Dicundo

Dicundo is a term used in speculative linguistics and in some science fiction and conlang contexts to denote a hypothetical device for marking emphasis, repetition, or evidential stance by duplicating a clause. It is a neologism and is not attested in widely used natural languages; its use is mainly within theoretical discussions and worldbuilding.

Etymology and origins are informal. The word is a modern coinage formed from an allusion to the Latin verb dicere, “to say,” combined with a suffix-like element suggesting repetition. Its exact origin is uncertain, and it has appeared primarily in online discussions and fictional texts as a convenient label for a hypothetical feature rather than a documented grammatical system.

Overview and structure: Dicundo can be realized in two primary ways. Full duplication repeats an entire proposition in immediate succession (for example, “The city is safe; the city is safe”). Partial duplication echoes only the predicate or key content (for instance, repeating the core claim with a different mood marker). The second instance may carry markers indicating speaker stance, evidentiality, or discourse function such as emphasis or reassurance.

Function and typology: In theory, dicundo serves to signal speaker commitment, request confirmation, or foreground a proposition in dialogue. It is related to reduplication, a common device in natural languages, but dicundo is distinguished by its pragmatic function as a deliberate double utterance rather than a mere phonological or lexical repetition.

See also: reduplication; conlang; evidentiality; discourse markers.