Orwellian views on English language

According to George Orwell;

"Political language -- and with variations this is true of all political parties, from Conservatives to Anarchists -- is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind."

It is this political language that Orwell blames for the failings of the English Language. Combining "Politics and the English Language" and the lecture last Thursday, we can see how the use of this bad English is having a huge effect on the way that we speak and write. It is from political speeches and the unwillingness to state plainly what we mean that people are taking new ways of speaking and writing and employing them on the English language.

Orwell described major issues in the way language is used, describing three common faults:

1. Dying Metaphors - The use of metaphors that are either no longer relevant in the context in which they are used, or where the meaning of such metaphors is lost or not fully understood by the writer.
2. Verbal False Limbs - Using verbs in phrase, rather than using single verbs that could be used just as easily. Orwell uses the example of using the phrase "render inoperative" instead of simply saying "break".
3. Pretentious Diction - The use of words used purely to dress up simple statements and to give the writer a sense of self importance.

In my opinion, it is the use of pretentious diction that is easiest to spot being used in speech or writing. Sometimes, if not all time, you get a sense that the use of such words and phrases is merely an ego boosting opportunity, and that using this language gives the writer a sense of self worth and cultural importance.

Back at school we were always told to describe things in detail, but surely as Orwells work implies, we should get to the point as quickly as we can. Being on a journalism degree, this is even more important. Get the facts; who, when, where, what, and eventually why. There is simply no need to mess about describing something in ridiculous amounts of detail.

Orwell describes how the decline of good English has spread and become the convenient norm. He talks how effects can become a cause and a vicious circle can begin. He uses the analogy of a man turning to drink;

“A man may take to drink because he feels himself to be a failure, and then fail all the more completely because he drinks. It is rather the same thing that is happening to the English language. It becomes ugly and inaccurate because our thoughts are foolish, but the slovenliness of our language makes it easier for us to have foolish thoughts.”

Despite being written over 60 years ago, Orwells article is still relevant today. As a reader we accept all these little inaccuracies and sloppy language, but it is only when you contrast this unnecessary language with plain, straight to the point speech that you can really see how improper the English language has become.