Language and Politics

Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by

subduing the freeness of speech

- Benjamin Franklin

The Language of Politics

Politics is concerned with power the power to

make decisions control resources control other peoplersquos behavior control their values

What are the features of language used by

politicians and by the media

Language as Thought Control

Why do politicians choose their words carefully

Because they believe in the power of language to influence thought

They believe absolutely that language is power

ldquoIf the word has the potency to revive and make us free it has also the power to blind imprison and destroyrdquo

- Ralph Ellison

Listen ldquoThe Linguistic Legacyrdquo by Brooke

Gladstone on WNYC Radio

The Language of Politics

Politics is concerned with power the power to

make decisions control resources control other peoplersquos behavior control their values

What are the features of language used by

politicians and by the media

Language as Thought Control

Why do politicians choose their words carefully

Because they believe in the power of language to influence thought

They believe absolutely that language is power

ldquoIf the word has the potency to revive and make us free it has also the power to blind imprison and destroyrdquo

- Ralph Ellison

Listen ldquoThe Linguistic Legacyrdquo by Brooke

Gladstone on WNYC Radio

Language as Thought Control

Why do politicians choose their words carefully

Because they believe in the power of language to influence thought

They believe absolutely that language is power

ldquoIf the word has the potency to revive and make us free it has also the power to blind imprison and destroyrdquo

- Ralph Ellison

Listen ldquoThe Linguistic Legacyrdquo by Brooke

Gladstone on WNYC Radio

Listen ldquoThe Linguistic Legacyrdquo by Brooke

Gladstone on WNYC Radio

The Spin Starts Herehellip

Orwell describes a future totalitarian society where the government tries to control not only the behavior but also the thoughts of the people

Language as Thought Control

In many ways the psychological control exercised by Big Brother is much more sinister than the physical torture his government promises

Manipulation control total domination resides in the language of this society or Newspeak

Newspeak

Newspeak is the official language of Oceania and had been devised to meet the ideological needs of Ingsoc or English Socialism In the year 1984 nobody really uses Newspeak in speech nor in writing Only the leading articles are written in this ldquolanguagerdquo But it is generally assumed that in the year 2050 Newspeak will replace Oldspeak or common English

Newspeak

The purpose of Newspeak is not only to provide an expression for the world view and mental habits proper to supporters of Ingsoc but to make all other methods of thought impossible

Newspeak

Another reason for developing Newspeak is to make old books or books which were written before the era of the Party unreadable With Newspeak Doublethink would be even easier

Newspeak

1048766 The vocabulary of Newspeak is constructed to give exact expression to every meaning that a Party member could properly wish to express while excluding all other meanings and also the possibility of arriving at them by indirect methods (or only by the means the Party dictates)

1048766 This is done partly by inventing new words but mainly by eliminating undesirable words or words with unorthodox meanings

Examples of Newspeak

free - Only exists in the sense of ldquoThe dog is free of licerdquo

The concept of political freedom has been replaced by the word crimethink

Miniplenty - Ministry of Plenty (rationing) The Ministry of Plenty controlled the entire economy

Ungood - Bad One of the rules of Newspeak is that any word can be turned into its antonym by adding the prefix ldquoun-rdquo This allowed the removal of repetitive words such as horrible terrible

Why Orwell focused on language as a tool for manipulation

Language has the power in politics to mask the truth and mislead the public

Language can be used politically to deceive and manipulate people leading to a society in which the people unquestioningly obey their government and mindlessly accept all propaganda as reality

Language becomes a mind-control tool with the ultimate goal of destroying the will and imagination

ldquo[wersquore] cutting the language down to the bone

Newspeak is the only language in the world whose vocabulary

gets smaller every yearrdquo

Why Language

When words that describe a particular thought are absent from a language that thought becomes more difficult to summon and communicate

Without the words to name or summon a thought against the Party (lsquothoughtcrimersquo) rebellion is impossible

Physical weapons frighten less than spiritual weapons

Paradox and Irony Party slogans appear as

oxymorons though when considered through the filter of the Party they express a type of truth for this society

In essence they become the working paradox for the world of Ingsoc as much as our world accepted as truth the statement that we have nothing to fear but fear itself

Paradox and Irony conthellipOrwell wrote ldquoPolitical language is designed to make lies sound truthful and

murder respectable and to give an appearance of solidity to pure windrdquo

In the novel Orwell provides a scathing satire of this political ldquotruthinessrdquo through the Party language

The Ministry of Truth is concerned with the falsification of records The Ministry of Peace deals with warfare The Ministry of Love is ldquothe really frightening onerdquo essentially a place for the

questioning and torturing of suspected criminals The Ministry of Plenty makes up economic figures to convince the public that the

economy is in good shape even though there are great shortages of all commodities due to the war

The use of such irony certainly provides the perception that everything is indeed the opposite of what is expected

Paradox and Irony cont

In Our World Citizens generally strive to

expand their lexicon Aims to expand language so as

to expand the ability to think Words maintain clarity and

precision Retains and esteems a linguistic

tradition History and language have a

direct link (a narrative) Language maintains memory Holds some suspicion of the

media and politicians

In 1984 Aims to cut back Newspeak

vocabulary Aims to restrict language so as

to restrict the range of thought Words purposely deceptive

contradictory and without range Aims to destroy all old language

and replace it with an entirely new one

Written history will cease to exist as new language replaces old

Memory is lost with the language Swallows unquestionably the

leadership and propaganda of their society

ldquoIf the Party [can] thrust its hand into the past and say of this or that

event it never happened ndash that surely [is] more terrifying than mere

torture and deathrdquo

Why it Works

While physical punishment is difficult to administer psychological tactics (manipulation of people through language) can be continuously applied to the general public without raising great public opposition or fear mdash and that is where its strength lies

