We explain what an incident is, the origin of the term, its uses and various examples. Also, differences between incident and accident.
What is an incident?
an incident It is something that happens in the course of an event, a business, or a matter with which it is related. We generally use it to refer to unpredictable and scandalous events, such as quarrels, fights, arguments or interruptions, whenever they interrupt or impact the normal development of an activity. What happens in this way is, therefore, considered incidental.
We have inherited this word from Latin incidents (“what happens in the course of a matter”), a voice formed in turn by the prefix in- (“inside”) and the verb cadere (“fall”), as well as the suffix -nte (expressing agency or quality). That is, an incident is something that “falls” into an event, figuratively. That is, something that happens within the framework of an event that was already taking place.
The term incident is commonly used in judicial, legal or journalistic language, often in confusion with “accident”, as we will see later.
Thus, one can speak of a “diplomatic incident” to refer to a very unfortunate meeting between representatives of two nations; A “domestic incident” is a fight between two cohabitants that does not escalate and does not require police intervention; and a “judicial incident” is a minor trial within the development of a larger and more extensive trial.
Even so, it is possible to find the term incident in very different contexts: it is known as “incidental music” which accompanies the projection of a film or the performance of a play, that is, background music, given that sounds throughout the work.
See also: Contingency
Incident and accident
A very frequently made error is the confusion between the terms incident and accident. Yes ok both terms can refer to unpredictable, disastrous or violent actionsthere are notable differences between each of their meanings.
To begin with, incidents must always occur during the course of a major event or matter that is thus interrupted. Which means that an accident may well be an incident: Let's imagine that during a parade of floats through the streets of a city, a motorist loses control of his vehicle and crashes into another. In this case we have a car accident and an incident at the parade float.
However, not all incidents are accidental: A fist fight between two of the bridesmaids during an ecclesiastical marriage is undoubtedly an incident that the bride and groom will remember for a lifetime, but it is not at all accidental, since the fight was not beyond the control of the bridesmaids at no time. They could have waited until the ceremony was over and then settled their outstanding accounts without harm to third parties.
Examples of incidents
Anything that interrupts the normal course of an event can be classified as an incident. For example:
- A heated discussion between two ambassadors during an international summit to discuss common issues.
- A naked fanatic bursts onto a soccer field, interrupting the game momentarily.
- Members of a classical ballet in full performance they get distracted and go on stage when it didn't belong to them.
- During the trial of a group of juvenile delinquents, a group of protesters break into the room shouting for the accused to be released.
Continue with: Good luck
References
- “Incident (disambiguation)” on Wikipedia.
- “Incident” in the Language Dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy.
- “Incident is not synonymous with accident” in Fundéu.
- “Difference between accident and incident” at Morera & Vallejo Insurance Brokerage.
- “Radication of the word Incident” in the Online Spanish Etymological Dictionary.
