Barry Wellman wrote: I hope no one uses “self-glossing” except on their lips. One problem is that anthropology needs to move beyond is the unnecessary use of insy-poo language. Mea Culpa. Though to be fair, there are a number of (European) Sociologists who enjoy a good neologism, oops... I mean insy-poo language every now and then. I've been spending a bit too much time with them as of late. BTW, in general I totally agree that we should work to avoid over "academicizing" our writing (and I did have a feeling I was going to get some flack for "glossing"). In defense of glossing for a sec, at least on the linguistic anthro side, a lot of these terms have pretty specific meanings, and by glossing a gloss to gloss the gloss (sorry, I was feeling a bit Bourdieuian :-] ) in a paper, we're able to convey a complex concept in a single word (for those in the know). That said, if it's a paper for general consumption, then a different register/writing and language style is completely in order. - Matt ----------------------------- Matthew Bernius PhD Student, Cultural Anthropology, Cornell University ( http://www.arts.cornell.edu/anthro/) Co-Director, Open Publishing Lab @ the Rochester Institute of Technology ( http://opl.cias.rit.edu) mBernius@gMail.com http://www.waking-dream.com