[Lexicog] Newspeak

[Fritz Goerling]

Orwell's novel "1984" described the use of a lexicon called "Newspeak"
that was designed to give the appearance of real content while actually
allowing the authorities to successfully lie and obfuscate.

Some examples:

Goodthink = Orthodoxy
Joycamp = Forced-labor camp
Ministry of Peace = Ministry of War


Contemporary misleading words (found on the Internet and abbreviated)

Affirmative Action
Implied : Action which is correct ("Affirmative" means correct, and "Action"
is normally good as well)
Actual : Preferential treatment for a particular minority group.

Change - This term is generally used to suggest that a particular idea is
good because it is newer. But, seldom are the effects of this "change" fully
examined. Newer is not always better. Remember
 Nazism was change. Communism
was change. Prohibition was change. 'Jim Crow' laws were change. Democracy
was change
. Ok, so sometimes change is good. But, when a politician asks
for 'change', one should consider whether or not the cure is really any
better than the disease.

Feminist
Implied - One who wishes to be more feminine, and wishes to protect feminine
ideas and custom.
Actual - One who wishes to be more masculine, and destroy differences
between the sexes.

Free Elections
Implied - The masses are free to choose any person they wish to run their
government.
Actual - The masses are free to choose between the two candidates we choose
for them.

Hateful Policies
Implied - Policies which spread 'hate'.
Actual - Policies written by people that we hate.

National security
Implied - The security of the nation.
Actual - The security of those in power.

Progressive
Implied - One who wishes to move his country forward.
Actual - One who wishes to move his country toward a state-socialism.

Can you mention other examples?

Fritz Goerling







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