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Introduction to the Alethiet

*This introduction is not an alethiet. All statements made here are intended to be true*

The alethiet (ə-lā-thē-ĕt) is a written form comprised of 14 sections. Unlike the structurally similar sonnet, the alethiet is not a poetic form. It is a prosaic form.

Instead of conforming to a rhyme scheme, sections in an alethiet conform to a truth scheme. Anything written in sections reserved for truth must be true, while the content of sections reserved for untruth must be untrue.

As with a sonnet, the sections are grouped in three sets of four, and one set of two. True and Untrue sections alternate as shown below:

Group 1
Section 1 – True
Section 2 – Untrue
Section 3 – True
Section 4 – Untrue

Group 2 - note the reversal
Section 5 – Untrue
Section 6 – True
Section 7 – Untrue
Section 8 – True

Group 3
Section 9 – True
Section 10 – Untrue
Section 11 – True
Section 12 – Untrue

Group 4
Sections 13 and 14 – both true or both untrue, as the writer pleases.
 

The beginning of each section is marked by a bracketed number ( Example: [1] ). Each group is written as one paragraph, however jumbled.

Notes:

  1. Aletheitists are absolutely committed to writing the truth in sections reserved for truth, and untruths in sections reserved for untruth. Anything written in sections 1, 3, 6, 8, 9, or 11 will be regarded by other alethietists as legally binding. Conversely, any alethietist who states in sections 2, 4, 5, 7, 10 or 12 that he or she will be home tomorrow at 3:45, can expect to be burgled.
     
  2. By tradition, Group 2 in an alethiet usually contains a culinary reference, often included awkwardly, with only tangential relation to the rest of the text. Group 3 is expected to contain information that risks something of the author. Promises, direct threats, family recipes and personal confessions are popular here (though family recipes would also do well in the second group).
     
  3. Alethietists are in debate about whether the Untrue sections must be false, or merely untrue. This decision is currently left up to the writer.

A Sample Alethiet, written by Thomas Ambrose George, inventor of the form, is available here.

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