What does the word metacommentary mean?

Metacommentary is a form of commentary that comments on commentary itself. It's essentially a "commentary on the commentary," analyzing, reflecting on, or discussing the nature of the commentary being presented.

Here's a breakdown:

* Meta: A prefix meaning "beyond," "about," or "referring to itself."

* Commentary: An explanation, interpretation, or discussion of something.

Examples of Metacommentary:

* A film critic analyzing the techniques used by a movie director to create a specific effect. The critic isn't just discussing the movie itself, but the methods used to create it.

* A writer reflecting on their own writing process. This would involve analyzing their own thoughts and motivations in crafting the text.

* A teacher explaining the different types of essays and their purposes. This would be metacommentary because it's about the nature of essay writing, not the content of any specific essay.

In essence, metacommentary takes a step back from the primary subject matter and focuses on the process of understanding and interpreting it. It's a higher-level thinking that helps us critically examine the way we consume and create information.