dizerdito

dizerDito is a coined term in critical discourse studies describing a communicative effect where the act of saying something serves as its own evidence. The word combines the Portuguese dizer ('to say') and dito ('said'), signaling a focus on utterances whose credibility grows from being spoken and repeated rather than from external proof. It is used to analyze media rhetoric, political speech, and online discourse where repetition can confer legitimacy.

Origin and scope: The concept draws on theories of performativity and the social construction of reality, but centers on how utterance itself can drive belief. It is distinguished from merely reporting facts by emphasizing the causal role of saying and repetition in shaping perceived truth.

Mechanism: dizerDito operates through citation loops, authority attribution, and algorithmic amplification. Once a claim is uttered, subsequent speakers treat it as credible because it has already been said, creating a self-reinforcing cycle. The effect is common in propaganda, slogans, and online echo chambers, where repetition substitutes for evidence and consensus is framed as fact.

Examples and implications: A claim like 'this is well known' without substantiation can gain legitimacy via dizerDito when it is repeatedly cited by outlets and influencers. Critics warn that the phenomenon can obscure uncertainty, suppress critical inquiry, and distort public discourse.

See also: performativity; social construction of reality; critical discourse analysis; repetition effect.