Angesprochener

Angesprochener is a term used in German-language rhetorical and linguistic discourse to denote the person or group that is addressed by a speech or written text. In this sense, the Angesprochener functions as the addressee or audience, distinct from the speaker (Sprecher) and from the broader audience (Publikum). The term appears mainly in theoretical analyses of direct address, audience design, and the persuasive effects of discourse.

The noun is formed from the participle angesprochen of the verb ansprechen (to address). It is typically treated as a masculine singular noun in nominative position (Der Angesprochene), with inflected variants for other cases and numbers following standard German noun inflection. In everyday language, speakers more commonly refer to the addressee by role or by phrase such as der Adressat or die Zuhörer, but Angesprochener appears in scholarly discussions to designate the specific intended recipient of discourse.

Usage of the term is most visible in fields such as rhetoric, philosophy of language, and media studies. It serves to analyze how speakers tailor messages to a particular addressee and how the addressee’s perceived identity, social position, or expectations influence content, tone, and form. The concept helps distinguish the intended recipient of discourse from the author or from the implied reader, clarifying questions of audience awareness and communicative purpose in analysis of texts and speeches.