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Carly Burns
Jared Grogan
ENG 1020
March 7, 2013
The English Language: Declining or Adapting?
“More has been screwed up on the battlefield and misunderstood in the Pentagon because
of a lack of understanding of the English language than any other single factor” (Lovely Quotes).
In “Politics and the English Language” George Orwell argues “Modern English, especially
written English, is full of bad habits which spread by imitation and which can be avoided if one
is willing to take the necessary trouble”. This argument is largely an evaluation of the decline of
the English language which creates meaningless and unnecessary words that leave the audience
confused, and a proposal for guidelines which would enrich and amend the English language, as
well as having pragmatic political consequences. Orwell primarily bases his argument on
common misuses of key techniques which account for vague writing, excerpts from various texts
which exemplify bad language and on comparisons between “good writing” and “modern
English”.
George Orwell criticizes what he terms bad writing in the English language. He argues
that bad language emerges from the imitation of bad habits and is therefore on a constant loop
that continuously repeats itself. He furthers that such bad habits can be mended if the individual
is willing to learn proper English techniques. Orwell uses five excerpts from various sources to
exemplify bad language. The five exerts include Professor Harold Laski’s “Essay in Freedom of
Expression”, Professor Lancelot Hogben’s “Interglossa”, Essay on psychology in Politics, a
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Communist Pamphlet and a reader’s Letter in Tribune. Orwell distinguishes these exerts as
lacking imagery and precision. He goes on to list several techniques used by each text resulting
in said bad language. He identifies dying metaphors, operators or verbal false limbs, pretension
distinction and meaningless words as a “catalogue of swindles and preservations” (Orwell). He
describes that such a catalogue is an apparent characteristic of modern English prose. Orwell
claims bad language is present in political writing. Mending the bad habits present in modern
English will inevitably have positive effects on society as a whole.
His evaluation largely hinges on the decline of modern English through the lack of
correctness. The following evaluation is central to this section as it introduces Orwell’s ideas and
thoughts in regards to the English language “This mixture of vagueness and sheer incompetence
is the most marked characteristic of modern English prose” (Orwell). Orwell indicates that
vagueness is the core of modern English, he furthers that this is established through two main
factors. The first factor is staleness of imagery, whereas the second deals with a lack of
precision. The combination of both factors leads to a loss of purpose with no clear message
presented for which the writer is indifferent. Orwell sums up his argument through examples
which are listed in his “catalogue of swindles and perversions”. The first example from said
“catalogue” is dying metaphors which Orwell describes as a technique that inhibits the individual
to formulate their own phrases. Instead the writer can choose from a list of pre-written phrases,
such as “fishing in troubled water”. However, the original intent of such metaphors have been
distorted from overuse which can render the message meaningless by confusing the audience.
Operators or verbal false limbs are another example used by Orwell, he states that this technique
allows the writer to add syllables to a sentence whereas a simple verb would communicate the
intent more effectively. For example, a writer using this technique may say “give rise to” even
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though “form” is just as effective. Orwell also uses the example of pretentious diction to convey
his opinion. Orwell states pretentious dictions are used to dress up a statement by using words
with scientific affiliation. Such words normally have Greek or Latin roots and account for the
lack of correctness of a statement, these words include “phenomena” and “liquidate”. In addition,
he includes meaningless words among this catalogue which is the addition of words which serve
no apparent purpose other than to deceive. For instance “freedom” or “democracy” are words
that have many interpretations and are left to the audience to interpret their exact meaning.
Through the use of this catalogue Orwell highlights how and why modern English has become so
vague and therefore has become bad language. Because of Orwell’s extensive background in
writing, his accreditation enables his argument to be effective and logical. He presents his
arguments in a clear and organized fashion with proper English which exemplifies a thorough
comprehension in writing techniques.
Orwell deepens his evaluation of modern English through its direct connection with
politics. Orwell argues “In our time it is broadly true that political writing is bad writing”, in
other words Orwell believes that politics are facing the same decline as modern English. Orwell
claims that politics are based on lies with the sole purpose to deceive. He supports this statement
through the following quote “the enemy of clear writing is insincerity”, Orwell’s point is to
highlight how a message becomes confusing to its audience. He relates this to politics by
comparing politicians to machines that are taught to unconsciously “spit out” political speeches.
