The word language originated from a vulgar word in Latin “Linguaticum” which meant “tongue” back in the 12th Century. From there, the word can be traced to Old French in the late 13th Century where it had the spelling “Langage”. The form that we know today “language” rose from c.1300 and was used in Anglo-French and Middle English dialects. From there language has taken on the meaning of “the system of words or signs that people use to express thoughts and feelings to each other”. Language however, has a deeper affect than one might think on thoughts and more importantly, human feelings and emotions. To begin, if Language were an element, it would be Oxygen. Oxygen is pervasive in our world and without it, our world would be lifeless and human life especially could not exist. Language, like oxygen, is vital to the survival of humans as it provides a means of communication to share thoughts with others in our society and in our world. Oxygen, when contaminated, becomes harmful to those who depend on it. Similarly, when language is tampered with, it quickly affects society and harms the ability of people to express their thoughts. Likewise, In the novel, “1984” written by George Orwell, the characters speak a version of English called Newspeak which effectively controls speech against the Party and serves to limit thought on a deeper, subconscious level. In addition, in the novel “Brave New World ” by Aldous Huxley, the same ideals of restricting human thought is present. Furthermore, these effects are visible in modern times and in modern languages. According to the author, Language controls the thoughts of characters throughout 1984. For example, most of the characters in 1984 have a vocabulary consisting only of the few words in the Newspeak dictionary. The language of Newspeak contains words that are edited constantly by the Party so that they cannot be used to
Orwell presents the view that ‘language is of central importance to human thought because it structures and limits the ideas that individuals are capable of formulating and expressing.’1 In his novel1984 he maintains a keen focus on language and how it is restricted and manipulated by the regime in order to achieve complete control over the thought of the Party. This inspired Atwood - who considered Orwell a ‘direct model’2 - to similarly explore language as more than just a literary form, but a mutable tool used
In a totalitarian government such as 1984, the use of language and diction is severely limited by the Oceania authorities as a tool used to crush any potential resistance from the public. As model examples of the linguistic limitations of Oceania common civilians, Winston Smith and most of his associates in the novel exercises the use of colloquial language in the form of Newspeak, the official language of Oceania. What the most of the Oceania civilians do not know is that Newspeak is ...
Language is our power and expression is our freedom. Through a puff of air, we are able to communicate and influence the environments that surround us. Over the course of time humans have evolved, but by the means of language, humans have matured into humanity. The possibility of thought and emotions such as empathy show the ability to think with complexity. A crucial element that helps Suzanne K. Langer’s illustrate the essence of humanity throughout her essay “Language and Thought.” Langer thoroughly depicts what sets humans apart from the rest of the animal kingdom by explicitly stating “The line between man and beast […] is the language line” (120). Consequently, this implies that if a person is declined the freedom of language they are hardly considered human. Many people around the globe have had their voices silenced due to corrupt governments and the oppression of their culture. These individuals are subjected to the devastating effects of the loss of language, which in turn, translates to the loss of power. Language is our foundation for hopes and opportunity, for with out it a person is shell of possibility that is subjected to a passive existence.
Structuralism, developed in the early decades of the 20th century by Saussure, focuses on the “underlying system of language” and its ability to “govern the individual and thus determine meaning” (Metzker 2010). Saussure’s development of semiotics, the study of the relationships between words and their meanings, can be applied to the Inner Party’s political agenda to create a ‘stable’ society. Ultimately, 1984 explores the ontological uncertainty of whether or not the construction of political reality and free human expression is tied up with our existing system of language – and if a social institution were to alter this system of language to execute a political ideology, would they be successful? The Party’s use of language, or Newspeak , enables them to eradicate any possibility of Thoughtcrime by erasing any words – and their subsidiaries - that may lead to or even infer political anarchy. Newspeak contains no negative terms. For instance, instead of saying “bad”, one would express their feelings through the word “ungood”. Orwell conceded that the purpose of Newspeak was “not only to provide a medium of expression for the world-view and mental habits proper to the devotees of Ingsoc (English Socialism), but to make all other modes of thought impossible”, thus confirming the power of language as an instrument of political discourse
In the appendix of Nineteen Eighty-four, the purpose of Newspeak is described as, “not only to provide a medium of expression for the world-view and mental habits proper to the devotees of Ingsoc, but to make all other modes of thought impossible.” (page 301) The erasure of other modes of thought occurs when entire concepts are annihilated, such as free choice or free will. If an entire concept does not exist, then citizens cannot converse about it, nor can they even think about it. This limits the person to only one way of thinking: the way Big Brother wants you to think.
