insistereinsistire

Insistereinsistire is a neologism used in some discussions of rhetoric to describe a pattern in which a speaker asserts a claim with strong insistence while simultaneously signaling openness to critique within the same utterance. The term functions as a portmanteau, combining the English verb insist with the Italian insistire/insistere (to insist) to emphasize a cross-linguistic sense of persistent assertion.

Origin and usage are informal. The term has appeared sporadically in online forums, blogs on rhetoric, and experimental linguistics discussions since the early 2020s. It is not part of formal linguistic terminology, and there is no universally accepted definition. In practice, insistereinsistire is used to categorize a rhetorical move rather than to name a fixed theory, with varying interpretations about its purpose or effectiveness.

Typical features include repetition of the core claim, intensified emphasis, and meta-commentary that invites critique or validation within the same turn. The pattern may employ hedging, direct appeals to the audience, or explicit invitations to test the claim against evidence. Proponents argue that it can foreground certainty while reducing perceived hostility, whereas critics caution that it may mask stubbornness or genuine avoidance of critique.

Example: “I firmly believe policy X is necessary, and I want you to point out any data I might have missed—please tell me where you disagree.” This illustrates a persistent assertion paired with a request for critique within one communicative move.

See also: discourse markers, pragmatics, rhetorical repetition, performative language.