Orwell terms such behavior as political conformity. In Orwell’s view “In our time, political
speech and writing are largely the defense of the indefensible”, basically he is stating one of the
major problems with politics present at the time of the article. When addressing certain issues,
politicians often use phraseology techniques to acknowledge an issue without the formation of
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mental images. Such issues are normally too brutal for the public to face and account for the
vagueness of politics. An example of insincerity deepened through the defense of the
indefensible can be surmised by the following “People are imprisoned for years without trial, or
shot in the back of the neck or sent to die of scurvy in Artic lumber camps” this phrase is then
translated into politics with the simple explanation of “elimination of unreliable elements”
(Orwell). Orwell accounts such phraseology for the decline of German, Russian and Italian
languages because of dictatorship. Orwell’s use of politics in modern English is effective in not
only laying out flaws in the political system but he is also able to effectively demonstrate a prime
example of bad language as well as communicate the consequences society will face as a result.
While Orwell spends a considerable time evaluating modern English, the argument is
also crafted to support the proposal of political regeneration. Orwell claims that any decline in
language inevitably has political and economic causes. He furthers that bad language may
ultimately become the cause of political decline. In a more general and simple phrasing Orwell
states “But if thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought”. Therefore if
society’s thoughts become nonsensical then by default the way in which we communicate will
also become nonsensical. Accordingly if language becomes distorted our thought process will
also suffer. However, Orwell argues that it is possible to rid ourselves of bad habits that lead to
bad language and ultimately unclear thoughts. If language is reestablished then the cycle defined
by Orwell will by consequence cure unclear thoughts. As discussed previously Orwell termed
political speeches and writings as unclear and vague. Orwell therefore proposes once language
has been mended and reestablished this will lead society into an era of political regeneration
where politics can once again triumph. Orwell uses the example of an alcoholic to demonstrate
how a cause can become an effect. An individual may drink as a result of frustration over
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feelings of defeat and inadequacy. However, over time he will continue to fail over his incessant
drinking patterns. Defined by Orwell’s cycle for rejuvenation the audience therefore expects that
if this individual were to stop drinking he will ultimately become a success. The analogy Orwell
uses to define his proposal for political regeneration is effective in the sense that this situation is
relatable to almost any audience because it is a common cause and effect illustration. However,
the audience is left skeptical over Orwell’s enthusiastic proposal. Orwell does define his ideas
quite effectively with the mere exception that if politics are indeed declining, reestablishment of
“good language” is just one small factor when the whole situation is being evaluated.
While Orwell proposes “good language” can lead to political regeneration, he also
proposes a guideline to help individuals achieve “good language”. Throughout Orwell’s essay he
makes it clear that bad language is characterized by vagueness and lack of precision. He notes
that the primary step one should take in achieving good language is to let “the meaning choose
the word, and not the other way around”. Orwell has indicated that before the writer puts any
words to paper he should first determine what his message is. He should think first of the
description of that message and then find the words that are necessary to describe it. Orwell
states that in doing so the writer will avoid all the follies stated earlier in his essay such as
prefabricated phrases. Finally, Orwell proposes that if all else fails his guidelines for proper
English should serve as a checklist for common mistakes. This guideline is comprised of six
rules including using short words, always cut out words if possible, use the active instead of
passive, do not use foreign or scientific words and finally never break any of the rules. Orwell
admits that such rules are elementary but if they are used correctly good language should be
achieved. However, this is not a guarantee. One can still write bad language although their texts
will be better structured and precise compared to the five excerpts Orwell presented at the
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beginning of his essay. The guideline presented by Orwell is a useful and helpful tool in
correcting “bad language” as defined by Orwell. This guideline is very basic and easy to follow,
however it has been nearly sixty years since Orwell wrote this piece and therefore some of his
ideas of bad writing do not apply as much as they used to and have subsequently been replaced
by other rules.
Orwell’s comparison of “good language” and modern language is an important rhetorical
technique that exemplifies his main argument. Orwell translates a verse from Ecclesiastes to
compare the two types of English languages discussed during his essay. Orwell’s main
comparison lies within the massage of each passage. During the translation into modern English,
the message is altered as a direct result of the use of the four techniques Orwell defines as bad
language. Orwell describes the first passage, otherwise known as the “good language” passage,
as being detailed in a specific manner through the use of everyday words. Whereas the second
passage utilizes scientific words and words of Greek and Latin origins. A comparison is a simple
yet effective approach to a rhetorical technique used to get the intended point across to the
audience. Through the use of comparisons a writer can ignite understanding. An idea that is
complex can be broken down to take on a more simple meaning. In Orwell’s essay it is quite
easy for the audience to become lost, especially for those who do not understand the difference
between the two styles of writing. Orwell utilizes this tool in an effective way and is able to
relate the major differences between the two passages in a clear and evident manner that is
understandable to any group of people. Take for example the first few words of the first passage
“I returned and saw the sun” and compare it to the second passage “Objective considerations of
contemporary phenomena” (Orwell). The difference between the two passages is apparent the
first is clear whereas the second is abstract.
