analogiselle

Analogiselle is a neologism used in rhetoric and cognitive linguistics to denote a compact, self-contained analogy intended to clarify a concept quickly. The term blends analog- from analogy with the French diminutive suffix -elle, signaling a small or pithy form of comparison.

Definition and form: An analogiselle presents a brief comparison between two domains within a single sentence or phrase. It relies on a straightforward mapping from familiar to unfamiliar domains and is designed to be easily portable across contexts, often avoiding technical vocabulary.

Usage and evaluation: Advocates say analogiselles can improve learning, retention, and transfer in educational materials and science communication by providing accessible mental models. Critics warn that brevity may obscure important nuance or risk oversimplification, and effectiveness depends on audience experience, cultural context, and the clarity of the mapping.

Examples: "A cache is memory's short-term desk—a place for recent items, quick to grab, quick to forget." "The brain as a library shelf helps explain organization and retrieval without deep neuroscience."

See also: Analogy, Metaphor, Simile, Allegory.