Language : A Political Instrument

“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.

In James Baldwin's “If Black English Isn't a Language, Then Tell Me, What Is?” and George Orwell’s “Politics and the English Language” it is evident that both of these authors have their own interpretations, and understanding of language as a political instrument. In spite of their differences they also have a few similarities. For Baldwin language was a powerful tool giving blacks a voice, allowing them to express their uniqueness and empowering them, whereas for Orwell believed that language controlled thinking and writing. Both of these authors had different perspectives towards the topic of language but the same desires when it came to expressing their perspectives. They both believed that the powerful could use language, to control the powerlessness.

In the civilized society that everyone lives in today, all languages and culture should be equal. That is the main idea in both Gloria Anzaldua’s essay, “How to Tame a Wild Tongue”, as well as James Baldwin’s “If Black English Isn’t a Language, Then Tell Me, What Is?”. The authors in both these texts support their argument in various ways, and in doing so, manages to effectively persuade their audience. The ways that each author approaches their argument is different in their appeals, evidence, and styles. Similarities also exist between the texts of the two authors. The rhetorical strategies that Anzaldua uses makes her argument much stronger than Baldwin’s argument.

James Baldwin discusses how Black English is a language of its own. Baldwin supports his claim by stating how there is more then one “general” language due to the region of where it’s spoken. He uses an examples such as, a French individual and how a person living in France cannot understand a person from Quebec even if their common language is French. He also uses history to support his claim by discussing how the Black English originated during the time of slavery. When slaves were brought over to America, these people came from different tribes; therefore, they did not speak the same language. Therefore, in order to survive during this time, the established their own language by using language as a tool to help them survive and eventually

The want to communicate with others is instinctual to all animals; communication is necessary to survive. As infants, humans coo, gurgle, and cry to communicate their immediate needs to their providers. However, the provider does not exactly know what their child needs, due to the child’s inability to explain their distress through words. As the child develops and learns to speak, this communication barrier is broken. Words, even in their most pure and basic form, are used for the sole purpose of expression. However, expressing oneself can have many goals and outcomes. In his treatise Rhetoric, Aristotle writes about using words to express one’s self for the sole purpose of persuading an audience. In his novel, 1984, George Orwell uses the

In “If Black English Isn’t a Language, Then Tell Me What Is” James Baldwin argues that black English provides a distinctive view of experience. Baldwin reveals the way language shapes and is formed by life’s circumstances. According to Baldwin, a language allows a group to define and express who they are from their own point of view, instead of having their reality expressed by another group. He used examples like how people in England talk makes sense to their own people and not everyone else to demonstrate his thought of why Black English is not recognized as a real language. Baldwin reveals how important a language either sets people apart or brings people together.

To begin with, Baldwin introduces his literary piece of writing in arguing that Black English should be considered a language. He goes on to say that Black English has heavily influenced the American culture and possibly would be different if Black English never existed. A language is an extension of one’s identity and the expression of who they are. By

The history of America was followed by awful times involving slavery, racial segregation and inequality of African Americans living in the United States. During this atrocious time period, many African Americans had hope in their lives of America being entitled as one united nation ignoring the color of skin. James Baldwin was one of many important figures during the Black Arts Movement (1960s -1970s). He wrote many influential essays and poems that impacted many people’s views on the history and hardships African Americans went through living in America. James Baldwin explains in his essay that black people in America have to accept the way of white people in their own views. Baldwin shows the reader what it is like to be a “negro” and what they have to go through everyday life in his essay. Through his own views he describes the negative history of blacks in a way of acceptance, hope and a vision for equality.

Most dystopian novels contain themes of corruption and oppression, therefore in both ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ and ‘Nineteen Eighty Four’ language is obviously used as a form of the states control, enabling dystopian leaders to remain in power by manipulating language to restrict free thought. Orwell and Atwood have utilized language as a key tool of oppression throughout their novels. The use of language is mostly repressive, language can also be seen as liberating, and used as an act of rebellion, which the state wishes to eliminate.

