Newspeak: Difference between revisions
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[[Newspeak]] is a [[Fictionary|fictive language]] invented by [[George Orwell]] for the novel ''[[Nineteen Eighty-Four]].'' Newspeak was the official language of Oceania, and the inhabitants of Oceania were 'encouraged' to think and converse in Newspeak. |
[[Newspeak]] is a [[Fictionary|fictive language]] invented by [[George Orwell]] for the novel ''[[Nineteen Eighty-Four]].'' Newspeak was the official language of Oceania, and the inhabitants of Oceania were 'encouraged' to think and converse in Newspeak. |
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The goal of Newspeak was essentially the reduction of vocabulary and destruction of words, especially synonyms and antonyms, and to render language instinctively euphemistic (if "good" already exists then "bad" will be abolished, instead replaced by "ungood"), so as to suppress any possibility of expressing rebellious thoughts against the party in the form of words. Based on [ |
The goal of Newspeak was essentially the reduction of vocabulary and destruction of words, especially synonyms and antonyms, and to render language instinctively euphemistic (if "good" already exists then "bad" will be abolished, instead replaced by "ungood"), so as to suppress any possibility of expressing rebellious thoughts against the party in the form of words. Based on [[wikipedia:Basic English#Rules|the rules of Basic English]] and the (now [[Language Equals Thought|discredited]]) strong form of the [[wikipedia:Sapir-Whorf hypothesis|Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis]] (the weak form is also controversial), it was intended to be a psychological and linguistic [[Restraining Bolt]] on the population of [[Airstrip One|Oceania]]. Its construction is similar to [[Esperanto]] (Ungood/Malbona) and other compounding languages (such as German). Contraction conventions from historical totalitarian regimes were also incorporated, resulting in words like "Ingsoc" which are similar in construction to "Comintern", "Nazi" and "Gestapo". Acronyms are used extensively. The Party predicted (or propagandized) that Newspeak would completely supplant English by 2050. Every edition of the Newspeak Dictionary was ''smaller'' than its predecessor. |
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Orwell provided [[Fictionary|an appendix]] discussing the features of the language in the novel. |
Orwell provided [[Fictionary|an appendix]] discussing the features of the language in the novel. |
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Neologisms that are based on Newspeak syntax but not coined by Orwell have also appeared, the most notable being ''[[Too Many Cooks|groupthink]]'' (describing a group thought process where everybody is going along with everybody else and no one is thinking rationally). [[Life Imitates Art|Frighteningly often]] such words are coined in political/media circles (and the [[Memetic Mutation|Internet]]). For instance, ''[[Double |
Neologisms that are based on Newspeak syntax but not coined by Orwell have also appeared, the most notable being ''[[Too Many Cooks|groupthink]]'' (describing a group thought process where everybody is going along with everybody else and no one is thinking rationally). [[Life Imitates Art|Frighteningly often]] such words are coined in political/media circles (and the [[Memetic Mutation|Internet]]). For instance, ''[[Double-Speak]]'' has retained its Orwellian connotations, even though [[Beam Me Up, Scotty|he never said it]]. |
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Some Orwellian phrases have been replaced by modern equivalents; ''bellyfeel'' never caught on, [[Perfectly Cromulent Word|despite the usefulness]] of a word to describe "that which is calculated to give a positive gut reaction", possibly because it sounds childish and begs to be used literally. The appearance of ''[[Stephen Colbert|truthiness]]'', which contains the same meaning (that Orwell intended, not [[In Universe|Ingsoc]]) and ''mouthfeel'' which ''does'' literally mean "[[Exactly What It Says On the Tin|how a piece of food feels in the diner's mouth]]" in the past decade have probably ended ''bellyfeel'''s chances. |
Some Orwellian phrases have been replaced by modern equivalents; ''bellyfeel'' never caught on, [[Perfectly Cromulent Word|despite the usefulness]] of a word to describe "that which is calculated to give a positive gut reaction", possibly because it sounds childish and begs to be used literally. The appearance of ''[[Stephen Colbert|truthiness]]'', which contains the same meaning (that Orwell intended, not [[In Universe|Ingsoc]]) and ''mouthfeel'' which ''does'' literally mean "[[Exactly What It Says On the Tin|how a piece of food feels in the diner's mouth]]" in the past decade have probably ended ''bellyfeel'''s chances. |
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* [[Orwellian Editor]] |
* [[Orwellian Editor]] |
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* [[Two Plus Torture Makes Five|Two Plus Torture = Five]] |
* [[Two Plus Torture Makes Five|Two Plus Torture = Five]] |
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* [[ |
* [[Written By the Winners]] |
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* Anthony Burgess plays with this as "Worker's English" (or WE) in his novel, ''1985'', written as a response to Orwell. |
