Monday, September 27, 2010

Mockliment

I almost invented a word today: mockliment, noun. (I say "almost" because a quick Google search shows that some guy named James actually invented this word back in 2007.) It means a seemingly genuine compliment that is actually given with subtle undertones of sardonic mockery.

For example, today the developers were having a grand time telling me how valuable my contributions to a meeting were. If I were obtuse I wouldn't have understood immediately that they were actually joking. It was all in good fun—we like to bust on each other—which, I think, is an important part of the mockliment; it needs to be good-natured and reflective of one's familiarity and friendship with the target. Otherwise, it's just mean.

No comments:

Post a Comment