The English language is not something that is complicated. It is just something that needs to be practiced to perfection. Over a long period of time, it has slowly become something that is hard for people to understand. It is just as difficult for people today as it would have been one hundred years ago. Orwell makes this extremely clear in Politics and the English Language. Even though this was written in 1946, there are many points and arguments that still have relevance today. One of his main arguments is that the reason that this language has had an extreme downfall is because of politics and economics. He argues that political language has become dull and somewhat useless. To clarify his argument, he uses writings from two professors and

James Baldwin was an American novelist, essayist, playwright, and social critic. In the article ''If Black English Isn't a language then tell me what is?'' James Baldwin's asserts an argument as how Language is like the ID of people, it can identify, as well as define people. Due to the characteristics it has it can be defined as a persuasive essay. It attempts to persuade the readers to be on the writer's side, or accept their point of view. The article is about the history of black slavery will always be a boundary between black and white people, as it can never be forgotten. This significant essay was written in the 1970s. It talks about how language is not merely used for communication, it can be used to classify people with different social backgrounds and class. He used examples like how people in England talk make sense to their own people and not everyone else to demonstrate his thought of why Black English is not recognized as a real language. The reason is that Black English is creation of the black diaspora. In addition, he thinks that white man never meant to teach the Blacks English, the sole purpose of it was for the blacks to understand with the white people are saying so they can serve the white people. That is also the reason why he thinks black child are lost is that children can't be taught by people who despise them. I find it to be an interesting idea. He talked about the origin of black people going back to slavery. The inability to interact with each other made them create black English. Which was their own means of communication. I think that this article has a lot to say about the impact that language has on African American people and his positive approach is supported with strong historical evidence, and the authors anger behind this writing makes it stronger. However, the assumption about education makes the article weak.

Baldwin says, “The time has come to realize that the interracial drama acted out on the American continent has not only created a new black man, it has created a new white man, too. (Baldwin 449) Baldwin believed that the time has come for Americans to open their eyes to the world around them and learn to embrace the new cultures constantly growing to be apart of what makes up America. As an African-American in the 50s Baldwin especially felt how important it was for there to be and end to the separation of cultures and race in America.

In 1979, James Baldwin wrote, “If Black Isn’t a Language, Then Tell Me, What Is?” to further explore the idea of “black language” and how it is interpreted in our society today. Many believe that language is restricted to what is commonly taught in the education system. However, Baldwin argues that language may arise in a several types of dialect. Baldwin begins to prove his point by explaining to his readers that language can be developed in many different forms and how the different experiences may affect how you speak. Not only is language a way for people to communicate, but also “reveals the private identity, and connects on with, or divorces one from” the community. Even people that are involved in the same ethnic culture will speak the

George Orwell, the writer of many highly regarded literary works, is extremely interested in the power of language, mainly how it is abused. By analyzing two of his works, 1984 and Politics and The English Language, it is clear that Orwell is using his writing to bring awareness to the dangers of the manipulation, misuse, and decline of language. In 1984 he demonstrates how language can be used to control thought and manipulate the past. This is proven throughout the novel by examining the language of Newspeak and how it is key to controlling the totalitarian state, and how using language to alter and manipulate history can shape reality. In his essay Politics and the English Language Orwell

George Orwell’s essay, Politics and the English Language, first published in 1946, talks about some “bad habits”, which have driven the English language in the wrong direction, that is, away from communicating ideas. In his essay he quotes five passages, each from a different author, which embody the faults he is talking about. He lists dying metaphors, operators, pretentious diction, and meaningless words as things to look out for in your own writing and the writing of others (593-595). He talks about political uses of the English language. Our language has become ugly and the ugliness impedes upon communication. Ugly uses of language have been reinforced and passed down in the population “even among people who should and do know