25th February 2005, 11:46 AM
Plain English is strictly forbidden in theoretical archaeology, for a very good reason. If anyone understood what pure acedemics are actually saying, they would be out of a job.
There is an element of "the Emperor's new clothes" about it all - you must never ever admit that it's all tosh or that you don't understand it. The correct response is to frown deeply, nod slowly and begin "hmm, yes, some very valid arguments. Howver, I would tentatively postulate" - then talk as much drivel as possible. Beer helps.
The whole point of it is to use as many, and as long, words as possible where one or two would suffice. Hyphenated composite words and multiple adjectives are particularly favoured, as is anything ending in "ism" or "ist".
Hodder's "Reading the Past" is another excellent exmple.
There is an element of "the Emperor's new clothes" about it all - you must never ever admit that it's all tosh or that you don't understand it. The correct response is to frown deeply, nod slowly and begin "hmm, yes, some very valid arguments. Howver, I would tentatively postulate" - then talk as much drivel as possible. Beer helps.The whole point of it is to use as many, and as long, words as possible where one or two would suffice. Hyphenated composite words and multiple adjectives are particularly favoured, as is anything ending in "ism" or "ist".
Hodder's "Reading the Past" is another excellent exmple.