lievenemising

Lievenemising is a discourse phenomenon used to describe the deliberate insertion of a misleading element within an otherwise accurate or verifiable statement, with the intent of increasing credibility and reducing scrutiny. It is discussed in media studies, political communication, and rhetoric as a form of strategic deception that can blend truth and falsehood in a single utterance.

Origin and etymology

The term Lievenemising is a recent coinage, appearing in scholarly discussions around the early 2020s. It combines the recognizable word lie with a suffix intended to evoke a process or mechanism. The concept is primarily analytical, not a approved technique, and its precise boundaries are still debated among researchers.

Characteristics and diagnosis

Lievenemising typically relies on partial truths, selective context, and hedging language. It often juxtaposes a credible factual element with an unverified or false claim, or it embeds a lie within a larger, seemingly legitimate narrative. The technique can be subtle, making detection challenging without careful examination of context, data sources, and framing.

Examples

- A spokesperson announces a 20% emissions reduction and adds that there were “no job losses,” omitting concurrent plant closures in other regions.

- A product brief highlights high customer satisfaction while neglecting significant drawbacks reported by a subset of users, framed alongside favorable survey results.

Significance and debate

Scholars discuss Lievenemising in relation to misinformation and rhetorical manipulation. Some emphasize its role as a spectrum within persuasive language, while others call for clearer labeling or methodological criteria to distinguish it from ordinary rhetoric.

See also

Disinformation, misinformation, rhetorical devices, cherry-picking, media ethics.