Ickesvarande

Ickesvarande is a term used in discourse analysis to describe a response that does not directly answer the question posed. It covers utterances that acknowledge the question yet fail to provide the requested information, often serving strategic functions such as preserving face or avoiding risk.

Etymology: The word is formed from the Swedish prefix icke-, meaning not, and svarande, meaning respondent or answering. It appears to have emerged as a label in modern Swedish discourse research to characterize a specific type of non-answer.

Characteristics: Ickesvarande typically involves hedging, deflection, redefinition of the issue, or shifts in topic. It is distinct from outright nonresponse, because the speaker offers content, yet not the intended answer. It can function to delay, to maintain politeness, or to minimize perceived risk for the speaker.

Examples: In interviews or political debates, a response like "That depends on the context" or "I can't comment without more information" is often cited as an ickesvarande, because it acknowledges the question without providing a substantive answer.

See also: evasive answer, hedging, discourse analysis, politeness theory.