Damon Agretto wrote:
>
> > > YHO is not accurate. The dictionaries were used
> > > because "Dark Ages"
> > > is a recognized term with which you disagree. Not
> > > being a historian I
> > > am not obligated to use more than general terms.
> >
> > Which is why I posted a correction.
>
> PS: This is NOT MY opinion, but the opinion of a large
> body of historical scholars. Besides which, as someone
> with training i the field, should I not be obligated
> to correct information that I know is incorrect, or
> should I let it slide? This is one of the problems I
> have with Brin and his abuse of the term feudalism.
> When I have to teach a class on the subject, I have to
> choose whether I can or should overcome societal
> preconcieved notions on the subject, or just abandon
> the word and teach it using new terms. In short, the
> task becomes much harder when this occurs.
>
Damon--
My vote is for "abandon the word and teach it using
new terms", either that, or "make a big deal of the fact that
it will be used in a technical sense in class".
I'd say that MOST of the time the general public
recognizes a technical term, it acquires an inaccurate
everyday meaning. Try "anal retentive", for instance. : )
At a guess, "Dark Ages" is hopeless, and should simply
be avoided. "Renaissance" is a term that can be sharpened up and
used in a technical sense.
---David
Or sweep back the sea. Want a broom, cheap?
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