February 14, 2010
Heading Towards NewSpeak?
In 1984 by George Orwell, the society in his book speaks a language called “NewSpeak” where they make talking more efficient by limiting vocabulary. Are we, as a society, heading down the path towards Newspeak?
Vocabulary has lost its place among other prestigious characteristics in today’s society. Ads use mundane words, and former President Bush was well-liked for his “understandable” speeches, so characterized by their lack of pompous vocabulary. I note a serious lack of vocabulary usage and understanding as I teach my kids 7th grade math. Words like “increase,” “decrease,” and “compare” are now words that 7th grade students do not comprehend. ”Why say ‘increase’ when you can just say ‘goes up?’” complain my students. As we work towards solving word problems, we have learned to “translate” the harder words into words we can understand; and I wonder…am I really doing them a favor, or am I propelling the future generation towards Newpseak?
Case in point: This is a dialogue I heard between two students -
- S1: Man, that nigga so bad.
- S2: Whoa – he gone to prison?
- S1: No man – I mean he good bad, not bad bad.
The confusion between “good bad” and “bad bad” comes from using the word “bad” to describe both positive and negative situations. Next step: good vs. ungood?
What other words do you commonly use to express yourself that have a double meaning?
Are we heading towards Newspeak? Cast a vote!
gargoyle said,
February 18, 2010 at 7:21 am
if the goal is progression of the human race, i can’t imagine anything that limits communication based on socio-economic status (grammar / vocab) or geographic location (language) would be a good thing.
to improve communication and mutual understanding, one should seek to expand their lexicon (to understand) and speak using the simplest words possible (to be understood).
to use big words, despite your audiences questionable ability to understand them, shows you to be more enamored with hearing yourself speak than invested in the conversation.
of course, if you are a teacher and it if for your students edification..you might be off the hook.
wickedwitchoftheword said,
February 21, 2010 at 2:46 pm
Thanks for giving me a teacher-loop-hole
I agree that language needs to – has to, and should – evolve and change. My worry in watching my kids is that they are incapable of expressing themselves, their feelings, their thoughts. It often seems to me that they just don’t have the words, and so too often they remain silent.
I want them to be heard, understood, and respected – but they aren’t going to be viewed as those things if they don’t stop writing on bathroom walls in dry erase marker and learn how to wield language in a less ambiguous way.
Topher said,
February 22, 2010 at 7:25 pm
Oh, god! We are headed toward NewSpeak! The word cleave means its own opposite. So does Aloha. It must be the fault of the Hawaiians, which means Obama is going to usher in the new regime…
Seriously, though. I certainly sympathize with with the issue of whether to be understood or to push the discussion. I’m kind of dealing with the same thing at the other end of the spectrum. On the one hand, Heidegger uses very common words: truth, ground, history to mean very uncommon concepts (don’t ask me what he actually means, I’m still trying to work that out for myself). On the other hand, Alfred North Whitehead makes up his own words so you have to learn his language, but at least you don’t think you know what he’s talking about when you don’t.
A quick note on Heidegger: he gets so creative with his definitions that every time he translates a Greek poem (which he does often) it is accompanied with an editor’s note of what a more “traditional” translation would say.
Jim Morrison said,
March 22, 2010 at 1:49 am
‘Sick’ can mean bad or good.
I am starting to hear this more now.