Politics and the English Language

[wistahpatsfan]

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

I read this in college and looked it up recently because I have always been concerned with how governments, religions and corporations have used language to manipulate people and modify their behavior. Indeed, the words for those three groups are a manipulation of sorts, as they are all part of the same thing and of each other. Give it a read and I'd be interested in your feedback on one of my pet peeves of our culture (humans, that is).

It is also an attempt on my part to modify my and your language use and to inject another point of view on how we conduct ourselves on this board.

Warning: It might change your understanding of how you view things, but don't blame me, I didn't write it!

[Mainefan]

This is wonderful stuff, Wistahpatsfan. George Orwell was quite a thinker and quite a writer as well.

William White's "Elements of Style," a very thin and very wonderful book about writing, perhaps the only book about writing really worth reading, deals with some of these problems. It will make a lucid writer out of almost anyone.

Other aspects of the problem are dealt with in studies about propaganda. I don't know of any books currently in print that adequately analyze propaganda, but the Institute for Propaganda Analysis at Columbia U. published a brief paper on the subject in 1938 that is highly relevant, even now. Try this URL: http:/www.vcsun.org/~ilene/secured_305text/propa.html.

[Harry Boy]

Didn't some "Whacko Pandering Politically Correct" educators want to introduce "EBONICS" into American classrooms a while back?

[wistahpatsfan]

Originally Posted by Harry Boy

Didn't some "Whacko Pandering Politically Correct" educators want to introduce "EBONICS" into American classrooms a while back?

Did you read the essay, Harry?

[wistahpatsfan]

Originally Posted by Mainefan

This is wonderful stuff, Wistahpatsfan. George Orwell was quite a thinker and quite a writer as well.

William White's "Elements of Style," a very thin and very wonderful book about writing, perhaps the only book about writing really worth reading, deals with some of these problems. It will make a lucid writer out of almost anyone.

Other aspects of the problem are dealt with in studies about propaganda. I don't know of any books currently in print that adequately analyze propaganda, but the Institute for Propaganda Analysis at Columbia U. published a brief paper on the subject in 1938 that is highly relevant, even now. Try this URL: http:/www.vcsun.org/~ilene/secured_305text/propa.html.

Is this what you meant? I went to your link but it was secured.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Elements_of_Style

[Mainefan]

No, I was talking about the propaganda analysis. This will get you there: http://tinyurl.com/obprm

[wistahpatsfan]

Originally Posted by Mainefan

No, I was talking about the propaganda analysis. This will get you there: http://tinyurl.com/obprm

Holy crap! This looks like the White House speech writers manual!

[IcyPatriot]

Great post Wistah...my pet peeve in college and I did a huge paper on it...5x more than the professor asked for...was the "Art of Listening".

I can prove 9/10 of the time that most people have no clue on how to really listen. If we could improve everyone in the worlds speaking and listening skills I am certain 1/2 of our problems would go away.

Anyways...I laughed at the list because I usually follow at least 3 of those...especially the 1st referring to using metaphors...a big no no here and #3 cutting words out. when i read my post over sometimes they disappear. .

[Harry Boy]

Originally Posted by wistahpatsfan

Did you read the essay, Harry?

I don't have to read essay's about Ebonics, I grew up with it.