A holophrase is a single word used to express a complex
idea. While adult uses like "Help," "Fire," "Go," and "Come" are all
legitimate examples, the concept is really pre-linguistic, applied to
children more than adults. So a child will say "Up," rather than "I want
you to lift me up into your arms," "Food," rather than "I want food."
Which brings us to what appears to be holophrasis in its modern, grown-up extension of the juvenile: The Self-described Identity, or The Identity TKO. In a way, it is the obverse of the old, bigoted sneer, like "Commie," or "Mick," but turned on itself with its attendant enhancement. So one might declare oneself a "Native-American," or a "Woman," or a "Black" and this single identification contains all the history and narrative a deprived or suppressed culture might have.
And, as such, it trumps all argument, debate and criticism.Which brings us to what appears to be holophrasis in its modern, grown-up extension of the juvenile: The Self-described Identity, or The Identity TKO. In a way, it is the obverse of the old, bigoted sneer, like "Commie," or "Mick," but turned on itself with its attendant enhancement. So one might declare oneself a "Native-American," or a "Woman," or a "Black" and this single identification contains all the history and narrative a deprived or suppressed culture might have.
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