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Politics and the English language read
Politics and the english language essay
The critical analysis of the essay the politics and the english language by orwell
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In his 1946 essay, “Politics and the English Language”, George Orwell asserts that the words, common discussions, and collective literary works, in English encompass less coherency, innovation, and power than ever before; the English language is on a decline. Using strong evidence from quoted figures to justify his claim, Orwell’s argument begins in a strong way and continues at this pace until the end. He stumbles over a contradiction when it comes to the idea that foreign words should be eliminated, yet the argument is overall successful, clearly making a valid point by the end of the essay.
Orwell starts off his essay by isolating a principal issue concerning English’s advancement. Even though every scholar is conscious that English is undergoing belittlement by its native speakers, most argue that no act of prevention will result in triumph. Most deem the act of conserving and revitalizing English’s uprightness to be hopeless, as the inherent status of language is not as an instrument but a distinct entity outside ones control. The author goes on to say that English’s debasement cannot be held responsible by any single writer. Instead, he reasons that language occurs in a reaction circle with itself, whereby untouched or unimaginative writing gives way to lesser criterions with which English is endorsed. To illustrate ideas on English language belittlement, Orwell features five quotes in his essay. Although he claims that these quotes aren’t meant to be of the worst quality, Orwell elucidates that he has integrated these examples to prove that many English writers write uncaringly vaguely, or that they are indifferent to coherency. The English language is formulated to sound pleasing to the ear, but often does not properly cl...
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..., and new words turn into popular words, old words and phrases will be converted into archaic and lose their spot within the English language. Sooner or later, what Orwell names as being “pretentious diction” will come to be archaic and shall be substituted with other phrases, which may or may not have foreign influence.
In exhibiting this essay, Orwell informs the public of the misconceptions arising within the English language. George Orwell’s response to such setbacks provide support and schooling by which he thought English could grow and flourish, both in the body of political rhetoric and within the literary fields. Aside from one tiny contradiction, the essay is well written and the point is effectively presented to the public. The author starts off by stating the issues and then he explains them one by one. Such an essay ought to be recognized and admired.
In the essay “From Ancient Greece to Iraq, the Power of Words in Wartime” by Robin Tolmach Lakoff, Lakoff discusses the fact that words are a tool as well when it comes to wars. She talks about the differences between our natural want and ability to kill things, and the mental training soldiers receive to make it easier for them. Lakoff talks about the practice of dehumanizing the “enemy” through nicknames that make us feel superior then our foes, and the repercussions of using this type of language. In the essay by George Orwell, “Politics and the English Language”, Orwell talks about the decay of the English language, especially in political writings. He discusses the fact that when it comes to writing, political being the main focus, it’s
Diction: While George Orwell used fairly simple and uncomplicated diction to tell the story many of his words still have a very powerful diction. In the first chapter the protagonist Winston is attack by the smell of “boiled cabbage and old rag mats”. This is the first indication to the nature of the living conditions of our protagonist. However, Orwell also uses his diction to create the atmosphere of Oceania with lines like “the world looked cold. Down in the street little eddies of wind were whirling dust and torn paper into spirals, and though the sun was shining and the sky a harsh blue, there seemed to be no colour in anything”. These lines contain powerful words like cold, torn, and harsh and these worlds help paint the picture of what kind of story we are reading.
Birk and Birk explore the many processes that automatically and often unintentionally, take place during the gathering of knowledge and expression through words. In their book Birk and Birk break the usage of words into sections: Selection, Slanting by the use of emphasis, slanting by selection of facts, and slanting by the use of charged words. When words are used this way they reveal naturally occurring bias of the writer. Upon reviewing the selection from Birk and Birk’s book Understanding and Using Language it is clear that the essay written by Jake Jameson has examples of every principal Birk and Birk discuss. The Birk and Birk selection provides us with a set of tools that enable us to detect bias in the many forms that it takes. These tools reveal what Jamieson favors and make plain the bias present in his essay The English-Only movement: Can America Proscribe Language With a Clean Conscience?
