Weaponized Words - Orwell Bonus Blog /// Bug Olsen

 

      As one of my favorite authors, Orwell has scarily discussed and predicted many of modern society’s problems throughout his popular works. In “Politics and the English Language”, Orwell discusses the importance of words and the meanings conveyed by them. When one begins to change what a word means, the foundations of language begin to shift as well, which opens the door for rulers to recreate words and their meanings to their liking. This is a prime concept in Orwell’s famous novel, 1984, where the ‘Ministry of Truth’ actually creates propaganda for the city. In modern times, people have so distorted the definition of truth that it has no weight anymore. The same applies to gender and race, which are now becoming subjective when they were never meant to be. Whoever is in control now has the power to direct language in the way that best suits them, and in the wrong hands can have disastrous consequences, especially when applied to freedom of speech. If a ruler is willing to change words and what they mean to suit his gain, it is only a few more steps away from completely changing the concept of freedom of speech in its entirety. Language is one of the foundations of a society, and the role it plays within it is vital to understand and maintain in order to sustain the quality of life and freedom of its citizens. The way that Orwell predicts it, not only in his time but for the future as well, is scary in its implications for society.

Comments

  1. Emma Kate PattersonApril 26, 2022 at 10:07 AM

    I think it is important that in reading text we understand what the words within the text mean because without understanding the meaning of the words we can never fully understand the work as a whole. Words and vocabulary are the base for all reading and text and that is why spelling and vocabulary is one of the first things kids learn when entering school.

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