Mike Frank <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>a quote somewhat out of context from among this morning's messages:
>
>>>So referencing....philosophical or otherwise, but especially in
>philosophy,
>>>I think: I know its the way academia works, and I do it myself. However
>if
>>>philosophy is a method where the conceptual tools are themself examined
>. . .
>
>as someone who comes to philosophy from the peculiar field
>called "english" i may be more sensitive to language than
>most, but since words are among the conceptual tools
>we use, and since the quoted message invites us [again] to
>examine those tools, let me ask about the use of a single
>word:
>
>what's the difference between "referencing" and "referring"
>or "referring to" or "citing"? . . . "referencing" seems to me a
>barbarism--but that's just intuitive and perhaps an illegitimate
>sort of objection, so if there is some substantive reason for
>using the term i'll shut up about it . . . but so far i'm not
>aware of any such reason
>
>mike
English was my main background until quite recently, and words are indeed
important. I don't really mind which particular word is used for this
particular activity; I chose it because it seems to be a specific
description for the academic practice, whereas 'referring' is less
specific and more generally applicable. 'Cite'....now, that's a good
alternative.
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