· Politics and the English Language The essay “Politics and the English Language” by George Orwell shows that most individuals use the English language improperly. Writers should “get one’s meaning as clear as one can through pictures and sensations” (Orwell, 8) Politics and the English Language MOST PEOPLE WHO BOTHER with the matter at all would admit that the English language is in a bad way, but it is generally assumed that we cannot by conscious action do anything about it. Our civilization is decadent, and our language−−so the argument runs−−must inevitably share in the general blogger.com Size: 36KB · Politics and the English Language, the essay of George Orwell. First published: April by/in Horizon, GB, London
Politics and the English Language - Wikipedia
As its title suggests, Orwell identifies a link between the degraded English language of his time and the degraded political situation: Orwell sees modern discourse especially political discourse as being less a matter of words chosen for their clear meanings than a series of stock phrases slung together.
Orwell begins by drawing attention to the strong link between the language writers use and the quality of political thought in the current age i. the s. He argues that if we use language that is slovenly and decadent, it makes it easier for us to fall into bad habits of thought, because language and thought are so closely linked.
Orwell then gives five examples of what he considers bad political writing. He draws attention to two faults which all five passages share: staleness of imagery and lack of precision. Dying Metaphors : these are figures of speech which writers lazily reach for, even though such phrases are worn-out and can no longer convey a vivid image. Operators or Verbal False Limbs : this is when a longer and rather vague phrase is used in place of a single-word and more direct verb, e.
The passive voice is also common, and writing phrases like by examination of instead of the more direct by examining. Sentences are saved from fizzling out because the thought or idea being conveyed is not particularly striking by largely meaningless closing platitudes such as greatly to be desired or brought to a satisfactory conclusion.
Pretentious Diction : Orwell draws attention to several areas here. He states that words like objectivebasisand eliminate are used by writers to dress up simple statements, making subjective opinion sound like scientific fact. Adjectives like epichistoricand inevitable are used about international politics, while writing that glorifies war is full of old-fashioned words like realmthroneand sword.
Foreign words and phrases like deus ex machina and mutatis mutandis are used to convey an air of culture and elegance. humanlivingor romantic. references to bread and riches in the Bible passage, and the politics and the english language essay of any such images in his own fabricated rewriting of this passage.
Orwell advises every writer to ask themselves four questions at least : 1 what am I trying to say? and 4 is this image fresh enough to have an effect? He proposes two further optional questions: could I put it politics and the english language essay shortly? and have I said anything that is avoidably ugly? of burning bodies in Hiroshima is actually desirable.
Orwell argues that just as thought corrupts language, language can corrupt thought, with these ready-made phrases preventing writers from expressing anything meaningful or original.
Writers should let the meaning choose the word, rather than vice versa, politics and the english language essay. We should think carefully about what we want to say until we have the right mental pictures to convey that thought in the clearest language.
v Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent. Although Hulme and Orwell came from opposite ends of the political spectrum, their objections to lazy and worn-out language stem are in many ways the same.
Hulme argued that poetry should be a forge where fresh metaphors are made: images which make us see the world in a slightly new way. What words will express it? What image or idiom will make it clearer?
Is this image fresh enough to have an effect? Nevertheless, the link between the standard of language and the kind of politics a particular country, politics and the english language essay, regime, or historical era has is an important one.
If I recall correctly, he was wrong about a few things including, I think, the right way to make a cup of tea! In all seriousness, what he fails to acknowledge in this essay is that language is a living thing and belongs to the people, not the theorists, at all time. If a metaphor changes because of homophone mix up or whatever, then so be it.
I recall learning to make up new metaphors and similes rather than use clichés when I first began training ten years ago or more. Similarly, the use of active voice has led to unpalatable writing which lacks character.
The passive voice may well become longwinded when badly used, but it brings character when used well. That said, Orwell is rarely completely wrong. But the idea of the degradation of politics is really quite a bit of nonsense! Always good to get some critique of Orwell, Ken! Hulme camp than the Orwell — poetry can afford to bend language in new ways indeed, it often should do just thisand create daring new metaphors and ways of viewing the world.
But prose, especially political non-fiction, is there to communicate an argument or position, and I agree that ghastly new metaphors would just get in the way. Orwell shows that at least one person was already discussing them over half a century ago! Absolutely true! Pingback: Q Marks the Spot March Treasure Map — Quaerentia. My desert island book would be the Everyman Essays of Orwell which is around pages, politics and the english language essay.
A great and useful post. As a writer, I have been seriously offended by the politicization of the language in the past 50 years. And is optics not a branch of physics? Pingback: The Best George Orwell Essays Everyone Should Read — Interesting Literature. Pingback: 10 of the Best Works by George Orwell — Interesting Literature. Enter your email politics and the english language essay to subscribe to this site and receive notifications of new posts by email.
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Politics and the English Language: Review
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Politics and the English Language by Orwell depicts that many people never bother about the English language; however, the majority of these that do admit that the language has been wrongly conceived. Orwell (n.d) adds that the English language has degenerated because of several elements including the political and economic conceptions Politics and the English Language MOST PEOPLE WHO BOTHER with the matter at all would admit that the English language is in a bad way, but it is generally assumed that we cannot by conscious action do anything about it. Our civilization is decadent, and our language−−so the argument runs−−must inevitably share in the general blogger.com Size: 36KB · Politics and the English Language The essay “Politics and the English Language” by George Orwell shows that most individuals use the English language improperly. Writers should “get one’s meaning as clear as one can through pictures and sensations” (Orwell, 8)
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