Desprezavas

Desprezavas is a term used in Romanian-language discourse to denote a specific rhetorical device in which a speaker frames a claim as a description of others' views or as a general observation, before stating their own position. The effect is to present the forthcoming assertion as reasonable or widely accepted, and to embed it in a broader context rather than to assert it directly.

In practice, desprezavas can appear as introductory clauses that attribute the point to a broader audience or to a neutral trend, for example by saying that "se observă în discuțiile despre" or "mulți susțin că" before delivering the speaker's own stance. This framing helps the speaker soften the impact of the claim, anticipate potential objections, and align the argument with commonly held beliefs. It is commonly found in online debates, opinion journalism, and political commentary, as well as in academic discussions of discourse strategies.

The concept is relatively recent in Romanian-language studies of rhetoric and pragmatics, and there is no universal consensus on its boundaries or formal definition. Proponents view it as a pragmatic device within face-saving and framing, while critics argue that it can obscure authorial responsibility or manipulate readers by implying consensus where none exists.

See also: hedging, framing, face-saving strategies.