avyttringen

Avyttringen is a term used in linguistics and philosophy of language to denote the act of retracting or disavowing a previously uttered statement. It describes the deliberate withdrawal of an assertion after it has been made, typically to correct an error, limit harm, or restore credibility.

Derived from the Swedish prefix av- meaning away and yttring, meaning utterance or expression, avyttringen is discussed mainly in Swedish-language scholarship on speech acts and conversational repair. In academic usage, it is treated as a distinct kind of illocutionary act alongside acceptance, assertion, and retraction. Researchers examine how avyttringen affects perceived honesty, trust, and accountability in dialogue, as well as its role in dispute resolution and media communications.

Avyttringen can be explicit, for example by a direct withdrawal: a speaker states that they withdraw a prior claim. It can also be implicit, through hedges or clarifications that reframe the original statement without repeating it verbatim. In studies, avyttringen is analyzed as part of the broader system of speech acts and conversational repair, highlighting how speakers manage commitments and credibility.

Examples occur in debates, press briefings, and online exchanges where speakers seek to mitigate misstatements. In Swedish discourse, avyttringen is often discussed together with yttring (uttering) and other speech acts as tools for negotiating meaning and responsibility in communication.

In related terms, avyttringen is explored alongside concepts such as retraction and conversational repair in linguistic literature, with attention to its social and rhetorical implications.