Newspeak rather than torture is planned as the way to erase thoughtcrime

What About Todayhellip

Are we currently in danger of being controlled through our language

Do you think the media controls our reality Do you believe politicians have used words

to manipulate history both in the past and present

Can you think of examples of Newspeak in our culture

Show Me

Language as Thought Control

In many ways the psychological control exercised by Big Brother is much more sinister than the physical torture his government promises

Manipulation control total domination resides in the language of this society or Newspeak

Newspeak

Newspeak is the official language of Oceania and had been devised to meet the ideological needs of Ingsoc or English Socialism In the year 1984 nobody really uses Newspeak in speech nor in writing Only the leading articles are written in this ldquolanguagerdquo But it is generally assumed that in the year 2050 Newspeak will replace Oldspeak or common English

Newspeak

The purpose of Newspeak is not only to provide an expression for the world view and mental habits proper to supporters of Ingsoc but to make all other methods of thought impossible

Newspeak

Another reason for developing Newspeak is to make old books or books which were written before the era of the Party unreadable With Newspeak Doublethink would be even easier

Newspeak

1048766 The vocabulary of Newspeak is constructed to give exact expression to every meaning that a Party member could properly wish to express while excluding all other meanings and also the possibility of arriving at them by indirect methods (or only by the means the Party dictates)

1048766 This is done partly by inventing new words but mainly by eliminating undesirable words or words with unorthodox meanings

Examples of Newspeak

free - Only exists in the sense of ldquoThe dog is free of licerdquo

The concept of political freedom has been replaced by the word crimethink

Miniplenty - Ministry of Plenty (rationing) The Ministry of Plenty controlled the entire economy

Ungood - Bad One of the rules of Newspeak is that any word can be turned into its antonym by adding the prefix ldquoun-rdquo This allowed the removal of repetitive words such as horrible terrible

Why Orwell focused on language as a tool for manipulation

Language has the power in politics to mask the truth and mislead the public

Language can be used politically to deceive and manipulate people leading to a society in which the people unquestioningly obey their government and mindlessly accept all propaganda as reality

Language becomes a mind-control tool with the ultimate goal of destroying the will and imagination

ldquo[wersquore] cutting the language down to the bone

Newspeak is the only language in the world whose vocabulary

gets smaller every yearrdquo

Why Language

When words that describe a particular thought are absent from a language that thought becomes more difficult to summon and communicate

Without the words to name or summon a thought against the Party (lsquothoughtcrimersquo) rebellion is impossible

Physical weapons frighten less than spiritual weapons

Paradox and Irony Party slogans appear as

oxymorons though when considered through the filter of the Party they express a type of truth for this society

In essence they become the working paradox for the world of Ingsoc as much as our world accepted as truth the statement that we have nothing to fear but fear itself

Paradox and Irony conthellipOrwell wrote ldquoPolitical language is designed to make lies sound truthful and

murder respectable and to give an appearance of solidity to pure windrdquo

In the novel Orwell provides a scathing satire of this political ldquotruthinessrdquo through the Party language

The Ministry of Truth is concerned with the falsification of records The Ministry of Peace deals with warfare The Ministry of Love is ldquothe really frightening onerdquo essentially a place for the

questioning and torturing of suspected criminals The Ministry of Plenty makes up economic figures to convince the public that the

economy is in good shape even though there are great shortages of all commodities due to the war

The use of such irony certainly provides the perception that everything is indeed the opposite of what is expected

Paradox and Irony cont

In Our World Citizens generally strive to

expand their lexicon Aims to expand language so as

to expand the ability to think Words maintain clarity and

precision Retains and esteems a linguistic

tradition History and language have a

direct link (a narrative) Language maintains memory Holds some suspicion of the

media and politicians

In 1984 Aims to cut back Newspeak

vocabulary Aims to restrict language so as

to restrict the range of thought Words purposely deceptive

contradictory and without range Aims to destroy all old language

and replace it with an entirely new one

Written history will cease to exist as new language replaces old

Memory is lost with the language Swallows unquestionably the

leadership and propaganda of their society

ldquoIf the Party [can] thrust its hand into the past and say of this or that

event it never happened ndash that surely [is] more terrifying than mere

torture and deathrdquo

Why it Works

While physical punishment is difficult to administer psychological tactics (manipulation of people through language) can be continuously applied to the general public without raising great public opposition or fear mdash and that is where its strength lies

Newspeak rather than torture is planned as the way to erase thoughtcrime

What About Todayhellip

Are we currently in danger of being controlled through our language

Do you think the media controls our reality Do you believe politicians have used words

to manipulate history both in the past and present

Can you think of examples of Newspeak in our culture

Show Me

Newspeak

Newspeak is the official language of Oceania and had been devised to meet the ideological needs of Ingsoc or English Socialism In the year 1984 nobody really uses Newspeak in speech nor in writing Only the leading articles are written in this ldquolanguagerdquo But it is generally assumed that in the year 2050 Newspeak will replace Oldspeak or common English

Newspeak

The purpose of Newspeak is not only to provide an expression for the world view and mental habits proper to supporters of Ingsoc but to make all other methods of thought impossible

