Friday, November 22, 2024

My War to Rescue 'Deconstruction'

 


I am waging a small and enjoyable war to retain the meaning of the word 'deconstruction'.

It does not mean 'dismantling', or 'tearing down'. (See here.) If the word were simply another, more impressive-because-you're-using-a-big-word synonym for dismantling, it would be supremely uninteresting and self-promoting.

Here it is, from the OED: to analyze (a text or a linguistic or conceptual system) by deconstruction, typically in order to expose its hidden internal assumptions and contradictions and subvert its apparent significance or unity. For example,

"She likes to deconstruct the texts, to uncover what they are not saying."

That's it! With several implications to follow.