analoguise

Analoguise is a neologism used in discussions of rhetoric, cognitive science, and media studies to describe the practice of using analogy as a framing device that may mask or oversimplify underlying differences. In this sense, an analoguise is not merely a helpful comparison but a selective analogy that guides interpretation toward a particular reading of a phenomenon.

Etymology and scope: The term combines analogy with guise, suggesting that a familiar comparison acts as a disguise for more complex realities. It is not widely standardized in scholarly literature and is most often encountered in informal critique, speculative analysis, or discourse about science communication and policy debate.

Definitions and usage: As a noun, analoguise refers to the act or instance of presenting something through analogy. As a verb, to analoguise means to frame or reinterpret a topic by applying a cross-domain analogy, sometimes emphasizing surface similarity while downplaying salient differences. The concept is distinct from general analogy in that it foregrounds the rhetorical or cognitive masking effect.

Contexts and implications: Analoguise can aid understanding by leveraging familiar concepts, but it can also introduce bias or misunderstanding when critical differences are ignored. It appears in discussions of public science communication, political rhetoric, and educational writing, where analogies shape audience perception and reasoning.

See also: Analogy, metaphor, rhetorical device, cognitive bias, science communication.