Talk:vaikuttaa

Vaikuttaa vs. aiheuttaa
Vaikuttaa
 * Syy vaikuttaa seurauksiin.
 * The cause brings about the outcome.

Aiheuttaa
 * Objekti aiheuttaa subjektiin.
 * The object influences the subject.

Corrections, revisions? ~ heyzeuss 10:03, 29 May 2013 (UTC)

The basic meaning of vaikuttaa is "to have an influence on" whereas aiheuttaa means "to be the cause of". In terms of logic aiheuttaa is more deterministic: if A then B, whereas vaikuttaa indicates a partial cause: if A then the likelihood of B increases, but also not-B is possible. Vaikuttaa also has the sense "to appear".

In the examples I would probably interchange the verbs:
 * Syy aiheuttaa seurauksen.
 * The cause brings about the outcome.
 * Subjekti vaikuttaa objektiin.
 * The subject influences the object.

However, in both examples both verbs are thinkable, depending on the degree of determinism in the relationship discussed. --Hekaheka (talk) 18:40, 29 May 2013 (UTC)


 * Am I using the words correctly in the following sentences?
 * Bakteerit vaikuttavat moniin ihmisiin.
 * Bakteerit aiheuttavat monia sairauksia.
 * ~ heyzeuss 13:32, 2 June 2013 (UTC)