1984 Language Analysis

Orwell designed Newspeak to demonstrate the importance of language to ideas. Orwell thought literature was dying out, which he connected with dying language (Kazin 235). Language is not only the means by which an idea is expressed, but also the means by which an idea is thought. The purposes of Newspeak are to allow for the expression of thoughts Ingsoc deemed proper and make impossible the expression of thoughts Ingsoc deemed heretical (Kendrick 344). According to Orwell, control of thought follows control of language. The government in 1984 means to control the language, and

Millennia ago, one of the first major accomplishments that humans achieved was to properly communicate from person to person by creating languages, whether they be basic sounds or modern-day complex languages. Knowing this information, Orwell makes creating a new language, Newspeak, one of the top priorities of the Party. This newly created language not only holds implications for the people of Oceania but also symbolizes the struggles and power grabs that the Party is going through. Newspeak is the main vehicle for the Party to subversively gain control throughout the novel and in doing so the Party is not only symbolizing the power of their organization, but is also symbolizing the struggle of the citizens of Oceania to push back against them (Berkes). The Party, however, unlike most other regimes trying to control their citizens by expanding language, begins by making Newspeak less complex and including fewer and fewer words, stating, “We’re destroying words…hundreds of them, every day.” (Orwell 51). This simplifying of the language serves multiple

Throughout the essay, the use of vernacular speech can be observed when looking at the dialogue between characters. For example, “Good day, Mrs. Henderson. Momma responded with “How you, Sister Flowers?”. In the dialogue between Mrs. Henderson and Mrs. Flowers, it can be seen that Flowers speaks respectively with sophistication while Mrs. Henderson speaks carelessly using an older southern tone. This results in a clear comparison between the characters in the essay which represent the importance of education and vocabulary. The constant use of the wrong verb by “Momma” bothers the author, giving us a better idea of language’s role in her life. In addition, the author foreshadows part of the lifeline, so we gain a better understanding of the story when the lifeline is presented later on.

Newspeak demolishes thought. Throughout the book, George Orwell tackles controversial ideas. He uses topics that create distraught in the readers to show how the future could exist. People kill for excitement and uses special forces to attack people. This happens because “Big Brother” wants it to. Big Brother runs the society and he uses his influence to control his subservients. He does this with the help of his new language “Newspeak,” which inhibits peoples thoughts and minds. The society in George Orwell’s 1984 does not have the capability to form personal opinions because of Newspeak.

This is another initiative used to keep the individual from there own truths to deprive them even more of an identity. "Don't you see that the whole aim of Newspeak is to narrow the range of thought? In the end we shall make thoughtcrime impossible, because there will be no words in which to express it. It's merely a question of self-discipline, reality-control. (46)" Winston's coworker Syme believes that Newspeak will end the issue of thougtcrime, which it seems it is true. Newspeak is used by the Party to take away multiple meanings, expressions, individual thoughts to make the individuals more ignorant of individualism and other ideas that could ruin the ideas of the Party. With this language the people want be able to create thoughtcrime because they want have the knowledge to do so. Winston doesn't care for this aspect he only thinks of those who want be affected by the Party, the proles and at this point in time he thinks that no matter what kind of language they have now he will continue with his own ways.

“Newspeak was designed to. . .diminish the range of thought. . .by cutting the choice of words down to a minimum” explains George Orwell, the author of a dystopian fiction novel, 1984 (Orwell 300). Orwell designs a society in which a totalitarian government rules, depriving people of their thoughts. The story gives us a look into the life of the main character, Winston, who seems to face issues with reality control. Today, we will delve into the depths of this novel and explore Orwell’s views on the nature of language. In simple terms, Orwell suggests that language, if used in a certain way, has the ability to influence people and compel them to alter their thoughts. With this statement and supporting evidence, it can be concluded that the effective use of language can give individuals power to modify or reshape opinions that will allow for change in society.

George Orwell’s 1984, a utopian fiction novel, illustrates what its like to live in a society with unrealistic amounts of censorship. The censorship is taken to the extreme and controls everything, even the society’s history. The Party of Oceania even forces a created language called Newspeak, in attempts to stop political rebellion by eliminating rebellious words from their vocabulary. The people are not allowed to express individuality, engage in sex, disagree with the Party, or have their own personal thoughts. Winston goes against the Party and illegally purchases a diary. In this diary he writes what he cannot speak.

Margaret Steffler’s article, Fragments and Absences, states, “Language in A Complicated Kindness, constructed, responded to, and commented on by Nomi as first-person narrator, demonstrates a linguistic fragmentation comparable to the material fragments surrounding the deserted daughter and sister” (5). To understand this comment further, we have to analyze A Complicated Kindness. In Miriam Toews’ novel, we focus on the protagonists Naomi “Nomi” Nickel; she is a curious and defiant sixteen year-old who is developing in a kind of stunted world, or as she states a “non-progressive community” (11). Nomi is trying to find herself, and this brings her into conflict with the community, and its authorities, especially her uncle Hans “The Mouth” Rosenfeldt

As Z walks to customs in Heathrow, she has no idea of the strange love to befall her, the heartbreak, and the happiness, with her experiences marked by the words she learns along with the actions that take place. She does not know of her pending isolation to be followed by a carnal love. She knows nothing of the future, yet she knows many words: a base set of words that she uses grammatically incorrectly, yet profoundly. Despite her limited ability to speak English correctly, Z demonstrates a full comprehension of the words, Alien, Beginner, and Humour. Through these entries, Z displays the impact words have on shaping her feelings surrounding her own foreignness. While her English improves as the entries continue throughout the book, Initially, her grammar alone make her sound uneducated by many standards, but as her she continues to write of her experiences, her understanding of complicated ideas illustrates her true ability.

