Newspeak

[ozebaseball]

Hi guys,

Im only a new member but i have been glossing over the site for a month or so now. I am doing a thesis on the application of the ideas contained within '1984' to contemporary (Australian) society. The thesis has a focus on the role and manipulation of language in politics. Any examples of this you guys can provide me with (from each of your respective countries) would be greatly appeciated.

My topic was inspired by '1984' and it will play a prominent role in my composition. I am, at this point focusing on the role of the principles of 'Newspeak'. Some of the key areas of 'Newspeak' i have identified are the intentional contradictions (War is Peace etc), abbreviations (dehumanisation of words such as 'miniluv' which is the Ministry of Love), euphamisms, 'vaporised' as opposed to murdered and the role of censorship. Another concept i am attempting to investigate is the use of language to sustain a perpetual state of fear/war.

The intentional contradicitons in the text such as Ministry of Truth, Love, Peace and Plenty, would form of language feature would you classify them as, oxymorons, tautologies or simply contradicitons.

Any discussion of any part of this post is greatly appreciated.

[Squigy]

hello
i had thought that things such as the ministry of truth where twists instead of contradictions because it was the ministry for creating the truth and the ministry of love makes people love big brother just as never ending war creates peace

[6079 Smith, W]

Hello,

Try this website for Newspeak information: www.newspeakdictionary.com
I found it when searching for images on the '1984' latest film, its got a lot of information on your topic.
I hope I was of any help, but unfortunatly, like Winston, I am no expert of Newspeak, so you cannot discuss alot with me or get any information other than a website from me...you should ask Syme... :nod: :D ;)
Ok, enough of that. :blush: I wish you luck!
W.

[ozebaseball]

Thanks you were both of help. First up: Squigy, what about the Ministry of Plenty? The Ministry of Love breeds 'love for big brother' you say but i believe it merely breeds acceptance. War is war, if Oceania uses war to achieve social stability thats one thing, but i do not see this as peace at all. Whether the Ministry of Truth creates truth or not is merely subject to you definition of truth. I dont see it as truth as i believe what occurs is truth, regardless of where or how it is recorded/manipulated, even as in Oceania, no-one knows the truth, the truth remains the truth.

6079 Thanks for the site.

Thanks both for your input.

[6079 Smith, W]

;) You're most welcome! :nod: :D
W.

[Squigy]

but that’s what the book is about what big brother says is the truth because there is no other way of knowing that’s how they control people 'He who controls the past controls the future. He who controls the present controls the past'
and doesn’t O'Brian says as he’s breaking Winston 'no one leaves without completely loving big brother' or something of the kind that’s more than acceptance
war is about the enemy who is a threat there is no threat big brother controls everything and even if there are other countries they never invade their actual territory making the event a hole that will only sink the proles
ok so my argument sort of falls down with plenty but it works for love, peace and truth

[vrai]

I'm not sure whether or not this will be of help but have you considered the paradox in IngSoc. that for there to be peace they must have war, be it fictional or not. No other threat would hinder the population from realizing their own use of doublethink, Winston finially submits as you find his sudden interest in major news comming in from the front lines.
goodluck

[mirou]

hi i'm a tunisian girl (2nd year english studant) i read this book and i'm enjoying it ,i'll explain to you some rules of the new speak:
it's the official language of Oceania and has been devised to meet ideological needs of Ingsoc oe english socialism.the purpose of the new speak is not only to provide a medium of expression for the world-view and mental habits proper to devotees of Ingsoc,but to make all other methods of thoughts impossible and to make books which were written before the era of party unreadable.
this is done by the invention of new words ,but chiefly by eliminating undesirable words by stripping such words as remained of unorthodox meaning whatever.
it's devided in 3groups:
1) A-VOCABULARY:which consists of words needed in business and every day life.
2) B-VOCABULARY:consists of words which have been deliberately constructed for political purposes (they are also called compound words).example:-goodthink as a noun means very roughly orthodoxy. as verb:to think in good manner...many of the B-WORDS are euphemisms(mean opposit to what they appear to mean)example:Joycamp(forced labour camp);Minipax(ministry of peace in charge of the army).
3) C-VOCABULARY:consists of technical and scientific terms...

[Abberation]

The thesis has a focus on the role and manipulation of language in politics. Any examples of this you guys can provide me with (from each of your respective countries) would be greatly appeciated.

Dictionary of Republicanisms (http://www.thenation.com/doc/20051212/kvh)

[emily655321]

Dictionary of Republicanisms (http://www.thenation.com/doc/20051212/kvh)
I worry that giving examples of manipulations of language in our own countries draws too near to the subject of current politics. I don't mean to play policeman, but Abberation and Ozebaseball, since you're new, I thought perhaps you didn't know, but the discussion of current politics is against forum rules. Logos would have to fill you in on the specific boundaries that come into play when discussing Orwell, though, as I tend to avoid the situation altogether; the problem always arises sooner or later.

Cool. :cool: Onwards and upwards, kids.

[starrwriter]

I worry that giving examples of manipulations of language in our own countries draws too near to the subject of current politics. I don't mean to play policeman, but Abberation and Ozebaseball, since you're new, I thought perhaps you didn't know, but the discussion of current politics is against forum rules. Logos would have to fill you in on the specific boundaries that come into play when discussing Orwell, though, as I tend to avoid the situation altogether; the problem always arises sooner or later.


woman n. 1. Person who can be trusted to bear a child but can't be trusted to decide whether or not she wishes to have the child. 2. Person who must have all decisions regarding her reproductive functions made by men with whom she wouldn't want to have sex in the first place.

Now that's funny. And it's not really politics.

[emily655321]

Now that's funny. And it's not really politics.
:confused: Hijacking a newbie's thread to personally bash another member on a totally unrelated issue? Dude... not slick. Chill.

[Scheherazade]

Please try to stay within the topic of the thread and do not personalise your comments and discussions.