Newspeak

Another reason for developing Newspeak is to make old books or books which were written before the era of the Party unreadable With Newspeak Doublethink would be even easier

Newspeak

1048766 The vocabulary of Newspeak is constructed to give exact expression to every meaning that a Party member could properly wish to express while excluding all other meanings and also the possibility of arriving at them by indirect methods (or only by the means the Party dictates)

1048766 This is done partly by inventing new words but mainly by eliminating undesirable words or words with unorthodox meanings

Examples of Newspeak

free - Only exists in the sense of ldquoThe dog is free of licerdquo

The concept of political freedom has been replaced by the word crimethink

Miniplenty - Ministry of Plenty (rationing) The Ministry of Plenty controlled the entire economy

Ungood - Bad One of the rules of Newspeak is that any word can be turned into its antonym by adding the prefix ldquoun-rdquo This allowed the removal of repetitive words such as horrible terrible

Why Orwell focused on language as a tool for manipulation

Language has the power in politics to mask the truth and mislead the public

Language can be used politically to deceive and manipulate people leading to a society in which the people unquestioningly obey their government and mindlessly accept all propaganda as reality

Language becomes a mind-control tool with the ultimate goal of destroying the will and imagination

ldquo[wersquore] cutting the language down to the bone

Newspeak is the only language in the world whose vocabulary

gets smaller every yearrdquo

Why Language

When words that describe a particular thought are absent from a language that thought becomes more difficult to summon and communicate

Without the words to name or summon a thought against the Party (lsquothoughtcrimersquo) rebellion is impossible

Physical weapons frighten less than spiritual weapons

Paradox and Irony Party slogans appear as

oxymorons though when considered through the filter of the Party they express a type of truth for this society

In essence they become the working paradox for the world of Ingsoc as much as our world accepted as truth the statement that we have nothing to fear but fear itself

Paradox and Irony conthellipOrwell wrote ldquoPolitical language is designed to make lies sound truthful and

murder respectable and to give an appearance of solidity to pure windrdquo

In the novel Orwell provides a scathing satire of this political ldquotruthinessrdquo through the Party language

The Ministry of Truth is concerned with the falsification of records The Ministry of Peace deals with warfare The Ministry of Love is ldquothe really frightening onerdquo essentially a place for the

questioning and torturing of suspected criminals The Ministry of Plenty makes up economic figures to convince the public that the

economy is in good shape even though there are great shortages of all commodities due to the war

The use of such irony certainly provides the perception that everything is indeed the opposite of what is expected

Paradox and Irony cont

In Our World Citizens generally strive to

expand their lexicon Aims to expand language so as

to expand the ability to think Words maintain clarity and

precision Retains and esteems a linguistic

tradition History and language have a

direct link (a narrative) Language maintains memory Holds some suspicion of the

media and politicians

In 1984 Aims to cut back Newspeak

vocabulary Aims to restrict language so as

to restrict the range of thought Words purposely deceptive

contradictory and without range Aims to destroy all old language

and replace it with an entirely new one

Written history will cease to exist as new language replaces old

Memory is lost with the language Swallows unquestionably the

leadership and propaganda of their society

ldquoIf the Party [can] thrust its hand into the past and say of this or that

event it never happened ndash that surely [is] more terrifying than mere

torture and deathrdquo

Why it Works

While physical punishment is difficult to administer psychological tactics (manipulation of people through language) can be continuously applied to the general public without raising great public opposition or fear mdash and that is where its strength lies

Newspeak rather than torture is planned as the way to erase thoughtcrime

What About Todayhellip

Are we currently in danger of being controlled through our language

Do you think the media controls our reality Do you believe politicians have used words

to manipulate history both in the past and present

Can you think of examples of Newspeak in our culture

Show Me

Newspeak

The purpose of Newspeak is not only to provide an expression for the world view and mental habits proper to supporters of Ingsoc but to make all other methods of thought impossible

Newspeak

Another reason for developing Newspeak is to make old books or books which were written before the era of the Party unreadable With Newspeak Doublethink would be even easier

Newspeak

1048766 The vocabulary of Newspeak is constructed to give exact expression to every meaning that a Party member could properly wish to express while excluding all other meanings and also the possibility of arriving at them by indirect methods (or only by the means the Party dictates)

1048766 This is done partly by inventing new words but mainly by eliminating undesirable words or words with unorthodox meanings

Examples of Newspeak

free - Only exists in the sense of ldquoThe dog is free of licerdquo

The concept of political freedom has been replaced by the word crimethink

Miniplenty - Ministry of Plenty (rationing) The Ministry of Plenty controlled the entire economy

Ungood - Bad One of the rules of Newspeak is that any word can be turned into its antonym by adding the prefix ldquoun-rdquo This allowed the removal of repetitive words such as horrible terrible

Why Orwell focused on language as a tool for manipulation

Language has the power in politics to mask the truth and mislead the public

Language can be used politically to deceive and manipulate people leading to a society in which the people unquestioningly obey their government and mindlessly accept all propaganda as reality

Language becomes a mind-control tool with the ultimate goal of destroying the will and imagination

ldquo[wersquore] cutting the language down to the bone

Newspeak is the only language in the world whose vocabulary

gets smaller every yearrdquo

Why Language

When words that describe a particular thought are absent from a language that thought becomes more difficult to summon and communicate

