George Orwell's Classic Essay ---- "Politics and the English Language"

[Red Terror]

Orwell writes:

I am going to translate a passage of good English into modern English of the worst sort. Here is a well-known verse from Ecclesiastes [9:11; King James version]:


I returned and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.

Here it is in modern English:


Objective considerations of contemporary phenomena compel the conclusion that success or failure in competitive activities exhibits no tendency to be commensurate with innate capacity, but that a considerable element of the unpredictable must invariably be taken into account.


https://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/orwell46.htm

My take: This essay is a must read --- especially for students. Read and digest this essay. Read, Pause and Reflect. Pretentious writing is no good. When you write, don't try to write as if you are so much smarter than the reader. Write in a friendly, clear manner.

[EvoWarrior5]

Hahahaha, I am not sure if I am the only one but that quote is incredibly amusing. Unfortunately I sometimes tend to look for more complex ways to formulate my arguments when I am writing essays or even occasionally online posts. I feel like I only do it for a part because it is "fancy", though: I do it partly because certain simple words just do not capture the exact meaning as well as more complex, lesser-known words. But also for a large part because an advanced register is kind of a must in academic writing.

After seeing this piece, I know that I will definitely read the full essay later. Curious what he has to say. Orwell is an admirable writer.

[Red Terror]

The original Bible quote is very poetic and superlative in every way to the modern English translation. I remember when I was younger I felt I had to write in this manner (as exemplified in the second passage) in order to " show off."



Hahahaha, I am not sure if I am the only one but that quote is incredibly amusing. Unfortunately I sometimes tend to look for more complex ways to formulate my arguments when I am writing essays or even occasionally online posts. I feel like I only do it for a part because it is "fancy", though: I do it partly because certain simple words just do not capture the exact meaning as well as more complex, lesser-known words. But also for a large part because an advanced register is kind of a must in academic writing.

After seeing this piece, I know that I will definitely read the full essay later. Curious what he has to say. Orwell is an admirable writer.

[tomfyhr]

The original Bible

Which Bible are you referring to? Are you referring to King James English translation of the Bible, which is the first acknowledged written translation of the Bible, at least to my knowledge?

[Red Terror]

There are two quotations above: the original and the translation. That's all I meant.

Which Bible are you referring to? Are you referring to King James English translation of the Bible, which is the first acknowledged written translation of the Bible, at least to my knowledge?