Questions & Answers about Kirjan käännös on valmis.
How is the noun käännös built from a verb?
It is derived from the verb kääntää (to translate). The suffix -os or -ös is added to a verb stem to create a noun that represents the result of an action. Therefore, the result of translating is a käännös (a translation).
Why does the nt in the verb kääntää change to nn in käännös?
When adding the -os or -ös suffix, we use the weak stem of the verb. If you look at the 'I' form of the verb, käännän (I translate), you can see the weak nn. We take that stem (käännä-), drop the final vowel so it doesn't clash with the suffix, and add -ös.
The lesson mentions both -ys and -ös as suffixes. Could I say käännys instead?
Interestingly, both words exist, but they mean very different things! They both come from kääntää, which can mean 'to translate' or 'to turn'. A käännös is a translation, whereas a käännys is a physical or metaphorical turn (like a turn in the road). This is a great example of how picking a different derivation suffix for the same verb creates a totally distinct noun.
Why do we say kirjan käännös instead of putting the words in the English order ('translation of the book')?