interpretationwhat

Interpretationwhat is a neologism used in philosophical and critical discourse to denote the question "what is to be interpreted?" in any analysis. The term frames interpretation as a two-step process: first identify the object or target of interpretation (the what), then assess the interpretive framework, justification, and implications. As a concept, interpretationwhat helps separate concerns about content (the artifact or event) from concerns about method (how interpretation is performed) and purpose (why it matters).

The phrase is used in discussions across literature, law, anthropology, and data science to clarify when scholars are debating the object of inquiry—for example whether a literary text is interpreted as a historical artifact, a cultural narrative, or a linguistic artifact. It also appears in debates about artificial intelligence and machine interpretation, where determining the appropriate target of analysis (text, sensor data, or user intent) is crucial.

Interpretationwhat is related to, but distinct from, hermeneutics, semantics, and epistemic justification. It functions as a meta-analytic tool to prevent conflating the object of interpretation with the methods used to interpret it. Critics argue that the term can be vague or reflexive, offering limited guidance for practical analysis. Proponents contend that it sharpens clarity by foregrounding the identification of the object of interpretation as a preliminary, substantive decision.

See also: interpretation, hermeneutics, semantic theory, meta-analysis.