Accessible Language

After all this discussion on method and accessible language to reach the "oppressed", I found myself reading up on popular communication for my paper and this passage kind of struck a cord with me since it speaks to a lot of what was brought up today in class. Thus, I'm just putting it out there.

"To share what we know with nonacademics entails an intentional commitment to accessible language - at least sometimes. One of us decries the use of mystifying language and arcane terminology in scholarship, while the other understands such jargon as an inevitable and necessary part of the theoretical enterprise. Both of us suspect, however, that such usage is often designed to perpetuate a priesthood, an elitism, a mystery among academics. That most academics who engage in such deliberate mummery - particularly at conferences - would tell you they are all in favor of leveling power in this country, of demystifying politics, and of breaking the foundations of privilege, sometimes makes the manner in which these folks speak shameful (recently one of us witnessed a paper presentation that was full of so much mystifying terminology that it was clear only one person in the audience understood it). Although there are good reasons, and space enough, for dense, theoretical discussions that touch on the popular, insofar as we recomend scholars to deliberately address more promiscuous and popular audiences, writing and speaking in more common, less specialized vocabulary from time to time is important." (Gunn and Brummett. (2004). Popular Communication After Globalization. Journal of Communication, 54(4), 705-721)

Do with it what you will. :)