Orwell, George. “Politics and the English Language.” George Orwell: Critical Essays. London: Harvill Secker: 2009. 270-286. Print.
Many people can relate to receiving an essay paper back in which they believe that the grading is unfair. Grammatical errors, style, and subject are areas that receive the most attention. However, it may not be the writers’ work that is ineffective, maybe it 's the English language itself that is lacking in quality. Similarly, George Orwell in " Politics and the English Language" convinces the audience that the causes of the decline in the English language are the vagueness and meaningless of prose that is receiving impact from political jargon. Orwell effectively persuades the readers by addressing opposing views, providing examples that offer support to sub-claims, and creating reader connections while simultaneously
Since it’s been a predominant topic of our discussion, let us talk about the infamous English language. We can be sure that it has painstakingly progressed throughout generations of reevaluation and modernization, and has thus become what it is today. It has gone in several directions to try and mesh with the various epochs of language, from the Shakespearean era to the common English slang we use now, we can all agree that English is a language that has been transcending and will continue to transcend into many
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.
Howe, Tom. "George Orwell." British Writers Volume VII. Ed. Ian Scott-Kilvert. New York: Scribner, 1984. 273-287.
Orwell argues that society is completely oblivious to the constraint that is involved in every day life. There is no individual in society and that everyone remains the same. “Don’t you see that the whole aim of Newspeak is to narrow the range of thought?” (46) Not only does a limiting of words show society that by controlling methods of co...
Chen, Anna. George Orwell a Literary Trotskyist? 2 Oct. 2000. K1 Internet Publishing. 13 Dec. 2000 .
Despite the warnings of Orwell through both his essay and dystopian novel, bad English is still used today, and could be argued to affect more English than it did during Orwell’s life. The consequences are also just as he predicted, those who control the language are able to wield control over the thoughts of others. The usage of poor quality English by media has he effect of making the recipients of news more detached from events and as a consequence, more self-focused. The clumsiness and foolishness imposed by bad English ultimately degrading thought, politics, culture, and society is what Orwell had foretold. This is the English tragedy that is disregarded, modern thoughts of “English” are not of language but of the English Queen.
“In Oceania at the present day, Science, in the old sense, has almost ceased to exist. In Newspeak there is no word for 'Science '. The empirical method of thought, on which all the scientific achievements of the past were founded, is opposed to the most fundamental principles of Ingsoc. And even technological progress only happens when its products can in some way be used for the diminution of human liberty” (Orwell 244). It is said that all inner party members view the language newspeak as a coming of faith. They hope that the creation of a new dictionary is to instill peace in the society they live in. However, in reality it is used through science and technology to curtail privacy and freedom among the
Throughout this essay, Orwell acts as a teacher and does not ridicule the writers. His writing is to inform the reader of the problem, the reasons why the language has become ugly, and the bad habits of writing. He used specific examples and goes on to give his solution to bring English writing and speaking back to a clear, concise, honest work.
...t know what George Orwell would have to say about English now. We are in a largely technological age and, with text message slang and emoticons blanching all color from thought and emotion, I believe the English language is in even more trouble now than in George Orwell’s time. I imagine the English language as a lonely working class dog that has strayed far from home. I realize, in reality the lonely dog is right by our side. It’s not lost, just poorly trained. English should be seen as “an instrument which we shape for our own purposes” (591). We must ask ourselves, what is the use of having a poor quality tool if it doesn’t work? We have, through abuse and neglect, shaped “man’s best friend” into the sad form it is today. Should we grab the shot gun and take poor, old “Yeller” back behind the shed? No! We should take the steps to fix what we have done.
Based on the two essays, George Orwell is a vivid writer who uses a unique point of view and strong themes of pride and role playing to convey his messages. His writings are easy to pick out because of the strengths of these messages. Just like politicians in government, people with power turn corrupt to stay in power and keep their reputations. Anyone who takes on power must be prepared to live with the consequences of his actions. Orwell knows this challenge well and conveys this principle in his writing. After all, his narration is based on real life experiences and not fictional fantasies.