Theoretical Archaeology

[troll]

Rhi-You`ve said one of the most profound things I`ve heard in a long time! Being critical of ourselves! Absolutely! I`m one of those people who feel that theory has an immensely important role to play in that it has the effect of curbing the imaginative excesses of the more extravagent archaeologists bent on imprinting their own personalities upon people of the past. I would go one stage further and suggest that psychology should become an integral component to undergrad degrees-how dare we call ourselves archaeologists without understanding the first thing about the causal agents themselves? Good for you mate-big it up! Critical theory kicks ass. I do agree that the over-use of jargon can be anal and pointless.Also, archaeo-speak can have the effect of excluding people-particularly the public.Though I must admit that on occasion, complex issues can require a complex "language".

[the invisible man]

Scientific language is not poncy or full of jargon, that's why it is scientific. It may be diificult to understand outside that discipline because it's specialised, it's the nature of the beast.

The difficulty is when people deliberately use contrived jargon and verbiose and convoluted phrasing, and invent new words (often "isms) in the belief that that makes it scientific and thus will enhance the credibilty and academic worth of their work and themselves. A principle or proposition is just as valid in plain good grammar.

I heard a good 'un yesterday. "Immediate horizontal disposal strategy".

It means chucking the rubbish out.