| As with so much else in George Orwell's novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, the idea for Newspeak evolved from the author's reading, rumination, and observations, set forth in earlier books, articles, and essays, on the political and intellectual tendencies of his age. Newspeak sharpens to a satirical focus these observations of Orwell and his concern about the deterioration of language and literature, not only in totalitarian societies but among Western intellectuals infected with totalitarian habits of thought. It also reflects Orwell's belief that language and politics are closely connected, and that while politics can adversely affect language, language itself, when persistently abused, can contribute to political decay. Through his description of the language of Oceania, Orwell provides us with a kind of model of totalitarian language. The major components of that model are (1) intent of the rulers to control thought and action through language, (2) exaltation of the state over the individual, (3) violence and vilification, (4) euphemism, (5) special political terminology, and (6) the failure of words to reflect reality. For the most part, this model accurately describes the language used by the Nazis and Communists, and for that reason among others, Orwell remains an author of considerable importance for political discussion. But contrary to what Nineteen Eighty-Four might lead us to believe, the abuse of language by historical totalitarian regimes has so far not enabled them to control the thought and behavior of their subjects--at least not to the extent achieved by Orwell's Oceanic regime. For when, as is inevitably the case, the words and deeds of totalitarian governments consistently fail to correspond--when official rhetoric and reality do not agree--many of the subjects grow sceptical and cynical. This gives rise to the phenomenon of counter-languages, in which private citizens attempt to portray life as it really is under dictatorial rule. |
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