Doublespeak: Threats To Language

Semantics are often dismissed as unimportant. However, when it comes to effectively communicating meaning, semantics are vital. When the sender of information uses the wrong words to convey their message, the

In William Lutz’s essay entitled “The World of Doublespeak,” from Christopher Ricks’s and Lenonard Micheal’s anthology State of the Language, Lutz examines the art of doublespeak. This essay is meant to enlighten people on examples and different uses of doublespeak and how organizations and others use it to mislead. Lutz begins by defining doublespeak as “language which pretends to communicate but doesn’t, language which makes the bad seem good, the negative appear positive, the unpleasant attractive, or at least tolerable” (278). Specifically, people who use doublespeak pretend to be conveying a certain message while in the real sense they are doing the opposite of that. The author gives specific examples of doublespeak that affect the

Language plays a significant role in defining who we are. It is a method of communication in a structured and conventional way. “Language reinforces feelings of social superiority or inferiority; it creates insiders and outsiders” (p. 242) states Robert MacNeil (2012) in his article “English Belongs to Everybody”.

The use of propaganda and double-speaking have a long history, going back to the ancient societies. Propaganda and doublespeak are the use of verbal exchange to have an effect on the emotions, attitudes, and opinions of human beings. To try to get them to accept a particular political, religious, or financial point of view, or even to start a war. It is careful manipulation of the opinions of the societies mostly by their government. In the effort to control the nation 's thought process, the government has stemmed to using mass propaganda for selling a war.

From generations to generation grammar has been a big part of the English language. It has also changed since it first develops. From texting complete sentences like “See you later” to “C U l8r” or from using the spelling two and using the number form of it to replace that. Using slang word such as those can ruin a person’s reputation. In the stories of The Joy of Texting by Lynne Truss and I Won’t Hire People Who Use Poor Grammar. Here’s Why. by Kyle Wiens, both show some main similarities for it uses of correct grammar and why it should be that way. Grammar can make or break a person and could cost serious chances in life.

The use of “newspeak” is very common in today's society, “propagandistic language marked by euphemism, circumlocution, and the inversion of customary meanings.” (Merriam-Webster). In other words it's the dumbing down of in essence of words already limited in meaning and scope. How is it relevant in today's society you ask? Teens start texting at a very young age, and the use of social media is very crucial in our time. Snapchat is a very powerful social media giant, we are speaking through pictures, which in essence represents hieroglyphics. Words are continually shortened and are bereft of their deeper meanings. the downfall of all of this is the dumbing down words through texting. The use of newspeak in 1984 was used to limit the freedom of thought, and expressions. Thoughtcrime was when you did the opposite of so called Newspeak you undermine the authority of Big Brother and or Ingsoc. “Don't you see that the whole aim of Newspeak is to narrow the range of

In the words of George Orwell, “If thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought.” Language has been spoken for over 350,000 years. It has expanded tremendously, but its power has never changed. The use of language shapes peoples' perceptions and the depth of interactions because it can demean, avoid, portray emphasis, persuade, and conceal from simple phrases such as “I feel like” and “just”.

The thing with ads is that they get you to want the thing that is trying to be sold, so what do they do? Well they have to say anything to lower you in to convince you to get it they are just trying to sell the product can you blame them they have to make money. Using specific words like low price, claiming it will change things for you and your life and of course many ads claim help, many ad say that and that gets our attention because many want help.in the book language awareness weasel words:the art of saying nothing at all by William Lutz he states that “ the biggest weasel words used in advertising doublespeak is help” and I think so also because if we look at medicines ads they always say this will help you with your cough, fever, headache,

The misuse of a word can turn a friendly conversation into a debate or even worse an argument. Especially in the society we are living today with the diversity some of the locations in the

In the essay “Doubts About Doublespeak”(1993), William Lutz depicts how utilizing doublespeak can damage a society. Lutz begins with providing examples of doublespeak that range from silly to serious, showing how doublespeak can be harmless, but also disguise a truth with a manipulation of words. There are many different types of doublespeak, Lutz breaks it down into four different categories euphemism, jargon, gobbledygook and inflated language. By breaking them down, Lutz shows the audience that they share similarities in which they make something negative sound better than it is. There are more types of doublespeak that can be seen all around us, moreover, as more doublespeak is being created everyday and everywhere it becomes difficult

Throughout my life I believe that I have experienced quite a lot of doublespeak. The largest impact of doublespeak was when I was younger and both of my grandma’s got cancer. At the age of around twelve I had no idea what cancer was. The way they spoke of cancer was very evasive, mostly because they knew that I probably would not be able to handle what cancer was at my age. I think that doublespeak was a respectable form of doublespeak because they were not trying to hide anything they just wanted what was best for my wellbeing in a troubling time. Another form of doublespeak, which I participated in, happened during my internship this summer. I worked for a tool shop named “Acutec Precision Machining” who manufactured aerospace parts. At Acutec

Doublespeak is being defined as language that can be understood in more than one way and that is used to trick or deceive people. Doublespeak is a product of clear thinking. You have to be smart or simply know how to use this technique to acquire people’s attention and want them to buy a product. Doublespeak corrupt thought. Everyone must pay attention to what sale representatives are trying to sell to them, do not be afraid to say no because you do not understand something, it is all right to not understand something, it is the way of how we learn something new, keep eyes and ears wide and open all the

Language impacts how people interact on a regular basis. The African-American community during the Civil Rights movement acknowledged the gravitas of language; Vatterott, a Civil Rights activist, noted that racial equality is supported through speech and actions (Murray 27). James Baldwin and Walt Wolfram have two distinct methods, while sharing similar sentiment of how the movement interacted with language. Baldwin writes about how the black community has developed a language of their own. On the other hand, Wolfram addresses how Martin Luther King Jr. adapted his language to appeal to a variety of socioeconomic groups. While both authors succumb to the use literary fallacies, also they utilize rhetorical devices to enhance their

In our daily lives, we make slips of the tongue as well. Sometimes we realize

Language has gradually advanced over many millions of years. Slang has developed, and other cultures languages and quirks have made their way in, and it has become one. Language has a way of shaping our identities, and personal cultures. It brings us together, and sometimes it even makes us move apart.