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Albert Einstein’s infamous quote “I fear the day that technology will surpass our human
interactions. The world will have a generation of idiots” (Quotable Quote) expresses the same
ideas George Orwell claims in regards to the English language. In response to the argument by
George Orwell in the article “Politics and the English Language”, I make the case that the
problem brought forth by Orwell can be deepened through reshaping the main claim by
evaluating language as evolutionary through a direct response to societal trends. Social media is
one of the latest trends in today’s society which can be attributed to a decline in language skills
that has brought forth many negative consequences.
Contrary to Orwell’s belief, the English language has not suffered from any decline.
Instead it is more likely that language evolves and adapts while society evolves as well.
Throughout Orwell’s “Politics and the English Language” it is suggested that during the 1940’s
the English language has made a turn for the worse and will continue to decline unless the
problem is stopped in its tracks. Philosophers and writers have declared the English language is
suffering for centuries. Take for example Thomas Sprat’s “The History of the Royal Society”,
which is dated back to 1667. This piece illustrates Sprat’s belief that metaphors are tricks of
words that are ruining the clarity of language. Nearly two hundred years later Harry Thurston
Peck’s “What is Good English?” claims that the incorrect use of conventional word order
dominates the English language. Or perhaps more recently Dick Cavett’s “It's Only Language.”
exemplifies this continued cry of decline through the following quote “In these days of just about
enough perils facing our nation, there is plenty of evidence around to conclude that our grip on
our glorious language may be loosening” (Nordquist). These three writers as well as Orwell have
been claiming that the English language is continuously declining and will continue to decline. If
such a statement were true, then wouldn’t the English language continue to decline until
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individuals do not possess the knowledge or means to communicate? Does this imply that
humans will revert back to the way of cavemen with nicer technological devices? In a time
where more scientific discoveries are being made and the knowledge of the world continues to
grow such a statement proves to be false. Thomas Lounsbury, an American literary historian and
critic, explains how language is adaptive and debunks the theory of declining language:
“Neither the grammar nor the vocabulary of one age is precisely
the grammar or vocabulary of another. The language of a later
period may not vary much from the language of an earlier one, but
it will vary somewhat. It is not necessarily better or worse; it is
simply different” (Nordquist).
Through this quote, Lounsbury efficiently demonstrates how language is modified from
one generation to the next to cope with the changes society is facing. He does not claim,
for example, Elizabethan language to be any better than today’s modern language he
implies that they are simply different.
Social media has gained enormous popularity over the past decade and ultimately has
influenced society as a whole. Social media sites are interactive web based communities where
individuals connect, share and exchange information on an international scale (Social Media).
These popular internet communities include Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. Research
conducted at the Pew Research Center has concluded the popularity of these online communities
is attributed to the ability to reconnect with family and friends (Why are social media so
popular). Through social media a new type of “language” has emerged appropriately entitled
Internet language. This type of language is categorized by slang in which users attempt to
abbreviate words for quick use and ease of communication. There are several distinct classes
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used to identify Internet language, these include letter homophones, punctuation, smileys and
flaming (Internet slang). Although Internet language seems innocent and easy to use, it does
create bad habits which may eventually lead to poor linguistic skills among users.
