túperson

Túperson is a coined term used in linguistic and cultural studies to describe a person who regularly addresses themselves using the second-person pronoun tú (you) in speech or writing, effectively adopting a self-addressed persona. The phenomenon is discussed in analyses of pronoun use, performativity, and digital communication, and it appears in speculative or fictional contexts as well as in experimental writing.

Etymology: The term blends the Spanish pronoun tú with the English word person, signaling its cross-linguistic basis and focus on self-address through second-person forms.

Usage and context: In sociolinguistics and narrative theory, túperson is analyzed to understand why speakers switch to second-person self-address. It can signal self-critique, solidarity with an audience, distancing, or role-taking. In fiction and online discourse, characters or narrators may employ túperson to dramatize inner dialogue, to invite reader participation, or to explore identity and affect in a performative mode.

Examples: In a narrative, a character might reflect, “Tú te levantas cada mañana y decides seguir adelante,” addressing themselves as you. In another moment, the voice asks, “Tú, ¿qué quieres hacer ahora?” using the self-address in a conversational, self-referential way.

See also: second-person pronouns, pronoun shift, self-address, performativity.

Notes: Túperson is not a standard term in established linguistics and remains primarily a niche concept found in speculative discussions, fiction, and some online discourse. Further study may clarify its cross-cultural applicability and communicative function.