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George Orwell, 1984, Book 1, Chapter 5
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“If thoughts can corrupt language, language can also corrupt thoughts.”
Orwell’s ideas about language
George Orwell thought that language was a powerful tool. The message that Orwell wanted to send in 1984 is that thought and language are inter-connected and interact in numerous ways. For Orwell, language is the basis of human thought because it structures and shapes the way we think and the way we see the world. It can also limit the ideas that we are capable of formulating and expressing.
According to Orwell, totalitarian regimes can use language to limit and restrict certain ideas : “If thoughts can corrupt language, language can also corrupt thoughts.” Without a word for “rebellion”, for instance, the concept of rebellion itself can no longer exist. Orwell believed that if a totalitarian government sought to manipulate its people, they could do so through language. Indeed, they could alter the very structure of language to make it impossible for people to conceive and adopt any disobedient thoughts and ideas, because there would be no words to express them
According to Orwell, totalitarian regimes can use language to limit and restrict certain ideas : “If thoughts can corrupt language, language can also corrupt thoughts.” Without a word for “rebellion”, for instance, the concept of rebellion itself can no longer exist. Orwell believed that if a totalitarian government sought to manipulate its people, they could do so through language. Indeed, they could alter the very structure of language to make it impossible for people to conceive and adopt any disobedient thoughts and ideas, because there would be no words to express them
What is Newspeak ?
The term "newspeak" was coined by George Orwell in his novel 1984. In Orwell's fictional totalitarian state, Newspeak was the official language promoted by the government (Big Brother). This fictional language was, in Orwell’s words, “designed to diminish the range of thought”. Indeed, Newspeak was characterized by the elimination of certain words and the excessive use of abbreviations.
Orwell also believed that early in the twentieth century abbreviations and acronyms were part of political language. It was especially widespread in totalitarian countries and organisations.
Orwell also believed that early in the twentieth century abbreviations and acronyms were part of political language. It was especially widespread in totalitarian countries and organisations.
The Purpose of Newspeak in 1984
In 1984, the government is constantly adapting and refining Newspeak by eliminating and replacing words. In chapter 5 book 1, Winston has lunch with a man named Syme. Syme has been working on a new revised Newspeak dictionary. In this chapter Syme explains that Newspeak is expected to replace Oldspeak (Standard English) around 2050. He explains the principles of Newspeak and says that it is the only language that regularly loses words in order to narrow the range of thought. Newspeak was designed to control – not to enhance – communication between people.
Newspeak : an example of linguistic determinism
Linguistic determinism is the idea that human knowledge and thought are determined and structured by language. In other words, thinking is influenced by the kind of language we speak and people who speak different languages as their native tongue, think differently. In George Orwell’s novel, Newspeak is a good example of linguistic determinism because it supports the assumption that if a language does not have a means to express certain ideas, its speakers cannot conceptualise them.
