Orwell Questions

1. Orwell Questions • 1.What is Orwell saying about the STATE of language today? • 2.What exactly is wrong with language, according to him? • 3.What does he think language SHOULD be? • 4.HOW can language be fixed or improved?

2. Question 1 • Nicholas Rickhoff, Fernando Ruiz, Justin Roeder, Peter Cavazos, Tanner Nagel • Orwell writes that the state of language today is one of decay. He relates that the degradation of language is cyclical. “[Language] becomes ugly and inaccurate because our thoughts are foolish, but the slovenliness of our language makes it easier for use to have foolish thoughts.” While some may believe that the decline of proper language is inevitable Orwell argues the opposite. “The point is that the process is reversible.” The state of language, Orwell relates, is in decline but can be saved.

3. Question 2 • Gabriel Guajardo III, Andrew Badger, Xavier Tijerina, Nathan Garcia, and Jeremy Villapondo • 2. What exactly is wrong with language, according to him? • When George Orwell states that something is wrong with our language, he is referring to many different things. For instance, he expresses disdain for dying metaphors, which have lost their meaning over time. Orwell claims that dying metaphors have lost all evocative power, and gives writers the ability to stop thinking. If an author uses the phrase, “Achilles’ heel”, but does not understand its meaning he is taking away from the overall effect of the speech. Orwell also dislikes verbal false limbs, which he says saves the trouble of picking out appropriate verbs and nouns. Along with choosing prefabricated phrases that pad sentences and give the appearance of symmetry, Orwell dislikes that the passive voice is chosen over the active and weakens ones writing. Moreover, Orwell shows disdain for the use of pretentious diction, and vague language in general. Orwell shows his support for language, “as an instrument for expressing and not for concealing or perverting thought.”

4. Question 3 • Colt Pearson, Mick Prouse, Ryan McColley-Perez, Sean Lopez, Peter Early Orwell believes language should be more simplistic and less pretentious. He states that one should never begin to write a sentence until the idea is fully established and clear in his/hers mind. When thoughts are translated into words on paper, they should be able to convey what the author had in his/her mind accurately. That writing should also be truthful and not try and hide the true meaning of one's words.

5. Question 4 • Thomas Andry , Joseph Nava, Evan Butz, Chris Galindo, Alex Newman-Caro • Orwell lists 6 steps that could help our English language. These 6 steps are never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print, never use a long word where a short word will do, if it is possible to cut a word out always cut it out, never use the passive where you can use the active, never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent, and if you break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous. He also states that one should choose the phrases that will best cover the meaning, and then switch around and decide what impressions one’s words are likely to make on another person. This cuts out all stale or mixed images, all prefabricated phrases, needless repetitions, and vagueness in general.