equivococar

Equivococar is a neologism used in linguistics and rhetoric to describe the act of intentionally employing equivocal language to create multiple plausible interpretations of a single utterance. It captures a deliberate pragmatic move in which the speaker signals that a commitment is optional or that different readings may be valid, thereby preserving flexibility in interpretation in politically charged, legal, or media contexts.

Origin and form: The term is a hybrid derived from equívoco, meaning ambiguous, and a Romance-language style verb suffix, reflecting its morphology. It was proposed in discourse studies during the late 2010s to label a specific class of strategic ambiguity that is distinct from straightforward misstatement or vagueness.

Meaning and usage: In analysis, equivococar describes acts where the ambiguity is intentional and rhetorically motivated rather than incidental. Examples include statements that link to several policies without committing to any, or that obscure terms with ambiguous reference. The construction is used primarily in scholarly writing and, less frequently, in media commentary to describe observed discourse strategies.

Reception and debate: The term is not universally adopted and remains subject to debate. Proponents argue it helps distinguish strategic ambiguity from ordinary vagueness, while critics contend that existing terms such as equivocation or strategic ambiguity suffice. Still, equivococar serves as a concise label for a particular pragmatic practice.

See also: equivocation; ambiguity; pragmatics; rhetoric.