Okay, this is a little strange but here goes. Anyone reading academic articles inevitably comes across that little notation "sic", inserted to indicate an error in whatever one is quoting. "Sic", which translates from the Latin as "Thus,so", is meant to indicate that the error is present in the original and not through the fault or oversight of the present writer.
I've always wondered why people bother – might as well just correct the 'error', especially if it's a grammatical or spelling mistake. But "sic" is often used as a dig at whomever one quotes as well. First, it demonstrates fallibility in one's sources, especially useful if you're arguing against them. Second, "sic" can be put to ideological uses as well. If one reads feminist journals, one comes across examples such as
And what really prompted this entry. Check out the multiple "sic"s on the tracklisting of this CD of Rev. Gary Davis, one of the greatest blues/ragtime/gospel fingerstyle guitarists that ever recorded material! I can't for the life of me figure out why "sic" is used here. Ok ... maybe "Baby, What You Going To Do" (track 3) is ungrammatical (but come on, it's a title and these are the blues... ) and perhaps these were titles the Rev. gave to his performances aren't the proper ones.
Anyway – it's just really strange.
I've always wondered why people bother – might as well just correct the 'error', especially if it's a grammatical or spelling mistake. But "sic" is often used as a dig at whomever one quotes as well. First, it demonstrates fallibility in one's sources, especially useful if you're arguing against them. Second, "sic" can be put to ideological uses as well. If one reads feminist journals, one comes across examples such as
"Speech is no mere verbalization of conflicts and systems of domination. . . it is the very object of man's [sic] conflicts" (Foucault 1972b, 216)I'm assuming that "sic" was used because the authors of the essay objected to Foucault's (or the translator of Foucault's) universalizing use of "man" to refer to "humankind".
And what really prompted this entry. Check out the multiple "sic"s on the tracklisting of this CD of Rev. Gary Davis, one of the greatest blues/ragtime/gospel fingerstyle guitarists that ever recorded material! I can't for the life of me figure out why "sic" is used here. Ok ... maybe "Baby, What You Going To Do" (track 3) is ungrammatical (but come on, it's a title and these are the blues... ) and perhaps these were titles the Rev. gave to his performances aren't the proper ones. Anyway – it's just really strange.
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