Tyja Braynen
A.P Summer Assignment
PART I
In Orwell’s essay he argues that the English language has become “ugly and inaccurate because our thoughts are foolish, but the slovenliness of our language makes it easier for us to have foolish thoughts.” The sources were from two professors, a Communist pamphlet, an essay on psychology in Politics, and a letter in the Tribune. Orwell said that “when the general atmosphere is bad, language must suffer.” Orwell acknowledges how “political speech and writing are largely the defense of the indefensible. This political language has to consist largely of euphemism, begging for questions, and uncertainty.
I see the misuse of language in philosophical problems. We do have the same problems today like worn-out descriptions and poor accuracy. Writers also show great difficulty in communicating effectively. He claims that a lot of the writing is uncertain and the true meanings are not expressed due to misuse of wording and phrasing. Orwell lists notes and examples on how to avoid this miscommunication in writing, and explains how the English language can be interpreted in many different ways, giving it new meanings, using a translation of a Bible verse as an example.
One of the terms Orwell uses is ‘meaningless words’. That means when you see and read a passage that is lacking in meaning.
Mixed metaphor- a metaphor that combines different images or ideas in a way that is foolish or illogical
Pretentious diction- attempting to impress by the choice of words]
Euphemism- a mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing
Parody- a humorous or satirical imitation of a serious piece of literature or writing
