In “Politics and the English Language,” George Orwell laments that the English language has deteriorated over time. He is particularly frustrated with the misleading and abusive language used by the politicians, especially in the context of the wars and economic issues that were prevalent in the 1940s. In “The World of Doublespeak,” William Lutz elaborates on the same idea, but terms it “doublespeak.” He describes four different types of “doublespeak” and how they are being used to misinform people. Both, Orwell and Lutz, recognize that doublespeak is very dangerous, especially in politics where people are intentionally being misdirected away from the real issues, such as justifying atrocities committed during wars by trivializing it with “pacification.”
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According to Lutz, “it is a language designed to alter our perception of reality and corrupt our thinking” (352). In other words, Lutz believes that the intentional misuse and abuse of the English language is intended to deliberately manipulate and sway people in a direction that they would not normally take. My feelings are that if people do not know the difference between what is true and what is fabricated, people will easily fall prey and play into the hands of the manipulators. As these manipulators influence more people’s way of thinking, their jargon will seem more convincing and less questionable to the susceptible uninformed. This not only reflects the power that the English language carries when it is used nefariously, it also reveals the large influence it plays on whether a given situation is perceived as favorable or unfavorable. Again, I support the use of euphemisms and jargon for political correctness when it is not used to deceive, but I also think it can be used as a tool to improve the social, economic, and political standing of our society when practiced properly with pure intentions in …show more content…
Verbal false limbs and gobbledygook, accomplishes its purpose when a simple word is expanded into a multi-word phrase; basically, overwhelming the audience with words. Pretentious diction and inflated language undertake the endeavor of making otherwise normal words seem exceptional or more complex. Finally, dying metaphors and jargon develop when only a certain group of people understand its true/original meaning. All these methods, which I fully agree with, contribute to the deterioration of the English Language. I view the main purpose of language should be to communicate a meaning or idea as effectively and clearly as possible. Though words may not always completely convey an exact thought, the intentional use of it to obscure actuality or its true meaning goes against its principle of transmitting reality. Furthermore, when words are used to deceive, it could be construed as fact. For instance, what teachers say are normally accepted as truths by their students. If a teacher was to intentionally spread misconceptions to his or her students without their knowledge, the students would generally accept it as legitimate facts though it is not. I feel the English language must not serve as a tool for deception by
According to Lutz, “it is a language designed to alter our perception of reality and corrupt our thinking” (352). In other words, Lutz believes that the intentional misuse and abuse of the English language is intended to deliberately manipulate and sway people in a direction that they would not normally take. My feelings are that if people do not know the difference between what is true and what is fabricated, people will easily fall prey and play into the hands of the manipulators. As these manipulators influence more people’s way of thinking, their jargon will seem more convincing and less questionable to the susceptible uninformed. This not only reflects the power that the English language carries when it is used nefariously, it also reveals the large influence it plays on whether a given situation is perceived as favorable or unfavorable. Again, I support the use of euphemisms and jargon for political correctness when it is not used to deceive, but I also think it can be used as a tool to improve the social, economic, and political standing of our society when practiced properly with pure intentions in …show more content…
Verbal false limbs and gobbledygook, accomplishes its purpose when a simple word is expanded into a multi-word phrase; basically, overwhelming the audience with words. Pretentious diction and inflated language undertake the endeavor of making otherwise normal words seem exceptional or more complex. Finally, dying metaphors and jargon develop when only a certain group of people understand its true/original meaning. All these methods, which I fully agree with, contribute to the deterioration of the English Language. I view the main purpose of language should be to communicate a meaning or idea as effectively and clearly as possible. Though words may not always completely convey an exact thought, the intentional use of it to obscure actuality or its true meaning goes against its principle of transmitting reality. Furthermore, when words are used to deceive, it could be construed as fact. For instance, what teachers say are normally accepted as truths by their students. If a teacher was to intentionally spread misconceptions to his or her students without their knowledge, the students would generally accept it as legitimate facts though it is not. I feel the English language must not serve as a tool for deception by