Díttem

Díttem is a term used in the study of constructed languages and speculative linguistics to describe a hypothetical grammatical category that marks a proposition as both reported and iterated within discourse. In worldbuilding grammars, díttem is introduced to capture how speakers signal not only the source of information but also that the information has been reinforced or repeated by others. The concept is not attested in natural languages and remains a tool for exploring how a language could encode stance, source, and repetition in a single marker.

Etymology and conception: Díttem is a neologism created for linguistic experimentation. It is typically treated as a discrete category that may be realized as a suffix, particle, or clitic, depending on the language’s morphosyntactic system. The orthography díttem emphasizes the first syllable and often carries the implication of emphasis or certainty in many worldbuilding grammars.

Grammatical role: In proposed systems, díttem combines elements of evidentiality (source of information) with a discourse-pragmatic notion of repetition or corroboration. A Díttem-marked clause indicates that the information comes from a cited or multiple sources and that those sources have, in the discourse, reinforced the claim. Realizations vary: it may appear as a verb suffix, a separate particle, or a fixed periphrastic construction, coexisting with other mood or evidential markers.

Example: In a sample language, a verb form with díttem might translate roughly as “they say it, and it is corroborated,” signaling both source and reiteration. The exact meaning depends on the language’s broader system of evidentiality and discourse markers.

See also: evidentiality, epistemic modality, quotatives, conlangs.