ATLAS OF LANGUAGE

AT-RHE-201-003 · ATLAS 251

Expeditio

The enumeration of several possible alternatives followed by the rejection of all but one.

Explanation

Expeditio organises an open question as a bounded field of possibilities and rejects the alternatives one by one. The remaining option gains plausibility through the elimination of its rivals. The movement succeeds only if the initial list is complete and each exclusion is justified.

Example

The definition may come from the master file, a localisation, or an unimported draft. It is absent from the master and no localisation matches; therefore the draft must be checked.

Counterexample

The definition must come from a draft. Neither the field of possibilities nor the reasons for exclusion are made explicit.

Distinction

Unlike enumeratio, a list alone eliminates nothing. Unlike a dilemma, expeditio may test more than two paths. In the current atlas, apophasis denotes pretended omission; its historical secondary use for expeditio is explicitly marked.

Effect on thought and perception

Turns open uncertainty into a navigable decision space, but may create false certainty if an alternative is absent from the outset.

Resonance

Several paths begin together; one after another ends at a reasoned barrier until a single route continues.

Cite this entry

Reich, Michael (Hrsg./ed.): „Expeditio“. Atlas der Sprache, AT-RHE-201-003. ATLAS 251, data model 1.6.0. https://atlasoflanguage.com/concept/AT-RHE-201-003

https://atlasoflanguage.com/concept/AT-RHE-201-003

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