Syme, a party member directly involved in the new language’s creation, proclaims that “the whole aim of Newspeak is to narrow the range of thought,” making unorthodox ideas “literally impossible” to even conceive (52). Since language is inextricably linked to ideas and thought, an orthodox language not only guarantees writing and speech that supports acceptable viewpoints but also keeps people from so much as thinking unacceptable thoughts. Similarly, Orwell contends that overly restricted language in modern English prevents people from questioning prevailing opinions or human rights abuses. “Politics and the English Language,” Orwell’s essay published shortly after World War II, explains how English has started to focus more on cobbling together a few pre-made phrases rather than carefully selecting which words best convey one’s intended meaning. This trend appears strikingly similar to Newspeak in some ways, as an overreliance on what Orwell
Syme, a party member directly involved in the new language’s creation, proclaims that “the whole aim of Newspeak is to narrow the range of thought,” making unorthodox ideas “literally impossible” to even conceive (52). Since language is inextricably linked to ideas and thought, an orthodox language not only guarantees writing and speech that supports acceptable viewpoints but also keeps people from so much as thinking unacceptable thoughts. Similarly, Orwell contends that overly restricted language in modern English prevents people from questioning prevailing opinions or human rights abuses. “Politics and the English Language,” Orwell’s essay published shortly after World War II, explains how English has started to focus more on cobbling together a few pre-made phrases rather than carefully selecting which words best convey one’s intended meaning. This trend appears strikingly similar to Newspeak in some ways, as an overreliance on what Orwell