Yourmetalingvistiske

Yourmetalingvistiske is a proposed term in linguistics used to describe discourse in which speakers explicitly address the listener's or reader's perception of language use by foregrounding language choices as relevant to the audience. The phenomenon centers metalinguistic commentary that is directed toward the addressee, rather than to a general audience or to language as an abstract system.

Origin and scope: The term is a neologism combining an element signaling second-person orientation with metalinguistic analysis. It is used mainly in theoretical discussions and small-scale empirical studies of discourse where speakers calibrate their language for a particular listener.

Characteristics: Typical features include direct second-person addressing of linguistic norms, justification or critique of words and grammar as a way to influence the listener's view, and situational framing that ties language choices to social context or expectations. It often accompanies stance-taking and audience design in conversation and online communication.

Applications and examples: In online discussions, a speaker may say "Your choice of terms reveals how you want others to see you," which exemplifies metalinguistic commentary aimed at the audience. In classroom settings, instructors may model Yourmetalingvistiske commentary to guide students' awareness of register and genre.

Relation to other concepts and criticism: The term overlaps with metalinguistic awareness, metadiscourse, and stance theory but remains debated regarding its boundaries and usefulness. Critics argue it risks overgeneralization across languages and contexts.

See also: Metalinguistic awareness; Metadiscourse; Audience design; Stance.