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In common parlance, we say "s/he pretends s/he doesn't understand", for people who ignore the context of the conversation and require hyper-specific definitions to keep the conversation going.

(hyper-simplified) example of the above, in the form of a dialogue:

Q: Hey, how's your day?

A: In what sense?

Q: Uh, let's say for the sake of argument, how's work?

A: What do you mean by that? In terms of what?

Q: What are you up to?

A: I do lot's of stuff, you have to be more specific - is there something in particular you're interested in?

Q: Nope just in general, are you enjoying it?

A: Sorry I don't understand, define "enjoying it" in the context of work

and so on...

Is there a term for what the person (A) is doing?

Edwin Ashworth
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Yannis
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  • from ChatGPT: "The behavior exhibited by person A in the dialogue you provided can be described as "demanding precision" or "insisting on explicit definitions." While there may not be a specific term that captures this exact practice in every context, these descriptions convey the idea that person A is seeking detailed and specific clarification or elaboration from their interlocutor. This behavior can sometimes be perceived as pedantic or overly nitpicky, as it focuses on dissecting and narrowing down the meaning of statements rather than engaging in a more open and fluid conversation." – Yannis May 23 '23 at 14:10
  • Are you focusing on the argumentative quality? That's the result of not answering any question that doesn't meet personal demands. – Yosef Baskin May 23 '23 at 14:17
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    Does this answer your question? Is there a word/phrase for "deliberately failing to understand a concept being explained"? // A hypernym is pedantry. And the person is being fastidious. Over-fastidious. – Edwin Ashworth May 23 '23 at 14:35
  • @Yannis Computers are notoriously useless when it comes to reverse engineering stuff. The above conversation may as well be between a psychiatrist, and, his patient. Psychiatrists ask a lot of seemingly idiotic questions to try to make connections of a different sort and degree. – G. Rem laughs at the MonicaC's May 23 '23 at 15:03
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    You can pretend to know nothing as a pedagogic tool (the Socratic Method), as deliberate deflection to avoid acknowledging the truth (as in the linked question), or just to be annoying. – Stuart F May 23 '23 at 16:13
  • From Kumpulan Pantun Melayu: Kura-kura dalam perahu, pura-pura tidak tahu. "Turtles in a boat; pretend not understand". A Malay pantun, or poem remarking on circumstance. First line (or two) nature study; second line (or two) trenchant comment. Internal rhymes just as complex as possible. This one is appropriate whenever folks are visibly attempting to ignore something. Someone will whisper "turtles" (kura-kura) and people will suppress smiles. – John Lawler May 23 '23 at 16:51
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    @JohnLawler "It's turtles all the way down." – G. Rem laughs at the MonicaC's May 24 '23 at 15:11

1 Answers1

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You could say person A is feigning ignorance or being deliberately obtuse. Both of these imply that person A actually does understand the question, but is merely pretending to not know what the asker means even when they use very plain language. It doesn't necessarily imply a long line of follow-up questions, but does capture the repeated insistence that the asker can't be understood.

Nuclear Hoagie
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  • It should, perhaps, be added that the person in the example is deliberately obtuse to the pragmatics of 'How's your day?', 'What are you up to?', etc. The person's requests for precision are OK if one focuses on semantics alone, and would be perfectly apt in some alternative civilisation in which 'How's your day?', etc. are not established moves in small talk. – jsw29 May 23 '23 at 16:40