Without the words to name or summon a thought against the Party (lsquothoughtcrimersquo) rebellion is impossible

Physical weapons frighten less than spiritual weapons

Paradox and Irony Party slogans appear as

oxymorons though when considered through the filter of the Party they express a type of truth for this society

In essence they become the working paradox for the world of Ingsoc as much as our world accepted as truth the statement that we have nothing to fear but fear itself

Paradox and Irony conthellipOrwell wrote ldquoPolitical language is designed to make lies sound truthful and

murder respectable and to give an appearance of solidity to pure windrdquo

In the novel Orwell provides a scathing satire of this political ldquotruthinessrdquo through the Party language

The Ministry of Truth is concerned with the falsification of records The Ministry of Peace deals with warfare The Ministry of Love is ldquothe really frightening onerdquo essentially a place for the

questioning and torturing of suspected criminals The Ministry of Plenty makes up economic figures to convince the public that the

economy is in good shape even though there are great shortages of all commodities due to the war

The use of such irony certainly provides the perception that everything is indeed the opposite of what is expected

Paradox and Irony cont

In Our World Citizens generally strive to

expand their lexicon Aims to expand language so as

to expand the ability to think Words maintain clarity and

precision Retains and esteems a linguistic

tradition History and language have a

direct link (a narrative) Language maintains memory Holds some suspicion of the

media and politicians

In 1984 Aims to cut back Newspeak

vocabulary Aims to restrict language so as

to restrict the range of thought Words purposely deceptive

contradictory and without range Aims to destroy all old language

and replace it with an entirely new one

Written history will cease to exist as new language replaces old

Memory is lost with the language Swallows unquestionably the

leadership and propaganda of their society

ldquoIf the Party [can] thrust its hand into the past and say of this or that

event it never happened ndash that surely [is] more terrifying than mere

torture and deathrdquo

Why it Works

While physical punishment is difficult to administer psychological tactics (manipulation of people through language) can be continuously applied to the general public without raising great public opposition or fear mdash and that is where its strength lies

Newspeak rather than torture is planned as the way to erase thoughtcrime

What About Todayhellip

Are we currently in danger of being controlled through our language

Do you think the media controls our reality Do you believe politicians have used words

to manipulate history both in the past and present

Can you think of examples of Newspeak in our culture

Show Me

Newspeak

Another reason for developing Newspeak is to make old books or books which were written before the era of the Party unreadable With Newspeak Doublethink would be even easier

Newspeak

1048766 The vocabulary of Newspeak is constructed to give exact expression to every meaning that a Party member could properly wish to express while excluding all other meanings and also the possibility of arriving at them by indirect methods (or only by the means the Party dictates)

1048766 This is done partly by inventing new words but mainly by eliminating undesirable words or words with unorthodox meanings

Examples of Newspeak

free - Only exists in the sense of ldquoThe dog is free of licerdquo

The concept of political freedom has been replaced by the word crimethink

Miniplenty - Ministry of Plenty (rationing) The Ministry of Plenty controlled the entire economy

Ungood - Bad One of the rules of Newspeak is that any word can be turned into its antonym by adding the prefix ldquoun-rdquo This allowed the removal of repetitive words such as horrible terrible

Why Orwell focused on language as a tool for manipulation

Language has the power in politics to mask the truth and mislead the public

Language can be used politically to deceive and manipulate people leading to a society in which the people unquestioningly obey their government and mindlessly accept all propaganda as reality

Language becomes a mind-control tool with the ultimate goal of destroying the will and imagination

ldquo[wersquore] cutting the language down to the bone

Newspeak is the only language in the world whose vocabulary

gets smaller every yearrdquo

Why Language

When words that describe a particular thought are absent from a language that thought becomes more difficult to summon and communicate

Without the words to name or summon a thought against the Party (lsquothoughtcrimersquo) rebellion is impossible

Physical weapons frighten less than spiritual weapons

Paradox and Irony Party slogans appear as

oxymorons though when considered through the filter of the Party they express a type of truth for this society

In essence they become the working paradox for the world of Ingsoc as much as our world accepted as truth the statement that we have nothing to fear but fear itself

Paradox and Irony conthellipOrwell wrote ldquoPolitical language is designed to make lies sound truthful and

murder respectable and to give an appearance of solidity to pure windrdquo

In the novel Orwell provides a scathing satire of this political ldquotruthinessrdquo through the Party language

The Ministry of Truth is concerned with the falsification of records The Ministry of Peace deals with warfare The Ministry of Love is ldquothe really frightening onerdquo essentially a place for the

questioning and torturing of suspected criminals The Ministry of Plenty makes up economic figures to convince the public that the

economy is in good shape even though there are great shortages of all commodities due to the war

The use of such irony certainly provides the perception that everything is indeed the opposite of what is expected

Paradox and Irony cont

In Our World Citizens generally strive to

expand their lexicon Aims to expand language so as

to expand the ability to think Words maintain clarity and

precision Retains and esteems a linguistic

tradition History and language have a

direct link (a narrative) Language maintains memory Holds some suspicion of the

media and politicians

In 1984 Aims to cut back Newspeak

vocabulary Aims to restrict language so as

to restrict the range of thought Words purposely deceptive

contradictory and without range Aims to destroy all old language

and replace it with an entirely new one

Written history will cease to exist as new language replaces old

Memory is lost with the language Swallows unquestionably the

leadership and propaganda of their society

ldquoIf the Party [can] thrust its hand into the past and say of this or that

event it never happened ndash that surely [is] more terrifying than mere

torture and deathrdquo

Why it Works

While physical punishment is difficult to administer psychological tactics (manipulation of people through language) can be continuously applied to the general public without raising great public opposition or fear mdash and that is where its strength lies

