group.
Etymology and meaning: viittailivat is built from a root related to signaling or indicating, with an infix
Usage and nuance: The construction is typically found in narrative or descriptive prose to depict characters
- He viittailivat karttaan osoittaakseen reitin. (They gestured toward the map to show the route.)
- Kokouksen aikana osanottajat viittailivat toistensa suuntaan. (During the meeting, participants signaled toward one another.)
Related terms: See also viitta (root related to signaling in compounds), viittaus (reference), and viittomakieli (sign