Politics and the English Language is an essay written by George Orwell in 1946 In it, Orwell examines how the English language, and by implication other languages, have been corrupted by politicians and the mass media to create a confusing and unexamined form of language which misleads and confuses the public. This, Orwell argues, has a profoundly negative impact on the capacity of people to think and have a meaningful exchange of ideas. The purpose of the essay is to demonstrate how language can be used to intentionally distort reality, making it difficult for people to form meaningful and accurate conclusions about their environment.
One of the most famous examples of political language manipulating people is “Newspeak”, a form of English language used in the novel 1984 by George Orwell. Newspeak was created by the totalitarian government in the novel in order to limit people’s ability to express subversive thoughts and opinions, by eliminating words with negative connotations. To this day, the term ‘Newspeak’ is used to describe language which is used for deliberately deceptive purposes.
Another example of the use of language to manipulate people is the use of spin. Spin refers to the practice of politicians, public relations professionals, and the mass media to present information in a way which is designed to influence the public’s perception of an issue. This is often done through the biased use of language with the intention of shaping public opinion.
A third example of using language to manipulate people is the use of euphemisms. Euphemisms are words or phrases which are used to make an unpleasant concept or situation more bearable. Politicians will often use euphemisms to describe difficult or unpleasant topics in a way which makes them seem more acceptable. For example, politicians may refer to ‘military intervention’ rather than ‘war’.
The fourth example is the use of propaganda. Propaganda is the deliberate and systematic spreading of information, ideas and beliefs to influence the opinions of others. Politicians, organizations and the mass media often use language in manipulative and deceptive ways to influence public opinion and behaviour.
The fifth example is the use of slogan and jingle. Slogans and jingles are short, memorable phrases which are designed to influence people’s opinions and actions. Political campaigns often use slogans to appeal to voters and to shape their attitudes and beliefs. Likewise, jingles are often used by businesses and organizations to influence people’s buying habits.
In conclusion, language, and particularly the English language, has long been used by politicians and organizations to deliberately manipulate and deceive people. The five best examples of how this has been done are: Newspeak, spin, euphemisms, propaganda and slogan and jingle.