“It illustrates how language can be the core of a person’s reality, how it can be used to obscure the truth, and even how it can be used to change the past.” (Berkes) Just think of your world, powered by a government that has no end or suppression. Sometimes we all think that the government is in a bad place, but with Orwell’s work we can see that indeed it can be controlled even more. “Predicting the future wasn’t Orwell’s goal” (Fischer), but it was used as a tool to warn the future that if we don’t govern what our country is doing, it can slowly take over our lives. “Language is one of the key instruments of political dominations, the necessary and insidious means of the ‘totalitarian’ control of reality.” (Rai) Communication and language have shaped our world and will continue to help expand the reaches of human existence; as with anyone’s reality, your thoughts and dreams are all made up of communication and ideas. Its only when someone treads on your deepest sense of personality, that you understand the power of human thought and language. “Orwell’s novel validates that language, when used in a manner that has a political standpoint, can tread on the very existence of reality.”
One of the most essential ways in which feelings are expressed by humans is through language. Without language people are merely robotic figures that can not express their thoughts because language is in fact thought. When this speech is taken away through complete governmental power, a portion of human nature is also taken away. In 1984, due to totalitarianism, language has begun to transform into a poor representation of humanity and natural human expression. Orwell states, “But if thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought.” In the novel, a new language, Newspeak, has emerged. Newspeak has drastically limited the vocabulary of the English language
Language is defined as a "system of words formed from such combinations and patterns, used by the people of a particular country or by a group of people with a shared history or set of traditions (Microsoft Bookshelf. 1996-1997 edition)." Ebonics is a form of communication of feelings, thoughts, opinions and ideas at is being used by ou...
Rather, instead of inventing a language to extend the limits of human thought, Newspeak shrinks it until it is just enough to grasp the basic principles and laws of the Party.... ... middle of paper ... ... Whatever the Party needs it to be, it will be. The year 1984 has long passed, but the novel still illustrates a possibility for the future of society. It still remains a powerful influence in all sorts of literature, music, and social theory.
Language has the power to influence and reshape our thoughts and actions. In Anthem, by Ayn Rand, there is a society which controls the language of everyone in it. Under the World Council, everyone is to follow the many rules put in place and no one even tries to break them. There is no “I” in their language, there is only “we”. With the power to influence and reshape people, language has a big impact on our thoughts and actions.
In the essay “Politics and the English Language” by George Orwell, the author states his opinion of the decline of the English language. Orwell discusses both its causes and what he foresees as its consequences. He states there is less innovation and coherency, which dilutes the power of the language. Orwell felt that people were using the English language inaccurately, relying on metaphors which are meaningless and used so the writer does not have to bother with creating their phrases. Orwell asserted “It becomes ugly and inaccurate because our thoughts are foolish, but the slovenliness of our language makes it easier for us to have foolish thoughts.”
decades, what we call module verbs. These are verbs like can, must, will, shall, etc.…’”’ (Rosen & Arts 1). First, the language used by Orwell’s society recognized as Newspeak, which is just the English language but simpler by cutting out the complicated vocabulary and making up new words that sound childish, is just simply a rubbish or slang version of English. The way they cut out complicated words in English trying to make it simpler resembles how the government’s ruling is not complicated at the least and they try to avoid this factor by being simpler in their ways of carrying out orders or propagandas. By cutting out words from the English language instead of expanding, this resembles an imaginary barrier made of the toughest substances,
This is not newspeak exactly as Orwell portrayed it (a open attempt at centralized modification of language), but more in the form of what Orwell warned about in his essay Language and Politics. The subtle debasing of words has allowed the powerful in democratic nations to successfully install a system which is blatantly counter-democratic in its behavior and yet is masked by twisted language.
Humans are born with the ability to acquire language, expressly for the purpose of survival. Among groups of hunter-gatherers, this behaviour, called the “Language Instinct” by socio-biologist Steven Pinker, was necessary to facilitate cooperation in society. In George Orwell’s novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, the repressive government of the nation of Oceania implements a program of language reforms, ending in an ideologically pure language, Newspeak. Along with the changes in language comes a change in the challenges that language addresses. Instead of the requisite social cooperation of ancient hunter-gatherers, members of the Party need a form of communication that allows them to serve the Party and its leader, Big Brother, because the party
In George Orwell’s book “1984” there is a man named Winston Smith who works for The Outer Party in the nation of Oceania. From home to work Winston is always being watched by telescreens, always under surveillance, and always being monitored. The party’s controlling figure called Big Brother is always watching and there is no freedom. Rebelling against the party is illegal and even thinking about rebelling or committing “Thoughtcrimes” is illegal and is subject to punishment. The party eventually comes up with the concept of Newspeak: getting rid of every rebellious word against the party, and Winston is no fan of this ideology. Winston has become sick of the lack of individuality and oppression and plots his chart on how he is going to defect