erutatavate

Erutatavate is a neologism used in contemporary literary theory to describe a narrative technique that interweaves multiple textual registers within a single work, foregrounding the variability of voice and authority. As a verb, erutatavate describes the act of composing in this layered way; as a noun, it refers to the resulting polyphonic configuration.

The term was coined in the early 2010s by critic Lena Hsu in online scholarly forums. It fuses an imagined root intended to suggest unfolding or revealing with a productive suffix common to scholarly coinages, signaling a deliberate move away from singular, authorial vantage points.

Key features include the juxtaposition of diary entries, transcripts, archival documents, and fictional scenes; non-linear chronology; and editorial devices such as footnotes, asides, and media fragments. The technique presents voices as equally audible, challenging the idea of a single authoritative narrator and inviting readers to trace the sources and their interrelations.

In practice, erutatavate has appeared in experimental fiction, documentary poetry, and critical essays that examine memory, identity, and intertextuality. It is discussed as a way to democratize narrative authority, though some critics warn that excessive layering can hinder clarity.

Scholarly reception remains unsettled, with debates about ethics, especially when real-world testimonies are incorporated, and about the method's accessibility. Related concepts include polyphony, montage, collage, and post-documentary practices.