* Anthony Burgess plays with this as "Worker's English" (or WE) in his novel, ''1985'', written as a response to Orwell. |
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* Ayn Rand's novella ''Anthem'' depicts a stagnant, collectivist future in which words like "I," "Me," "Mine," have been eliminated in favor of "We", "Us," and "Our." He/She has become "They." Other words have been eliminated as well, which the main character rediscovers from ancient texts. Rand's use of the basic concept even predates Orwell. |
* Ayn Rand's novella ''Anthem'' depicts a stagnant, collectivist future in which words like "I," "Me," "Mine," have been eliminated in favor of "We", "Us," and "Our." He/She has become "They." Other words have been eliminated as well, which the main character rediscovers from ancient texts. Rand's use of the basic concept even predates Orwell. |
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** Ironically, [ |
** Ironically, [[wikipedia:Singular they|the singular they]] has a long and proud history, according to those ancient texts. |
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** Also interestingly the main protagonist is called Equality 7-2521, the numbers being a common fear of a 'loss of identity' to the collective group. But when you think about it, the transhumanist philosopher FM-2030 makes a compelling argument than any other naming convention stems from collectivism itself, as you do not choose your own name and it will have very specific parameters - your name being grounded on your gender, your ethnicity, nationality, or even just something your parents were fond of - while a numbering convention would make sure that you are the only individual with such a name. |
** Also interestingly the main protagonist is called Equality 7-2521, the numbers being a common fear of a 'loss of identity' to the collective group. But when you think about it, the transhumanist philosopher FM-2030 makes a compelling argument than any other naming convention stems from collectivism itself, as you do not choose your own name and it will have very specific parameters - your name being grounded on your gender, your ethnicity, nationality, or even just something your parents were fond of - while a numbering convention would make sure that you are the only individual with such a name. |
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* ''[[This Perfect Day]]'' has language changed to make words like "fight" and "hate" be considered horrible cusswords, in hopes that the concepts would become anathema, if not exactly unthinkable. After all, if you don't know what hate and violence are, you can't be happy that UNICOMP keeps you free from them, can you? |
* ''[[This Perfect Day]]'' has language changed to make words like "fight" and "hate" be considered horrible cusswords, in hopes that the concepts would become anathema, if not exactly unthinkable. After all, if you don't know what hate and violence are, you can't be happy that UNICOMP keeps you free from them, can you? |
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== [[Web Original]] == |
== [[Web Original]] == |
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* ''[[Wikipedia]]''. ''[[Weasel Words|Some argue]]'' that this ''[[Fandom|notable]]'' [[MMORPG|free encyclopedia]] spawned enough of Newspeak to qualify as a separate dialect. More [[Google|research]] ([[Viewers are Morons|not to be confused]] with ''[[Dumb Is Good|Original Research]]'') is needed to [[All Blue Entry|tell]] whether [[Captain Obvious|it is so]]. |
* ''[[Wikipedia]]''. ''[[Weasel Words|Some argue]]'' that this ''[[Fandom|notable]]'' [[MMORPG|free encyclopedia]] spawned enough of Newspeak to qualify as a separate dialect. More [[Google|research]] ([[Viewers are Morons|not to be confused]] with ''[[Dumb Is Good|Original Research]]'') is needed to [[All Blue Entry|tell]] whether [[Captain Obvious|it is so]]. |
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** More 1984-ian: [http://www.google.com/search?safe=off&q=badsite+site%3Awikipedia.org badsite], [http://www.google.com/search?safe=off&q=wikilove+site%3Awikipedia.org wikilove], and now ''[ |
** More 1984-ian: [http://www.google.com/search?safe=off&q=badsite+site%3Awikipedia.org badsite], [http://www.google.com/search?safe=off&q=wikilove+site%3Awikipedia.org wikilove], and now ''[[wikipedia:Wikipedia:WikiCrime|WikiCrime]]''. |
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** [ |
** [[wikipedia:Wikipedia:1984|Speaking of which...]] |
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* [[All The Tropes Will Ruin Your Vocabulary|This very site]]. |
* [[All The Tropes Will Ruin Your Vocabulary|This very site]]. |
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** [http://forums.spacebattles.com/showthread.php?t=204013 More than one would think]. |
** [http://forums.spacebattles.com/showthread.php?t=204013 More than one would think]. |
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[[Category:index]] |
[[Category:index]] |
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[[Category:Newspeak]] |
[[Category:Newspeak]] |
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[[Category:Trope]] |
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