In Finnic languages, the translative comes from a kind of locative case (a type of lative). Another locative case (a type of more strict locative) became the essive.
For people unfamiliar with these cases, I'll provide some examples:
The translative marks a noun or adjective that something turns into or is turned into.
puu kasv -oi pitkä -ksi tree grow -3sg.past long -translative the tree grew tall
This can also be used in transitive sentences, and in that case, the translative usually pertains to be qualities that the object attain through the action: maalasin talon siniseksi (I painted the house blue).
The essive case marks a role something already has or has assumed:
lääkärinä suosittelen kuntoilua
doctor-essive recommend-1sg exercise-partitive
as a doctor, I recommend exercise
But this can also have a more temporal significance:
teiniikäisenä harrastin tanssia
teenager-essive practice*-1sg dance-partitive
as a teenager I had dance for a hobby
* no really suitable verb exists to translate it, you need a phrase like "have X for a hobby".
Counterfactual significance is also possible:
sinu-na e-n hyväksy-isi tommos-ta
you-essive not-1sg accept-conditional such-partitive
I would not accept such a thing if I were you
As mentioned, these developed out of locatives in Finnish, and such locative use can still be found: ulkona, outside, huomiseksi, for tomorrow, tännemmäksi, closer towards here (formed with 'here + comparative + translative'), kaukana, far away, lähempänä at a location closer to something, lähemmäksi towards closer to something.
So, what's another conceivable origin beside locatives? I'd go for verb derivation from adjectives and later nouns. Swedish has -na for turning adjectives into verbs of transition. It's not entirely productive any longer. English has a cognate form, but this is usually transitive: fasten, lengthen, redden, etc. Now, the Swedish type of verb could start being used as infinitive or participial complements of a verb: I got hit reddened: I got hit (and turned) red.
After a while, their use as actual verbs might be lost, and the suffix might start appearing on nouns as well.
After a while, their use as actual verbs might be lost, and the suffix might start appearing on nouns as well.
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