Quotation as parasite
If only because in many ways quotation establishes a symbiotic or parasitic relation between text and citation. Commonly citation is used where an argument is being developed or explored, and in these cases citation is a productive beginning. Alternatively citation is used to buttress and legitimate an argument - to demonstrate academic affiliation and parentage, or it is used to discredit or critique a rival claim or idea. In these latter cases, whether citation endorses or criticises, its use can be characterised as reactive rather than productive.
note: This page forms a part of a hypertext essay by Adrian Miles. The homepage for this essay is located at:
http://incsub.org/blogtalk/?page_id=74
A long version of this paper (containing some but not all of the text contained in the hypertext version) is available at:
http://incsub.org/blogtalk/?page_id=76
