language & 1984

 " What is the role of language in Orwell's 1984? How is language used as a means of control over the general public in 1984? "

1984 by George Orwell is widely recognised as a literary masterpiece. The story is about Winston Smith, a man in his 30s trying to make his way and live in a totalitarian country. According to Britannica, Totalitarianism is a form of government that theoretically performs no individual freedom and that seeks to subordinate all aspects of individual life to the authority of state.

The story is set in Oceania, one of the 3 superpowers in the world. governed by the "big brother" also known as BB in newspeak. Orwell believed that totalitarianism and language were connected, one of the primary causes for writing this book. Newspeak was a language being introduced in Oceania. It aimed to limit communication between people and reduce the number of words in their vocabulary. From the book, here's an example. 'Good' and 'Bad' were 2 words with opposite meanings but according to the part members, bad isn't a necessary word. It can simply be replaced with 'ungood'. Instead of words like 'exquisite', the word can be replaced with 'plusgood', an appropriate substitute according to the party.

The language was modified and adjusted to fulfil big brother's political agenda. By limiting vocabulary, eventually, most words would go out of use - the BB wishes for words that could potentially promote rebellions, individual thinking and betrayal to go extinct. Such a move could make it impossible for humans to conceive thoughts that are disobedient to the government's agenda. There would eventually be no knowledge of disagreement, humans would forget such a thing existed. Connections to the theory of knowledge are made here. No language, no communication. Without communication, there is no shared knowledge and eventually, some amount of personal knowledge will cease to exist.

With no knowledge about the possibility of such thoughts, thoughtcrime would be a myth, helping big brother fulfil his ideological demands of Ingsoc. Thoughtcrime is punishable and forbidden in Oceania, Telescreens were presented in homes of party members, ministry buildings and even in public spaces to spy on people. Those who were caught doing thoughtcrimes were sent to labour camps or simple "vaporized".

But what kind of individual agenda does the big brother have that he goes as far as to manipulate language? The organic is replaced with the inorganic and controlled so much that there's even a separate committee to control and regulate sexual behaviours. Newspeak subjects people to psychological stimuli that overwhelm a person's mind capacity to individual thought. It is aided by "rewriting" history to make it seem like the government is right at all times and by telescreens broadcasting patriotic specials to convince the people of the "right way".