Newspeak rather than torture is planned as the way to erase thoughtcrime

What About Todayhellip

Are we currently in danger of being controlled through our language

Do you think the media controls our reality Do you believe politicians have used words

to manipulate history both in the past and present

Can you think of examples of Newspeak in our culture

Show Me

Newspeak

1048766 The vocabulary of Newspeak is constructed to give exact expression to every meaning that a Party member could properly wish to express while excluding all other meanings and also the possibility of arriving at them by indirect methods (or only by the means the Party dictates)

1048766 This is done partly by inventing new words but mainly by eliminating undesirable words or words with unorthodox meanings

Examples of Newspeak

free - Only exists in the sense of ldquoThe dog is free of licerdquo

The concept of political freedom has been replaced by the word crimethink

Miniplenty - Ministry of Plenty (rationing) The Ministry of Plenty controlled the entire economy

Ungood - Bad One of the rules of Newspeak is that any word can be turned into its antonym by adding the prefix ldquoun-rdquo This allowed the removal of repetitive words such as horrible terrible

Why Orwell focused on language as a tool for manipulation

Language has the power in politics to mask the truth and mislead the public

Language can be used politically to deceive and manipulate people leading to a society in which the people unquestioningly obey their government and mindlessly accept all propaganda as reality

Language becomes a mind-control tool with the ultimate goal of destroying the will and imagination

ldquo[wersquore] cutting the language down to the bone

Newspeak is the only language in the world whose vocabulary

gets smaller every yearrdquo

Why Language

When words that describe a particular thought are absent from a language that thought becomes more difficult to summon and communicate

Without the words to name or summon a thought against the Party (lsquothoughtcrimersquo) rebellion is impossible

Physical weapons frighten less than spiritual weapons

Paradox and Irony Party slogans appear as

oxymorons though when considered through the filter of the Party they express a type of truth for this society

In essence they become the working paradox for the world of Ingsoc as much as our world accepted as truth the statement that we have nothing to fear but fear itself

Paradox and Irony conthellipOrwell wrote ldquoPolitical language is designed to make lies sound truthful and

murder respectable and to give an appearance of solidity to pure windrdquo

In the novel Orwell provides a scathing satire of this political ldquotruthinessrdquo through the Party language

The Ministry of Truth is concerned with the falsification of records The Ministry of Peace deals with warfare The Ministry of Love is ldquothe really frightening onerdquo essentially a place for the

questioning and torturing of suspected criminals The Ministry of Plenty makes up economic figures to convince the public that the

economy is in good shape even though there are great shortages of all commodities due to the war

The use of such irony certainly provides the perception that everything is indeed the opposite of what is expected

Paradox and Irony cont

In Our World Citizens generally strive to

expand their lexicon Aims to expand language so as

to expand the ability to think Words maintain clarity and

precision Retains and esteems a linguistic

tradition History and language have a

direct link (a narrative) Language maintains memory Holds some suspicion of the

media and politicians

In 1984 Aims to cut back Newspeak

vocabulary Aims to restrict language so as

to restrict the range of thought Words purposely deceptive

contradictory and without range Aims to destroy all old language

and replace it with an entirely new one

Written history will cease to exist as new language replaces old

Memory is lost with the language Swallows unquestionably the

leadership and propaganda of their society

ldquoIf the Party [can] thrust its hand into the past and say of this or that

event it never happened ndash that surely [is] more terrifying than mere

torture and deathrdquo

Why it Works

While physical punishment is difficult to administer psychological tactics (manipulation of people through language) can be continuously applied to the general public without raising great public opposition or fear mdash and that is where its strength lies

Newspeak rather than torture is planned as the way to erase thoughtcrime

What About Todayhellip

Are we currently in danger of being controlled through our language

Do you think the media controls our reality Do you believe politicians have used words

to manipulate history both in the past and present

Can you think of examples of Newspeak in our culture

Show Me

Examples of Newspeak

free - Only exists in the sense of ldquoThe dog is free of licerdquo

The concept of political freedom has been replaced by the word crimethink

Miniplenty - Ministry of Plenty (rationing) The Ministry of Plenty controlled the entire economy

Ungood - Bad One of the rules of Newspeak is that any word can be turned into its antonym by adding the prefix ldquoun-rdquo This allowed the removal of repetitive words such as horrible terrible

Why Orwell focused on language as a tool for manipulation

Language has the power in politics to mask the truth and mislead the public

Language can be used politically to deceive and manipulate people leading to a society in which the people unquestioningly obey their government and mindlessly accept all propaganda as reality

Language becomes a mind-control tool with the ultimate goal of destroying the will and imagination

ldquo[wersquore] cutting the language down to the bone

Newspeak is the only language in the world whose vocabulary

gets smaller every yearrdquo

Why Language

When words that describe a particular thought are absent from a language that thought becomes more difficult to summon and communicate

Without the words to name or summon a thought against the Party (lsquothoughtcrimersquo) rebellion is impossible

Physical weapons frighten less than spiritual weapons

Paradox and Irony Party slogans appear as

oxymorons though when considered through the filter of the Party they express a type of truth for this society

