Politics and the English Language
Educational

Politics and the English Language

George Orwell2013
'The great enemy of clear language is insincerity. When there is a gap between one's reals and one's declared aims, one turns as it were instinctively to long words and exhausted idioms, like a cuttlefish squirting out ink. In our age there is no such thing as 'keeping out of politics'. All issues are political issues, and politics itself is a mass of lies, evasions, folly, hatred and schizophrenia. When the general atmosphere is bad, language must suffer.'
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Reviews

Photo of damar sinatria
damar sinatria@damardo
5 stars
Jan 15, 2024

Tahu tentang Orwell sejak masih di sekolah menengah, sekarang baca Orwell untuk kebutuhan kerjaan. Terasa tidak masuk akal tulisan yang ditulis 75+ tahun lalu masih relevan di tahun 2024

+1
Photo of Fatin Allen
Fatin Allen@fatinallen
3 stars
Jan 10, 2022

I really like Orwell’s frankness in his critics towards the way English language in his time deteriorating which is also linked to the politics. I may have to tone down a bit my dumbness but I get his point, there are some that I agree and some not. Would love a reread! Curious if anyone had done a further research with more examples on what Orwell’s trying to demonstrate.

Photo of Euodias
Euodias@euodias
4 stars
Dec 8, 2021

4.5 Stars! It's a great read, very insightful and relevant. This actually made me question the way I speak and write.

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Jenny Ramsay@jenny
5 stars
Apr 26, 2025
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anjali@anjalislibrary
4 stars
Jul 8, 2024
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camie⁷ 𓂃⊹ ˚ ༘`✦@mydarlinggod
4 stars
Apr 24, 2024
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Amelia Lang @amylang
4 stars
Jan 7, 2024
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Maggie Gordon@maggieg
4 stars
Aug 13, 2022
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Ivan Zarea@ivaaan
2 stars
Jun 22, 2022
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priya@purpleflamingo
1 star
Feb 23, 2022
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Angelo Zinna@angelozinna
4 stars
Jan 28, 2022
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Allison Raines@sacredspheres
4 stars
Jan 27, 2022
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Lucía RG@awwsunshine
4 stars
Dec 29, 2021
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Pim P.@pimmw
5 stars
Nov 1, 2021
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Anna Talbot@sontagspdf
4 stars
Sep 20, 2021
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*emmie*@emmie
4 stars
Sep 16, 2021
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kayk@hel
5 stars
Sep 14, 2021
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Daniel Nieuwenhuizen@dan
5 stars
Jun 10, 2021