Bad Language
The English language has deteriorated into a language of dying metaphors, verbal false limbs, pretentious diction and meaningless words according to George Orwell in an essay he wrote “Politics and the English Language” (1946). Orwell writes that ready- made phrases are at the heart of the connection between politics and the decline of the English language. Using these phrases, according to Orwell, take no effort, in fact, they somehow do the thinking for the writer, and help to almost conceal a writer’s meaning even from oneself (1946).
Orwell goes on to explain how today’s political writings are bad. Political speeches do not engage the speaker’s brain, especially if it is a speech that has been repeated over and over again. The speaker usually becomes unconscious of what he/she is saying and which Orwell believes, is a sign of “political conformity” (1946).
Perhaps with the evolution and betterment of society comes the improvement of the English language, but as Orwell points out “Our civilization is decadent” and so must be our language (1946). This decline in the English language can be reversed. Modern day written English is full of bad habits, which no doubt is spread by imitation. If people are willing to try to remove these bad habits from their writing, then as Orwell believes, people can begin to think more clearly, which in turn is a first step toward “political regeneration” (1946). If people have to stop and think of what they want to write about, and then, think about what are the best words to describe these things, then and only then, can the mind cut through all of the vague, stale and “prefabricated” phrases (Orwell 1946).
Language in Orwell’s terms, is a tool for expression, and should not be used to conceal or prevent one’s thoughts (1946). As Orwell determines in his essay, present day political chaos in turn, should be recognized, as connected to the decay of language (1946). Political language is meant to deceive, making lies sound like truth he concludes, but changes can be made to stop the decay by simply starting with one’s own habits (Orwell 1946).
It seems that a lot of the things Orwell is stating in his essay are true enough, somehow using big words and phrases should be left out of everyday speech and written English, however, there are a few phrases he mentioned that most people recognize instantly, such as “epic or historic” that do have a place in our society, among others and do not come off to me as “pretentious” (Orwell 1946). I think as long as there are classes and teachers to steer us away from the kind of writing Orwell has written about, the English language can improve and not decay into the gutter, so to speak.
