edustus, edustustila

[Gavril]

Besides "representation", the term edustus seems to have a different meaning related to certain types of meetings and gatherings.

For example,


1. In an ad for a new office building, it's mentioned that the lobby can be combined with the normal event room to create an ”edustustila” for larger gatherings.


2. The Kielitoimiston sanakirja dictionary currently includes the following example phrase (with no further elucidation):

Lähinnä edustukseen tarkoitettu sali.


In both these examples, translating edustus as “representation” results in borderline-nonsense phrases (“representation space”, "a hall intended mainly for representation") that almost certainly don't convey the intended meaning of the term.

Can you help me understand how edustus is functioning in contexts like the above?

Paljon kiitoksia

 

[hui]

Kielitoimiston sanakirja
edustaa
1. c. esiintyä julkisuudessa, seuraelämässä liikeyrityksensä, yhteisönsä imagoa hyödyttävällä tavalla.

Edustustila is used at social events to entertain guests, clients, politicians etc.

 

[Ansku89]

Edustustila is used at social events to entertain guests, clients, politicians etc.

I would add that those social events would probably be quite fancy.

 

[Gavril]

In both these examples, translating edustus as “representation” results in borderline-nonsense phrases (“representation space”, "a hall intended mainly for representation") that almost certainly don't convey the intended meaning of the term.

More precisely, "representation" by itself doesn't make much sense here. If we add specifying details -- e.g. "company representation space" -- the phrase might still sound a bit awkward, but it starts to be more intelligible.

 

[Gavril]

I would add that those social events would probably be quite fancy.

In your view, what is normally represented at an "edustustila"?
(Or in other cases where "edustus" is used in this manner?)

- A company?
- A private club/association?
- A country or other political organization (e.g. if an ambassador is visiting)?
- An individual (e.g. if his friends throw him a birthday party)?
- Etc.?

Regards,
Gavril

 

[Ansku89]

In your view, what is normally represented at an "edustustila"?
(Or in other cases where "edustus" is used in this manner?)

- A company?
- A private club/association?
- A country or other political organization (e.g. if an ambassador is visiting)?
- An individual (e.g. if his friends throw him a birthday party)?
- Etc.?

Regards,
Gavril

It could be for example a company or a country. Using a company as an example, the "edustustila" is not just any random meeting room, where people have meetings as representatives of their company, but something fancier and more festive. It's a place where they take the most important clients to impress them.

Finnish companies also might have "edustussauna" but it's getting less common nowadays. People may half-playfully call some parts of their apartment/house "edustuspuoli, edustussiipi" or something like that, to make a distinction between the private parts of the house (like bedrooms) and the parts where guests are welcome. Very rich people can of course have real "edustustilat" in their house, only for guests and parties and not everyday use. They may also have "edustusvaimo" which I think is called trophy wife in English. And usually anyone going to a big party tries to look "edustava" even though they aren't literally representing anyone but themselves.