ENGLISH LANGUAGE BY GORGE ORWELL

English Language written by Gorge Orwell in 1946



English Language written by Gorge Orwell in 1946

The Intro of the essay asserts the notion that the English language has been disfigured by the human race and is on the residual decline as a resultant. Mr. Orwell attributes this downfall to politics and economic causes but goes on to outline his remedy to correct what he refers to as a “reversible” process. George Orwell goes on to cite passages from several prominent essays and articles, concluding on the similarities in their staleness of imagery and lack of precision. He criticizes the passages, stating that the incompetence and vagueness of such political writings desecrates correct English prose- construction.

Orwell's Six Rules

1) Do not use metaphors that you are use to reading in other texts.

2) The use of an effective shorter word is better than longer inappropriate words.

3) If you can remove an extraneous word from a sentence, do so accordingly.

4) Abstain from the use of the passive tense when the active tense is available

5) Refrain from the use of scientific jargon, and foreign words if you can find the colloquial equivalent

6) Break these rules rather than saying anything completely monstrous.

The statement “In our age there is no such thing as 'keeping out of politics'. All issues are political issues…..” (Orwell, 2010, p156), is in many aspects very true and I agree with what Mr. Orwell has asserted. Politics in it broadest term can be defined as the process by which groups of people make decisions. Though this is often applied to behaviour within civil governments, it can be applied to many other situations including families, friendships, school, and businesses. The discussion, argument and voting seen in our Chamber of Commons can be applied to more domestic situations in our everyday lives. For example: the verbal submission of arguments about where the class should take their next field trip is a political discussion, used by some to convince their peers to support their idea. Or the argument to persuade your parents to change their ideology on the belief of the “reckless teenager” and allow you to take on responsibility in your life and go to parties (Rodden, 2009, Pp.98).

Though these forms of politics affect a very minuscule populace and hold very little importance to outside parties, they are none the less politics. One cannot deny the overwhelming presence of politics in our society and the effect of governmental politics in our everyday lives. It is so vast, that the discussion of any sort of morals or ideology will either be is some shape or form in agreement or disagreement with current political views. Whether it is the elegant wording of a presidential campaign speech or the trivial ramblings of a juvenile demanding more allowance, neither can escape the political realm in which we all exist.

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 ...