A CASE OF HYPERVOCABULITIS - USING BIG WORDS TO SOUND IMPRESSIVE:

I have recently finished reading a book on the misappropriation of rock art imagery by our Anglo culture. In reading it I find the author used a considerable number of very big words. Now I have always felt that writers who do that are, in some way, trying to impress the reader with their knowledge instead of actually trying to share that knowledge with the reader. A few of the terms from the index of this book should illustrate the point.

Androcentrism

Commodification

Decontextualization

Discursive homology

Emic/Etic

Hegemonic masculinity

Indeterminancy

Intersectionality

Polysemy

I will note here that not one of these terms seems to be included in the online IFRAO Glossary of rock art terms composed by Robert Bednarik which, in itself, does have a whole lot of long words and arcane terminology, but all of which is regularly used in writing about rock art. Not that I am not conversant with this terminology, at least most of it. But, my point is, the real motive seems to be to impress us with his erudition instead of clearly making his (in many instances very commendable) case for his position on rock art studies. In many cases the use of these terms only confuses the issue for the broader audience. In the spirit of the occasion (using ridiculously large words for simple concepts)  I have coined a term for this phenomenon - Hypervocabulitis.

Please note that I am not identifying the book or the author. I am not interested in attacking it, or him, I am only advocating for clarity in writing. Please - make it easier to read.

In the words of the great Mark Twain when referring to commentators on research into Pre-Columbian America, "The researches of many commentators have already thrown much darkness on this subject, and it is probable that, if they continue, we shall soon know nothing at all about it."(www.jimpoz.com)

REFERENCES:

Bednarik, Robert

IFRAQ Glossary

http://www.ifrao.com/ifrao-glossary/

JIMS FAVORITE FAMOUS QUOTE, QUIP, AXIOM AND MAXIM REPOSITORY,
https://www.jimpoz.com/quotes/Speaker:Mark_Twain