diskursuseks

Diskursuseks is a term in discourse studies that refers to a unit, artifact, or act created to function as a resource for a particular discourse. It denotes content—text, image, video, data, or interactive systems—that is crafted with the intention of shaping how a topic is discussed, framed, or interpreted.

Etymology: The word derives from diskursus (discourse) and the Estonian suffix -eks, meaning "for" or "as," yielding "for discourse" or "as discourse."

Applications include political messaging, public health campaigns, educational materials, and algorithmic prompts. A diskursuseks may be designed to anchor a frame, provoke debate, or steer attention toward specific values or assumptions.

In practice it can take many forms: a policy brief intended to establish a debatable position, a social media post crafted to trigger a particular interpretive frame, or a dataset and visualization meant to guide discussion.

Relation to theory: The concept overlaps with framing, agenda setting, and discourse payloads. It emphasizes intentionality—discourse is not only described but produced as a resource for ongoing debate.

Ethics and critique: The use of diskursuseks raises questions about manipulation, transparency, and accountability in public communication, particularly when audiences are unaware of the crafted purpose behind the content.

See also: Discourse analysis, framing, agenda-setting theory.