nousvous

Nousvous is a neologism used in some linguistic and philosophical discussions to describe a rhetorical-pronominal strategy that fuses the French pronouns nous (we) and vous (you). The term refers to an address that treats speaker and audience as a shared subject, combining inclusivity with accountability.

In practice, nousvous signals a stance where collective agency is claimed while directly addressing individuals. It may appear in analyses of political rhetoric, participatory design discussions, or narrative prose that seeks to blur boundaries between speaker and listener. As a methodological concept, it helps scholars examine how pronoun choice shapes perceived solidarity, responsibility, and action.

Usage and form: there is no standard syntax or grammar for nousvous; it functions mainly as a rhetorical device or analytical label rather than a fixed grammatical category. Authors might deploy it as a stylistic trope or describe a discourse in which “we” and “you” are mutually invoked. Example (hypothetical): “Nousvous appelons à agir ensemble pour préserver notre avenir.”

Status and reception: the term remains niche and not widely adopted in mainstream linguistics. It is primarily discussed in theoretical or speculative contexts and can be controversial for potentially obfuscating agency by conflating speaker and audience. Related concepts include inclusive language, second-person deixis, and participatory rhetoric.