aporia (en)

(noun) an expression of real or pretended doubt or uncertainty especially for rhetorical effect / (noun) a logical impasse or contradiction / (noun) a radical contradiction in the import of a text or theory that is seen in deconstruction as inevitable

aporia (en)

(noun) an expression of real or pretended doubt or uncertainty especially for rhetorical effect / (noun) a logical impasse or contradiction / (noun) a radical contradiction in the import of a text or theory that is seen in deconstruction as inevitable

baleful (en)

(adjective) deadly or pernicious in influence / (adjective) foreboding or threatening evil

catechism (en)

a summary of the principles of Christian religion in the form of questions and answers, used for the instruction of Christians

contrapuntal (en)

of or in counterpoint

dandified (en)

(verb) to cause to resemble a dandy (a man unduly concerned with looking stylish and fashionable, or, dated: an excellent thing of its kind)

deconstruction (en)

(noun) a philosophical or critical method which asserts that meanings, metaphysical constructs, and hierarchical oppositions (as between key terms in a philosophical or literary work) are always rendered unstable by their dependence on ultimately arbitrary signifiers

deconstruction (en)

(noun) a philosophical or critical method which asserts that meanings, metaphysical constructs, and hierarchical oppositions (as between key terms in a philosophical or literary work) are always rendered unstable by their dependence on ultimately arbitrary signifiers

diachronic (en)

(adjective) of, relating to, or dealing with phenomena (as of language or culture) as they occur or change over a period of time

diacritical (en)

(adjective) distinctive, capable of distinguishing; (of a mark or sign) serving to indicate different pronunciations of a letter above or below which it is written

dialectic (en)

a discourse between two or more people holding different points of view about a subject but wishing to establish the truth through reasoned arguments

dialectical materialism (en)

(noun) the Marxist theory that maintains the material basis of a reality constantly changing in a dialectical process and the priority of matter over mind

différance (en)

coined by Jacques Derrida, blending difference and deferral (of meaning); central to deconstruction

exigent (en)

(adjective) requiring immediate aid or action / (adjective) requiring or calling for much; demanding

fiat (en)

(noun) an authoritative command or order to do something; an effectual decree

Geneva School (en)

(1) a group of linguists based in Geneva who pioneered modern structural linguistics, incl Saussure; and (2) a group of literary theorists and critics working from a phenomenological perspective, incl Poulet

hermeneutic (en)

the theory and methodology of interpretation, especially the interpretation of biblical texts, wisdom literature, and philosophical texts

hermeneutic (en)

the theory and methodology of interpretation, especially the interpretation of biblical texts, wisdom literature, and philosophical texts

inchoate (en)

just begun and so not fully formed or developed; rudimentary

indelibly (en)

in a way that cannot be removed or forgotten

inimical (en)

(adj) hostile, obstructive

ludic (en)

(adjective) of, relating to, or characterized by play; playful

misprision (en)

(noun; historical; law) the deliberate concealment of one's knowledge of a treasonable act or a felony; (literary) Harold Bloom's term for when strong writers misinterpret their literary predecessors so as to clear imaginative space for themselves

prolix (en)

using or containing too many words; tediously lengthy

Saussurean (en)

pertaining to or characteristic of the theories of Ferdinand de Saussure, especially the view that a language consists of a network of interrelated elements in contrast