merkingmerking

Remarking on remarks, ormerkingmerking, is a term occasionally found in Dutch-language online discourse to describe meta-commentary about prior remarks. The phrase combines the Dutch word merking (remark, annotation) with reduplication to emphasize that the current message comments on the act of commenting itself. It is used primarily in informal contexts such as forums, blogs, and social media, and it does not have formal status in dictionaries or linguistic manuals.

Etymology and usage notes

The term originates from merking and the common Dutch practice of reduplication for emphasis. As an informal, playful coinage, its exact meaning and connotations can vary with context. It is typically employed to signal awareness of discourse structure rather than to advance substantive content.

Function and usage

Remarking on remarks serves several practical roles in online communication. It can acknowledge meta-level aspects of a discussion, defuse potential criticism by preempting it, or create humor through self-reference. By drawing attention to how people are talking about talking, it shifts focus toward discourse dynamics rather than rigid argumentation.

Examples

Example usage (Dutch): In een online discussie plaatsen gebruikers vaak een merkingmerking om met een knipoog naar de meta-natuur van de dialoog te verwijzen. Translation: In an online discussion, users often post a merkingmerking to wink at the meta-nature of the dialogue.

Example usage (English): A commenter might say, “That was a useful point—merkingmerking,” to acknowledge that they are commenting on the act of commenting itself.

Related concepts

Related terms include metacommentary, metadiscourse, and self-referential humor.