In essence they become the working paradox for the world of Ingsoc as much as our world accepted as truth the statement that we have nothing to fear but fear itself

Paradox and Irony conthellipOrwell wrote ldquoPolitical language is designed to make lies sound truthful and

murder respectable and to give an appearance of solidity to pure windrdquo

In the novel Orwell provides a scathing satire of this political ldquotruthinessrdquo through the Party language

The Ministry of Truth is concerned with the falsification of records The Ministry of Peace deals with warfare The Ministry of Love is ldquothe really frightening onerdquo essentially a place for the

questioning and torturing of suspected criminals The Ministry of Plenty makes up economic figures to convince the public that the

economy is in good shape even though there are great shortages of all commodities due to the war

The use of such irony certainly provides the perception that everything is indeed the opposite of what is expected

Paradox and Irony cont

In Our World Citizens generally strive to

expand their lexicon Aims to expand language so as

to expand the ability to think Words maintain clarity and

precision Retains and esteems a linguistic

tradition History and language have a

direct link (a narrative) Language maintains memory Holds some suspicion of the

media and politicians

In 1984 Aims to cut back Newspeak

vocabulary Aims to restrict language so as

to restrict the range of thought Words purposely deceptive

contradictory and without range Aims to destroy all old language

and replace it with an entirely new one

Written history will cease to exist as new language replaces old

Memory is lost with the language Swallows unquestionably the

leadership and propaganda of their society

ldquoIf the Party [can] thrust its hand into the past and say of this or that

event it never happened ndash that surely [is] more terrifying than mere

torture and deathrdquo

Why it Works

While physical punishment is difficult to administer psychological tactics (manipulation of people through language) can be continuously applied to the general public without raising great public opposition or fear mdash and that is where its strength lies

Newspeak rather than torture is planned as the way to erase thoughtcrime

What About Todayhellip

Are we currently in danger of being controlled through our language

Do you think the media controls our reality Do you believe politicians have used words

to manipulate history both in the past and present

Can you think of examples of Newspeak in our culture

Show Me

Why Orwell focused on language as a tool for manipulation

Language has the power in politics to mask the truth and mislead the public

Language can be used politically to deceive and manipulate people leading to a society in which the people unquestioningly obey their government and mindlessly accept all propaganda as reality

Language becomes a mind-control tool with the ultimate goal of destroying the will and imagination

ldquo[wersquore] cutting the language down to the bone

Newspeak is the only language in the world whose vocabulary

gets smaller every yearrdquo

Why Language

When words that describe a particular thought are absent from a language that thought becomes more difficult to summon and communicate

Without the words to name or summon a thought against the Party (lsquothoughtcrimersquo) rebellion is impossible

Physical weapons frighten less than spiritual weapons

Paradox and Irony Party slogans appear as

oxymorons though when considered through the filter of the Party they express a type of truth for this society

In essence they become the working paradox for the world of Ingsoc as much as our world accepted as truth the statement that we have nothing to fear but fear itself

Paradox and Irony conthellipOrwell wrote ldquoPolitical language is designed to make lies sound truthful and

murder respectable and to give an appearance of solidity to pure windrdquo

In the novel Orwell provides a scathing satire of this political ldquotruthinessrdquo through the Party language

The Ministry of Truth is concerned with the falsification of records The Ministry of Peace deals with warfare The Ministry of Love is ldquothe really frightening onerdquo essentially a place for the

questioning and torturing of suspected criminals The Ministry of Plenty makes up economic figures to convince the public that the

economy is in good shape even though there are great shortages of all commodities due to the war

The use of such irony certainly provides the perception that everything is indeed the opposite of what is expected

Paradox and Irony cont

In Our World Citizens generally strive to

expand their lexicon Aims to expand language so as

to expand the ability to think Words maintain clarity and

precision Retains and esteems a linguistic

tradition History and language have a

direct link (a narrative) Language maintains memory Holds some suspicion of the

media and politicians

In 1984 Aims to cut back Newspeak

vocabulary Aims to restrict language so as

to restrict the range of thought Words purposely deceptive

contradictory and without range Aims to destroy all old language

and replace it with an entirely new one

Written history will cease to exist as new language replaces old

Memory is lost with the language Swallows unquestionably the

leadership and propaganda of their society

ldquoIf the Party [can] thrust its hand into the past and say of this or that

event it never happened ndash that surely [is] more terrifying than mere

torture and deathrdquo

Why it Works

While physical punishment is difficult to administer psychological tactics (manipulation of people through language) can be continuously applied to the general public without raising great public opposition or fear mdash and that is where its strength lies

Newspeak rather than torture is planned as the way to erase thoughtcrime

What About Todayhellip

Are we currently in danger of being controlled through our language

Do you think the media controls our reality Do you believe politicians have used words

to manipulate history both in the past and present

Can you think of examples of Newspeak in our culture

Show Me

ldquo[wersquore] cutting the language down to the bone

Newspeak is the only language in the world whose vocabulary

gets smaller every yearrdquo

Why Language

When words that describe a particular thought are absent from a language that thought becomes more difficult to summon and communicate

Without the words to name or summon a thought against the Party (lsquothoughtcrimersquo) rebellion is impossible

Physical weapons frighten less than spiritual weapons

Paradox and Irony Party slogans appear as

oxymorons though when considered through the filter of the Party they express a type of truth for this society

In essence they become the working paradox for the world of Ingsoc as much as our world accepted as truth the statement that we have nothing to fear but fear itself

