reducereert

Reducereert is a fictional term used here as a concept in discourse studies to describe a specific tendency in communication. In this sense, reducereert designates a deliberate strategy to reduce the perceived complexity of a subject by employing simpler terms, generalizations, or abridged explanations. The aim is to make information more accessible to a broader audience, often at the expense of precision or nuance.

Etymology and status: The word is not attested in any standard dictionaries; it is constructed for illustrative purposes from a Dutch-inspired root meaning to reduce, with a suffix pattern used in neologisms. It is presented here as a hypothetical concept rather than a widely recognized term.

Usage: In discourse analysis, reducereert would be used to label passages where authors consciously minimize detail—reducing technical vocabulary, aggregating categories, or presenting optimistic summaries. It is discussed in relation to concepts such as linguistic economy, simplification, and framing.

Examples: A policy brief might reducereert the fiscal impact by stating that the program saves money without listing the cost categories. A journalist might reducereert a complex scientific finding by focusing on a single takeaway.

Criticism and scope: Proponents argue that controlled reducereert can improve comprehension and accessibility. Critics warn that excessive reducereert risks misleading readers through oversimplification.

See also: linguistic economy, simplification, framing, plain language.