Tentative theory: The degree of deliberate obfuscation in a scholarly field is directly proportional to its seeming accessibility to laypersons.
(If true, one might expect the worst offenders to be scholars of modern English literature or linguistics, as most native English speakers would otherwise consider themselves fit to analyze their own language and literature.)
If you can't dazzle them with your brilliance....
ReplyDeleteThey're resolutely undazzled. I clearly need a plan B.
ReplyDelete