Paradox and Irony conthellipOrwell wrote ldquoPolitical language is designed to make lies sound truthful and

murder respectable and to give an appearance of solidity to pure windrdquo

In the novel Orwell provides a scathing satire of this political ldquotruthinessrdquo through the Party language

The Ministry of Truth is concerned with the falsification of records The Ministry of Peace deals with warfare The Ministry of Love is ldquothe really frightening onerdquo essentially a place for the

questioning and torturing of suspected criminals The Ministry of Plenty makes up economic figures to convince the public that the

economy is in good shape even though there are great shortages of all commodities due to the war

The use of such irony certainly provides the perception that everything is indeed the opposite of what is expected

Paradox and Irony cont

In Our World Citizens generally strive to

expand their lexicon Aims to expand language so as

to expand the ability to think Words maintain clarity and

precision Retains and esteems a linguistic

tradition History and language have a

direct link (a narrative) Language maintains memory Holds some suspicion of the

media and politicians

In 1984 Aims to cut back Newspeak

vocabulary Aims to restrict language so as

to restrict the range of thought Words purposely deceptive

contradictory and without range Aims to destroy all old language

and replace it with an entirely new one

Written history will cease to exist as new language replaces old

Memory is lost with the language Swallows unquestionably the

leadership and propaganda of their society

ldquoIf the Party [can] thrust its hand into the past and say of this or that

event it never happened ndash that surely [is] more terrifying than mere

torture and deathrdquo

Why it Works

While physical punishment is difficult to administer psychological tactics (manipulation of people through language) can be continuously applied to the general public without raising great public opposition or fear mdash and that is where its strength lies

Newspeak rather than torture is planned as the way to erase thoughtcrime

What About Todayhellip

Are we currently in danger of being controlled through our language

Do you think the media controls our reality Do you believe politicians have used words

to manipulate history both in the past and present

Can you think of examples of Newspeak in our culture

Show Me

Why Language

When words that describe a particular thought are absent from a language that thought becomes more difficult to summon and communicate

Without the words to name or summon a thought against the Party (lsquothoughtcrimersquo) rebellion is impossible

Physical weapons frighten less than spiritual weapons

Paradox and Irony Party slogans appear as

oxymorons though when considered through the filter of the Party they express a type of truth for this society

In essence they become the working paradox for the world of Ingsoc as much as our world accepted as truth the statement that we have nothing to fear but fear itself

Paradox and Irony conthellipOrwell wrote ldquoPolitical language is designed to make lies sound truthful and

murder respectable and to give an appearance of solidity to pure windrdquo

In the novel Orwell provides a scathing satire of this political ldquotruthinessrdquo through the Party language

The Ministry of Truth is concerned with the falsification of records The Ministry of Peace deals with warfare The Ministry of Love is ldquothe really frightening onerdquo essentially a place for the

questioning and torturing of suspected criminals The Ministry of Plenty makes up economic figures to convince the public that the

economy is in good shape even though there are great shortages of all commodities due to the war

The use of such irony certainly provides the perception that everything is indeed the opposite of what is expected

Paradox and Irony cont

In Our World Citizens generally strive to

expand their lexicon Aims to expand language so as

to expand the ability to think Words maintain clarity and

precision Retains and esteems a linguistic

tradition History and language have a

direct link (a narrative) Language maintains memory Holds some suspicion of the

media and politicians

In 1984 Aims to cut back Newspeak

vocabulary Aims to restrict language so as

to restrict the range of thought Words purposely deceptive

contradictory and without range Aims to destroy all old language

and replace it with an entirely new one

Written history will cease to exist as new language replaces old

Memory is lost with the language Swallows unquestionably the

leadership and propaganda of their society

ldquoIf the Party [can] thrust its hand into the past and say of this or that

event it never happened ndash that surely [is] more terrifying than mere

torture and deathrdquo

Why it Works

While physical punishment is difficult to administer psychological tactics (manipulation of people through language) can be continuously applied to the general public without raising great public opposition or fear mdash and that is where its strength lies

Newspeak rather than torture is planned as the way to erase thoughtcrime

What About Todayhellip

Are we currently in danger of being controlled through our language

Do you think the media controls our reality Do you believe politicians have used words

to manipulate history both in the past and present

Can you think of examples of Newspeak in our culture

Show Me

Paradox and Irony Party slogans appear as

oxymorons though when considered through the filter of the Party they express a type of truth for this society

In essence they become the working paradox for the world of Ingsoc as much as our world accepted as truth the statement that we have nothing to fear but fear itself

Paradox and Irony conthellipOrwell wrote ldquoPolitical language is designed to make lies sound truthful and

murder respectable and to give an appearance of solidity to pure windrdquo

In the novel Orwell provides a scathing satire of this political ldquotruthinessrdquo through the Party language

The Ministry of Truth is concerned with the falsification of records The Ministry of Peace deals with warfare The Ministry of Love is ldquothe really frightening onerdquo essentially a place for the

questioning and torturing of suspected criminals The Ministry of Plenty makes up economic figures to convince the public that the

economy is in good shape even though there are great shortages of all commodities due to the war

The use of such irony certainly provides the perception that everything is indeed the opposite of what is expected