When imagining the world without sufficient words to express oneself. Where there is tons of limitation from the way people, dress, think and interact with each other. is hard to think about which outburst could obtain out of it. Not only that, but this property like the sovereign control over someone's life to protect the “Peace” or dictatorship of a country is scary. When Speaking of principles is usually referring to truth or proposition, which serve as the model to follow when seeking guidance. In this case Principle of Newspeak from the novel “1984” by George Orwell. Explains how newspeak which is the language of Oceania, a fictional place, is set to be adopted as the only way to express among the country. Although Newspeak doesn’t contain

“BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU” (p. 1). Headed by a sacrosanct leader identified as Big Brother, the Party’s solitary goal is to retain absolute power over Oceania. The citizens are subjected to constant supervision and incessant propaganda via telescreens that not only monitor the citizens’ actions and thoughts but also rectify them to suit the Party’s invidious desires. The Party is even developing a new language called Newspeak, which eliminates abundant verbiage from the dictionary, to narrow the citizens’ range of thought. Under the Party’s oppressive regime, Winston Smith lives a life marked by animosity, dissension, and malice for the Party. In his fervent attempt to decimate the Party’s members and desecrate its ideals, he circumspectly commences a covert love affair with a potent, nulliparous woman named Julia and begins a diary in which he inscribes maledictions and recapitulates his aggression for the Party. In his benevolent struggle to eradicate inequity and segregation, Winston realizes the true price of freedom as he sacrifices his life to attain it. In 1984 (New American Library, 1950), George Orwell, the author, proficiently integrates short, direct sentences and bleak, elementary vocabulary into his uniquely passive style of writing to thoroughly convey his appalling vision of a totalitarian regime to the reader.

George Orwell’s 1946 essay, Politics and the English Language, brings forth themes of deception, honesty, and political bias through the eyes of the author himself. Orwell begins the narrative by refuting standard assumptions of the English Language, and that language is a reflection of the shape of society. “Our civilization is decadent and our language--so the argument runs--must inevitably share in the general collapse” (127). The essay’s deeper concerns of how language is shifting and perhaps limiting expression are troubling yet serves as a reminder of Orwell’s “Newspeak” in 1984. Orwell’s extensive use of metaphors, similes, and imagery depict his growing concerns of contemporary writing styles.

Language and thought are closely connected. Language and vocabulary determines someone’s thought process. Based on the words in the dictionary, which make up language, a person’s thoughts are limited and restricted. In the novel, 1984, by George Orwell, Winston Smith, the protagonist, wants to overthrow a totalitarian government that follows rules of a fabricated man, Big Brother, in Oceania. In this society, the government, called the “Party”, limits and restricts what the citizens of Oceania can do and say. It limits the vocabulary, ultimately resulting in a limitation of language. In this novel, the thought process, of many people, is corrupted by language. Whatever the government says is always right. Newspeak, the dictionary in Oceania, is also limited, as it loses many words during the creation of a new edition, to prevent rebellion. The actions of the ministries, under the Party, contradict the name of the ministry. All these factors exemplify how language corrupts thought. In the novel, 1984, evidence of where language corrupts thought occurs during the interrogation of Winston Smith, the creation of new editions of Newspeak, and in the actions and names of the ministries.

In 1984, Winston Smith is a low-ranking member of the ruling Party in London, as Orwell was for a while, in the nation of Oceania. Everywhere Winston goes the Party watches him through telescreens. Everywhere he looks he sees the face of the Party’s seemingly all powerful leader, Big Brother. The Party controls everything in Oceania, even the people’s knowledge of the history. Currently, the Party is forcing the implementation of an invented language known as Newspeak. Newspeak attempts to prevent political rebellion by eliminating all words related to it. Even thinking rebellious thoughts is illegal. A thoughtcrime is the worst crime to commit of all crimes.

George Orwell’s 1984 talks about a totalitarian society, a supposedly ‘utopian’ era. Under the totalitarian regime of the Party - the government - no freedom is granted. Privacy is taken away, the citizens are monitored with telescreens and snooped upon by the Police Patrol. Compared to today’s world, where we are accustomed to freedom of choice and thought, the people in the book are scrutinised with every move. Freedom is a foreign concept to them, they have no basic rights, they belong to the Party. Not even the freedom of speech, a birthright, is given to the people. In addition to the lack of freedom, speech is slowly being taken away from them and their thoughts are being narrowed as time passes on. This essay will discuss the importance of language, Newspeak and its significance in the book, along with Syme’s Shrinking Dictionary,