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Summary
Language and Politics October 10, 2010 George Orwell, the author of Politics and the English Language presents the idea that the English language is deteriorating. The deterioration of the language is argued by many to be irreparable, and that language has a natural growth that cannot be shaped to the needs of the people. The author's opinion is stated as that the deterioration of the English language is credited to have “political and economic causes.” (Orwell 1) The downfall of the language is due to foolish thoughts, but the downfall itself makes foolish thoughts easier to think. Many of the bad habits developed by today's writers are lending weight to foolish thinking. The author argues that if these bad habits are removed, the writers can think freely, and freedom of thought is the first step towards political regeneration. A sign of the deterioration of language is the manner in which words are used has changed. Today, words can be used in a “consciously dishonest way” (Orwell 4) in that the writer is privy to their own definition of the word, and used to deceive the readers. Also, a certain amount of vagueness has become apparent in writing styles. There is a spread of vagueness and insincerity displayed in writing. Words are not chosen that demonstrate meaning, but rather pre-created phrases are chosen to give a vague description and understanding of the writer's ideas. These phrases can construct sentences for you, and to an extent, “think your thoughts for you,” and will “perform the important service of partially concealing your meaning even from yourself.” (Orwell 5) This is where the connection between politics and the corruption of the English language becomes clear. Political writing is also a very strong example of bad writing. Political speakers appear to be near machines; inhuman from the phraseology chosen. Considering that the speaker does not speak words he has chosen, but rather the pre-created phrases, the brain is not involved, and is almost unconscious of what is being said. “[T]his reduced state of consciousness,... is at any rate favourable to political conformity.”(Orwell 7) Political speech is largely to defend things normally seen as indefensible. Topics such as bombing communities can be justified by means of euphemistic and vague phrases, which stop imagery and comprehension. There is a solution presented as possible. It is identified that political chaos is directly connected to the deterioration of language. “Political language...is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind.” (Orwell 9) It is implied that if there was to be a movement of writers dedicated to restoring the English language, there could be improvement. If writers were to follow basic rules on effectively conveying meaning, many of the bad habits displayed in today's writing would disappear. Bibliography Orwell, George. "Politics and the English Language." New York: Harcourt, 1950. A Leap of Faith Robert Kendall, the poem's author, presents Faith resisting the logic that falls on and past it. Faith is expressed as being stronger than logic. Faith can resist the facts of logic and still endure. Logic is incapable of changing faith. The followers of faith disregards logic and continues to believe despite any evidence to contradict their beliefs. They ask if there is a balance in which there is no “or” between their beliefs in faith and acceptance of logic, where they do not face renouncing their faith. There is a possibility of this balance, yet the believers of faith continue to disregard logic, and cannot allow themselves to consider the possibility that there is no feasible evidence to support faith. Yet the believers of faith does come to the edges of the idea of logic to consider, but cannot find anything strong enough to renounce their faith for the evidence of logic. The believers then return back to unmovable faith, which is seen as endless possibility, and happiness. Faith is held immortal in this poem. There is only one way to justify the choice of belief over logic, and that is a leap of faith. Which, in turn, is faith itself. Faith descends to rest on top of the fallen words.