catchingsuch

Catchingsuch is a term used in discourse analysis to describe a conversational strategy in which a listener identifies and foregrounds the speaker’s intended general category by referencing an exemplar or by paraphrasing with a generalizing cue such as such or such as. It centers on the moment when a listener moves from noting concrete items in a list to recognizing the broader class those items illustrate, thereby aligning with the speaker’s underlying point.

Etymology and origins: The coinage combines catch, meaning to grasp or interpret, with such, a determiner commonly used in generalizations (such as such as). The concept has appeared in linguistic literature in the early 21st century to capture how listeners infer higher-level patterns from concrete examples during interaction.

Usage and contexts: Catchingsuch is discussed in analyses of turn-taking, alignment, and inferencing in everyday conversation, interviews, and classroom discourse. It is particularly relevant when speakers present exemplars to illustrate a point and listeners must decide whether a generalization or a specific instance is being invoked.

Examples:

A: “We need faster onboarding, fewer steps, and clearer guidance.”

B: “Catchingsuch would mean the main focus is improving overall usability, not just individual steps.”

Another example:

A: “The team faces delays due to weather, supplier shortages, and staffing gaps.”

B: “Catchingsuch here points to coordination as the overarching issue.”

See also: discourse markers, implicature, generalization, exemplar, turn-taking.

Notes: Catchingsuch remains a niche term and is most often discussed within theoretical discussions of how listeners infer and label broader patterns from concrete discourse.