Paradox and Irony cont

In Our World Citizens generally strive to

expand their lexicon Aims to expand language so as

to expand the ability to think Words maintain clarity and

precision Retains and esteems a linguistic

tradition History and language have a

direct link (a narrative) Language maintains memory Holds some suspicion of the

media and politicians

In 1984 Aims to cut back Newspeak

vocabulary Aims to restrict language so as

to restrict the range of thought Words purposely deceptive

contradictory and without range Aims to destroy all old language

and replace it with an entirely new one

Written history will cease to exist as new language replaces old

Memory is lost with the language Swallows unquestionably the

leadership and propaganda of their society

ldquoIf the Party [can] thrust its hand into the past and say of this or that

event it never happened ndash that surely [is] more terrifying than mere

torture and deathrdquo

Why it Works

While physical punishment is difficult to administer psychological tactics (manipulation of people through language) can be continuously applied to the general public without raising great public opposition or fear mdash and that is where its strength lies

Newspeak rather than torture is planned as the way to erase thoughtcrime

What About Todayhellip

Are we currently in danger of being controlled through our language

Do you think the media controls our reality Do you believe politicians have used words

to manipulate history both in the past and present

Can you think of examples of Newspeak in our culture

Show Me

Paradox and Irony conthellipOrwell wrote ldquoPolitical language is designed to make lies sound truthful and

murder respectable and to give an appearance of solidity to pure windrdquo

In the novel Orwell provides a scathing satire of this political ldquotruthinessrdquo through the Party language

The Ministry of Truth is concerned with the falsification of records The Ministry of Peace deals with warfare The Ministry of Love is ldquothe really frightening onerdquo essentially a place for the

questioning and torturing of suspected criminals The Ministry of Plenty makes up economic figures to convince the public that the

economy is in good shape even though there are great shortages of all commodities due to the war

The use of such irony certainly provides the perception that everything is indeed the opposite of what is expected

Paradox and Irony cont

In Our World Citizens generally strive to

expand their lexicon Aims to expand language so as

to expand the ability to think Words maintain clarity and

precision Retains and esteems a linguistic

tradition History and language have a

direct link (a narrative) Language maintains memory Holds some suspicion of the

media and politicians

In 1984 Aims to cut back Newspeak

vocabulary Aims to restrict language so as

to restrict the range of thought Words purposely deceptive

contradictory and without range Aims to destroy all old language

and replace it with an entirely new one

Written history will cease to exist as new language replaces old

Memory is lost with the language Swallows unquestionably the

leadership and propaganda of their society

ldquoIf the Party [can] thrust its hand into the past and say of this or that

event it never happened ndash that surely [is] more terrifying than mere

torture and deathrdquo

Why it Works

While physical punishment is difficult to administer psychological tactics (manipulation of people through language) can be continuously applied to the general public without raising great public opposition or fear mdash and that is where its strength lies

Newspeak rather than torture is planned as the way to erase thoughtcrime

What About Todayhellip

Are we currently in danger of being controlled through our language

Do you think the media controls our reality Do you believe politicians have used words

to manipulate history both in the past and present

Can you think of examples of Newspeak in our culture

Show Me

Paradox and Irony cont

In Our World Citizens generally strive to

expand their lexicon Aims to expand language so as

to expand the ability to think Words maintain clarity and

precision Retains and esteems a linguistic

tradition History and language have a

direct link (a narrative) Language maintains memory Holds some suspicion of the

media and politicians

In 1984 Aims to cut back Newspeak

vocabulary Aims to restrict language so as

to restrict the range of thought Words purposely deceptive

contradictory and without range Aims to destroy all old language

and replace it with an entirely new one

Written history will cease to exist as new language replaces old

Memory is lost with the language Swallows unquestionably the

leadership and propaganda of their society

ldquoIf the Party [can] thrust its hand into the past and say of this or that

event it never happened ndash that surely [is] more terrifying than mere

torture and deathrdquo

Why it Works

While physical punishment is difficult to administer psychological tactics (manipulation of people through language) can be continuously applied to the general public without raising great public opposition or fear mdash and that is where its strength lies

Newspeak rather than torture is planned as the way to erase thoughtcrime

What About Todayhellip

Are we currently in danger of being controlled through our language

Do you think the media controls our reality Do you believe politicians have used words

to manipulate history both in the past and present

Can you think of examples of Newspeak in our culture

Show Me

ldquoIf the Party [can] thrust its hand into the past and say of this or that

event it never happened ndash that surely [is] more terrifying than mere

torture and deathrdquo

Why it Works

While physical punishment is difficult to administer psychological tactics (manipulation of people through language) can be continuously applied to the general public without raising great public opposition or fear mdash and that is where its strength lies

Newspeak rather than torture is planned as the way to erase thoughtcrime

What About Todayhellip

Are we currently in danger of being controlled through our language

Do you think the media controls our reality Do you believe politicians have used words

to manipulate history both in the past and present

Can you think of examples of Newspeak in our culture

Show Me

Why it Works

While physical punishment is difficult to administer psychological tactics (manipulation of people through language) can be continuously applied to the general public without raising great public opposition or fear mdash and that is where its strength lies

Newspeak rather than torture is planned as the way to erase thoughtcrime

What About Todayhellip

Are we currently in danger of being controlled through our language

Do you think the media controls our reality Do you believe politicians have used words

to manipulate history both in the past and present

Can you think of examples of Newspeak in our culture

Show Me

What About Todayhellip

Are we currently in danger of being controlled through our language

Do you think the media controls our reality Do you believe politicians have used words

to manipulate history both in the past and present

Can you think of examples of Newspeak in our culture

Show Me