Internet slang will not lead to the decline of language, however these bad tendencies may
ultimately lead to a decrease in the practice of language standards. Recent reports and studies
have demonstrated writing skills are negatively impacted through the use of internet slang. As
mentioned previously, there are several characteristics to Internet slang, however three of these
characteristics present troubling tendencies. Letter homophones are abbreviations or acronyms to
shorten the length of a word or phrase. An example would include “lol” which is an abbreviation
of the sentence laugh out loud. The second negative tendency involves punctuation where users
often use punctuation out of context or eliminate periods or commas to ease communication. A
common example would be the elimination of the apostrophe in the word “you’re”. This
example is perhaps the most frequent example of decreased language skill amongst users. And
finally the last bad habit includes flaming, which is the use of profane language between internet
users. Such language declines one’s ability to express themselves in a non-internet setting
(Internet slang). These tendencies are frequently used by the younger generation, especially
students, and attribute to poor language skills. As George Orwell explains in his article, bad
habits spread and expand through the use of imitation (Orwell). As a result these habits are
increasingly used in written work outside of the social networking system. Through the constant
neglect of proper English standards users often fail to apply the proper rules and connotations of
the English language when in a formal setting. However, it is essential to understand the root of
the problem does not lie solely on social media. In the educational system proper language
techniques are often overlooked in the attempt to focus more on science and math courses
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(Wilson). Nevertheless, social media’s influence on language skills has negative consequences
for individuals as well. This new type of language may ultimately create less intelligent, literate
and emotionally attached individuals.
Studies have demonstrated a correlation between language and intelligence. The Oxford
English Dictionary defines intelligence as the ability to understand concepts. Philosopher and
writer Benjamin Lee Whorf established the linguistic relativity which states language affects
thoughts and therefore intelligence. Many studies have been conducted through this branch of
thought and have been further developed since its conception in 1930. This theory has gained
recognition with many similar approaches that are also quite popular. The hypothesis of
linguistic relativity suggests the more articulate an individual is the more likely they have high
intelligence (Linguistic relativity). Therefore, through such theories it can be concluded that the
poor language skills picked up by users through social media sites may attribute to a “loss of
intelligence” or lower IQ scores. Researchers have found that children who use social
networking websites often present signs of distraction and shorter attention spans (Bloxham).
Statistics demonstrate that students who use sites such as Facebook while studying on average
obtain an overall grade of twenty percent lower than those who refrain (O’Dell). It can therefore
be concluded on average the use of social media has an overall negative impact on intelligence,
an individual’s ability to comprehend, which ultimately decreases a student’s GPA.
The decline in language skills directly influences one’s ability to comprehend literary
works. The Exceptional Learning Center argues language is at the root of literacy. An individual
is unable to read if they do not possess the proper tools to understand language (van Zon). Social
media does not destroy an individual’s ability to read, however it does decrease the ability to
properly comprehend what one is reading. This can be exemplified through a 2006 research
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which demonstrates that half of the adult Australian population has poor literary skills. This is in
direct response to Australian citizens also having poor grammar and linguistic skills due to lack
of proper education (Henry). Therefore it can be deduced that the decline in language skills
brought on by social media through the use of poor grammar generated by letter homophones
and misuse of punctuation can negatively impact one’s literary abilities.
Furthermore, social media’s impact on proper language standards decreases an
individual’s ability to adequately express feelings and thoughts. Some may argue that Facebook
and Twitter bring nations closer together, for example President Obama frequently uses Twitter
to communicate with American citizens. However, social media tends to promote unhealthy
social interactions. Social skills are now developing through social media sites with a decline of
face to face interactions. A research conducted by Courtney Turnball of Elon University has
found social networking sites allow for ease of communication at the expense of quality
(Brodie). This quality lacking from conversation often develops from increasing feelings and
thoughts of aggression and the loss of empathy. The use of flaming or profane language on
media sites decreases an individual’s ability to maintain healthy social interactions. Social media
increases the use of profane language because it promotes safety in which one can hide behind
their username to express thoughts which they would otherwise not speak. This loss of empathy
may lead to individual feeling detached to others when outside of social media sites. Thus,
preventing them from connecting with other individuals and making it harder to form lasting
friendships (Seiter). Ergo social media disrupts the formation of face to face interactions through
the promotion of profane and vulgar languages.
In conclusion, George Orwell’s “Politics and the English Langue” evaluates the decline
of modern English through the vagueness of written words and proposes guidelines to mend bad
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language techniques as well as having positive political effects. Orwell maintains his argument
through the use of characteristic examples of bad writing as well as comparing “good language”
to modern English. Orwell’s argument is outdated and can be deepened through evaluating
language as adaptive and no longer as declining. The recent trend of social media decreases
language skills that have many negative impacts on society. This argument can be well surmised
by Dr. Seuss’s “I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!” in which the following is written “The more
that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll
go” (Quotable Reading). Dr. Seuss exemplifies the importance of language and how the proper
use will ultimately lead to the success of every individual who applies their talents and
knowledge.
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