Politics and the English Language – Rasheed Hall

Orwell’s thesis is that throughout time, the English language has been corrupted by the way we think, and the way how we write. Instead of making sense, we use jargon to make our ideas sound more interesting and feasible to the average reader or listener. We use Latin words, metaphors, and expressions to make our simple thought sound sophisticating, even though it doesn’t make any sense. Orwell’s idea is that we can communicate clearly and concisely by simply using plain English without the unnecessary use of expressions and metaphors that make absolutely no sense. “But if thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought. A bad usage can spread by tradition and imitation, even among people who should and do know better.” This particular quote stood out to me because it shows that throughout time people take advantage of the English language to promote thoughts that aren’t true. They know that their “metaphors” and “expressions’ don’t really make any sense but they do it still to sound pretentious and as if there are knowledgeable. Orwell is trying to say that the English language is easily abused to manipulate others into thinking that the writers and speakers that take advantage of the language are smart. “It is almost universally felt that when we call a country democratic we are praising it: consequently the defenders of every kind of régime claim that it is a democracy, and fear that they might have to stop using that word if it were tied down to any one meaning. Words of this kind are often used in a consciously dishonest way.” Orwell’s quote shows how words can be easily abused and manipulated to think for the average reader. Instead of allowing the reader to form his or her thoughts, the speaker and or writer takes advantage of the misinformation that surrounds the topic they are speaking about in order to come off as knowledgeable. I see examples of this today when political leaders are giving speeches, they use metaphors and jargon to sound intelligent as if they know what they are really saying. My writing often exhibits this type of language use because as what Orwell mentioned it is imitated, I personally write In that type of format sometimes in order to come off as smart, I know what I’m writing about but I feel as if when I write like what Orwell is talking against about I come off as intelligent and more persuasive to my argument or answer. I find his critique to be valid because they are times when I’m reading articles, passages, and even listening to speeches I have to pause to actually ask myself “What are they really trying to say” even though it may sound smart to a person that isn’t listening, it really shows that most people just do it “just to sound smart”, there is no deeper answer. The English language is abused in a way it only benefits the speaker or writer, not the listener. An example in American politics will be “Pro Gun” the term pro gun comes off as a person that supports lack of gun laws. But in reality the term “Pro Gun” sounds weird, it just two different terms put together to sound smart and reasonable.