SC - Ras' Maze for the Clueless

[Bronwynmgn@aol.com]

troy at asan.com wrote:
>I agree with all this, and have said so before. I hate the SCA usage of
>"redaction". On the other hand, if we're restricting ourselves to
>standard usage only, we can also eliminate "mundane", "period", "on
>board", "seneschal", and a plethora of other terms ...

Though one could argue that there are several categories of unsuitable
terms. "Feastocrat," for instance, is quite obviously incorrect, and could
be easily replaced by modern standard terms such as "head cook," "chief
cook," or "chef." "Period," on the other hand, is not so thoroughly
inappropriate (though it can be both awkward and difficult to use with
precision), and not as easy to replace with a better word. "Seneschal" is
deeply entrenched in our organizing documents, and closely associated with
numerous other misused terms (such as "Shire," Barony," etc.), and would
thus be very difficult to change.

In the case of "redaction," there are three better known words that could
easily replace it. "Interpretation" is a good general-purpose replacement
for all its Scadian uses. More specific terms, and better for some purposes,
would be "reconstruction" for an attempt to reproduce either the period
methods or the end product, and "adaptation" for an interpretation that
makes substitutions, simplifications, etc.

I believe that "redaction" is only misused due to frequent repetition within
our subculture. If enough of us use other words for that purpose often
enough, we may still have a chance of restoring compatibility with standard
English.

So - shall we now proceed to discuss some interpretations and
reconstructions of period recipes? :-)

Alex Clark/Henry of Maldon

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