atténez

Atténez is a fictional sociotechnical concept used in speculative fiction and world-building to describe a protocol for coordinated attention in group discourse. It defines a structured set of norms and tools intended to allocate speaking time and attention fairly among participants, reduce interruptions, and ease cognitive load during collective deliberation.

Origins and etymology: In the in-universe lore, atténez comes from the imagined language of the Diurna Confederation. The root att- conveys attending or attending to others, while the suffix -énez forms an abstract noun referring to the process. The concept first appears in deliberative texts and is later codified into governance protocols and educational curricula within the fictional setting.

Structure and practice: Core elements include explicit attention signals (eye contact with the speaker, micro-nods, or spoken cues), a rotating speaking order, and an Atténez Moderator who manages turn-taking and log-keeping. Some variants employ digital attestations or counters to verify that participants have acknowledged what was said before replying. Atténez protocols are adapted for classrooms, councils, or online forums, with more formal versions emphasizing accountability and inclusivity, and lighter versions used for casual discussions.

Impact and reception: In fiction, atténez serves as a technology of dialogue that tests power relations, democracy, and ethics of visibility. Real-world analogs are often drawn with turn-taking conventions, attention economy theory, and participatory design, though atténez remains a constructed concept tied to its fictional universe.