Next time I'll just say "explain yourself"

Jason Ingram · 31 Jul 2002, 01:03 · from urth-v0207.mbox · original

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From: Jason Ingram <j_ingram at mac.com>
Subject: Re: (urth) Next time I'll just say "explain yourself"
Date: Tue, 30 Jul 2002 18:03:18 -0700
Message-ID: <urth-v0207-1493 at digest.urth.net>
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I don't mean to butt in, but I think a third perspective might be=20
helpful . . .

The _concept_ of total linguistic replacement predates Orwell; the=20
positivists were interested in replacing ambiguous terms and locutions=20
with precise, scientific alternatives.  Their project had a basis in=20
Jeremy Bentham's argument for the replacement of emotional, biasing=20
terms with (purportedly) neutral, objective alternatives.   These=20
projects were not embodied in novels--and were accordingly imagined=20
differently than in Orwell--but they do seem to be "total."

At the same time, other cultures have attempted far less extreme forms=20
of linguistic control; France maintains an  institution that authorizes=20
new words for new inventions and generally attempts to preserve an=20
'official' French.  This certainly differs in degree from Newspeak, and=20
almost certainly differs in kind, but perhaps also describes a continuum.

Sepia

Josh and Andy argue:
>>>> Only in Orwell's 1984 (and arguably in some SF books written since=20
>>>> then)
>>>> does this concept of total linguistic replacement arise.
>
>>> Really?
>
>>> When was the last time you used the word 'nigger' in conversation?
>
>> Again, not relevant, though pithy.  Some words can be cut out, but=20
>> it's not
>> the same thing as the massive restructuring Orwell was diagramming

--=20

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