Wednesday, December 6, 2017

word choice - Said In Context: A more appropriate alternative to [sic]?




For a long time, I understood [sic] to mean said in context, but I was told that that said in context is really a backronym. Fair enough.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sic#Improper_abbreviation



However, I'd like occasionally to be able to say something unusual/unexpected/perverse/incorrect but add some sort of note to indicated that is not my usual choice of word(s), but has been said in the context or the spirit of the preceding communication.



Specifically, I'm wanting to say something fairly un-PC, using a deliberately anachronistic and inappropriate term, purely for effect. It will fit within the context of the discussion, but technically, [sic] won't excuse me or shield me from the accusation that the words are my usual choice.



Usually [sic] is used when you are reproducing an error or mistake of someone else, but I'm not quoting anyone - I'm using a term that fits the spirit of the conversation, but nobody has actually uttered the phrase previously.




Is there a better mechanism I can use? Or should I technically mis-use [sic] on the presumption that most people will understand what I meant?



CONTEXT:



I don't really want to repeat the conversation verbatim, but to give you an idea, the exact usage was:




...that David Cameron isn't apparently keen on starting wars and sticking-it to some fuzzy wuzzies





It's related to David Cameron's 'multicultural' speech. I'm using fuzzy wuzzies particularly to evoke the image of an old (bigoted) colonial attitude to johnny foreigner. This might be a very UK-centric angle, but for those of you who have seen Blackadder IV, consider Stephen Fry's General Melchet or Geoffrey Palmer's General Haig.



If I was quoting something that was said by a person or a character, [sic] would fit perfectly. But since I'm quoting a stereotype or caricature, the issue is less clear cut.



Clearly, fuzzy wuzzies is not a term I would ordinarily use, but it makes sense when said in the context of the conversation. So I'm looking for a means to quickly indicate this... [sic] definitely isn't appropriate but the said in context backronym perhaps is.



Perhaps I simply say ...sticking-it to some *fuzzy wuzzies* (said in context)?


Answer



I'm a fan of as it were and in the vernacular for these purposes.


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