Orwell’s Prophecy: How Newspeak has become Reality
Newspeak is a term coined by George Orwell in his prophetic novel 1984 to describe a fictional language designed to manipulate and control thoughts.
While real-world examples of Newspeak are not quite as extreme as depicted in the novel, there are instances where language is used in ways that can be seen as manipulative or Orwellian.
Here are some examples:
Politicians and governments often use euphemistic language to downplay or obscure the true nature of their actions or policies. For example, terms like ‘military operation’ instead of ‘invasion’ or ‘collateral damage’ instead of ‘civilian casualties’ can sanitise the reality of certain actions.
Similarly, during the COVID-19 pandemic, public health agencies opted for the term ‘contact tracing’ to elucidate the process of identifying and notifying individuals exposed to the virus, effectively sidestepping the negative connotations associated with the term ‘surveillance.’
In the business world, companies often use buzzwords and jargon to make their products or services sound more appealing than they actually are. Equally, companies often resort to the usage of terms like ‘downsizing’ or ‘rightsizing’ when, in reality, they are in the process of laying off or terminating employees.
This linguistic choice serves as a means to mitigate the negative connotations associated with the action. Moreover, AI is ‘streamlining processes’ and ‘freeing up workers’ rather than taking the jobs of millions of people.
On social media and the internet, people can manipulate language to control narratives. This can include using misleading hashtags, spreading fake news or employing euphemistic terms to downplay controversial issues.
While the term ‘fake news’ originally referred to intentionally fabricated news stories, the #fakenews hashtag has also been used to dismiss credible reporting and manipulate public opinion by labelling accurate information as false.
Some argue that the push for political correctness can sometimes lead to a form of Newspeak, where certain words or phrases are deemed unacceptable in a modern context, and people are encouraged or forced to use alternative, less precise language.
For example, the term ‘holiday tree’ is used instead of ‘Christmas tree’ to be more inclusive of various religious and cultural celebrations during the holiday season.
Governments and organisations often use catchy slogans or phrases to promote their agendas and manipulate public opinion. These slogans can oversimplify complex issues and limit critical thinking.
For example during the Brexit campaign in the UK, the slogan ‘Brexit Means Brexit’ was used to simplify a highly complex issue involving trade agreements, immigration and the future of the European Union.
Other notable examples include Trump’s press secretary Kellyanne Conway claiming in a postmodern way that ‘alternative facts’ — i.e. facts not backed by empirical evidence — are available, Russia’s purported ‘denazification’ of Ukraine, and China’s intentional UN distortion of the meaning of the term ‘human rights’.
While these examples may bear some resemblance to Newspeak, they are not generally as extreme or all-encompassing as the fictional language in George Orwell’s novel. Nevertheless, they highlight the power of language in shaping perception and controlling thought in modern society.
