misoppfatting

Misoppfatting is a neologism describing the misinterpretation or misattribution of another person’s beliefs, statements, or intentions within argumentation. Used mainly in informal online discourse, it refers to how an opponent’s position is read, described, or attributed in ways that the original speaker did not intend.

Origin and meaning: The term appears to be a blended coinage built from the prefix mis- and a stem resembling "opposite" or "opposition." There is no single authoritative origin, and the term has not achieved formal acceptance in mainstream linguistics or rhetoric scholarship. As such, its precise scope can vary by user.

Usage and examples: Misoppfatting can describe both accidental misunderstandings and deliberate distortions of another’s views. In debates, it might involve paraphrasing an opponent’s argument in a way that makes it easier to attack, or attributing motives the speaker did not express. In media literacy contexts, it is discussed as a caution against misreading opposing positions when evaluating evidence.

Relation to other concepts and assessment: Misoppfatting overlaps with phenomena such as straw man arguments, false attribution, or quote misrepresentation, though it remains less formally defined. Critics note that the term’s fuzzy boundaries can hinder precise analysis; proponents argue it highlights a common cognitive pitfall in contentious discussions. See also straw man, misquotation, false attribution.