The whole aim of Newspeak is to narrow the range of thought.

18. Newspeak

Newspeak was the official language of Oceania and had been devised to meet the ideological needs of Ingsoc, or English Socialism. In the year 1984 there was not as yet anyone who used Newspeak as his sole means of communication, either in speech or writing. The leading articles in The Times were written in it, but could only be carried out by a specialist. It was expected that Newspeak would have finally superseded Oldspeak (or Standard English) by about the year 2050. Meanwhile it gained ground steadily, all Party members tending to use Newspeak words and grammatical constructions more and more in their everyday speech.

It was intended that when Newspeak had been adopted once and for all and the Oldspeak forgotten, a heretical thought - that is, a thought diverging from the principles of Ingsoc - should be literally unthinkable, at least so far as thought is dependent on words. Its vocabulary was so constructed as to give exact and often very subtle expression to every meaning that a Party member could properly wish to express, while excluding all other meanings and also the possibility of arriving at them by indirect methods. This was done partly by the invention of new words, but chiefly by eliminating undesirable words and by stripping such words as remained of unorthodox meanings. To give a single example. The word free still existed in Newspeak, but it could only be used in such statements as "This dog is free from lice" or "this field is free from weeds." It could not be used in its old sense of "politically free" or "intellectually free", since political and intellectual freedom no longer existed even as concepts. and were therefore of necessity nameless. Newspeak words were divided into A vocabulary, B vocabulary and C vocabulary.

...All words grouping themselves round the concepts of liberty and equality, for instance, were contained in the single word crimethink, while all words grouping themselves round the concepts of objectivity and rationalism were contained in the single word oldthink. Greater precision would have been dangerous.

...So far as it could be contrived, everything that had or might have political significance of any kind was fitted into the B vocabulary. The name of every organization, or body of people, or doctrine, or country, or institution, or public building, was invariably cut down into the familiar shape; that is, a single easily pronounced word with the smallest number of syllables that would preserve the original derivation. In the Ministry of Truth, for example, the Records Department, in which Winston Smith worked, was called Recdep, the Fiction Department was called Ficdep, the Teleprogrammes Department was called Teledep, and so on. This was not done solely with the object of saving time. Even in the early decades of the twentieth century, telescoped words and phrases had been one of the characteristic features of political language; and it had been noticed that the tendency to use abbreviations of this kind was most marked in totalitarian countries and totalitarian organizations. Examples were such words as Nazi, Gestapo, Comintern, Inprecorr, Agitprop. In the beginning the practice had been adopted as it were instinctively, but in Newspeak it was used with a conscious purpose. It was perceived that in thus abbreviating a name one narrowed and subtly altered its meaning, by cutting out most of the associations that would otherwise cling to it. The words Communist International, for instance, call up a composite picture of universal human brotherhood, red flags, barricades, Karl Marx, and the Paris Commune. The word Comintern, on the other hand, suggests merely a tightly-knit organization and a well-defined body of doctrine. It refers to something almost as easily recognized, and as limited in purpose, as a chair or a table. Comintern is a word that can be uttered almost without taking thought, whereas Communist International is a phrase over which one is obliged to linger at least momentarily. In the same way, the associations called up by a word like Minitrue are fewer and more controllable than those called up by Ministry of Truth. This accounted not only for the habit of abbreviating whenever possible, but also for the almost exaggerated care that was taken to make every word easily pronounceable....

A person growing up with Newspeak as his sole language would no more know that equal had once had the secondary meaning of "politically equal", or that free had once meant "intellectually free", than for instance, a person who had never heard of chess would be aware of the secondary meanings attaching to queen and rook....

Winston's friend (actually comrade, people didn't have friends these days), Syme, worked in the RESEARCH DEPARTMENT of the Ministry of Truth. Syme, a specialist in Newspeak, was one of the enormous team of experts engaged in compiling the Eleventh Edition of the Newspeak Dictionary....

"The Eleventh Edition is the definitive edition," said Syme. "We're getting the language into its final shape - the shape it's going to have when nobody speaks anything else. You think our chief job is inventing new words. But not a bit of it! We're destroying words - scores of them, hundreds of them, every day. We're cutting the language down to the bone. In the final version of Newspeak there'll be nothing else. It's a beautiful thing, the destruction of words. The great wastage is in the verbs and adjectives, but there are hundreds of nouns that can be got rid of as well. It isn't only the synonyms; there are also the antonyms. After all what justification is there for a word which is simply the opposite of some other word? A word contains its opposite in itself. Take 'good', for instance. If you have a word like 'good', what need is there for a word like 'bad'? 'Ungood' will do just as well - better, because it's an exact opposite, which the other is not. Or again, if you want a stronger version of 'good', what sense is there in having a whole string of vague useless words like 'excellent' and 'splendid' and all the rest of them? 'Plusgood' covers the meaning; or 'doubleplusgood' if you want something stronger still. In the final version of Newspeak there'll be nothing else. The whole notion of goodness and badness will be covered by only six words - in reality, only one word.

"Don't you see that the whole aim of Newspeak is to narrow the range of thought? In the end we shall make thoughtcrime literally impossible, because there will be no words in which to express it. Every concept that can ever be needed, will be expressed by exactly one word, with its meaning rigidly defined and all its subsidiary meanings rubbed out and forgotten. Every year fewer and fewer words, and the range of consciousness always a little smaller. There's no reason or excuse for committing thoughtcrime. It's merely a question of self-discipline, reality-control. The Revolution will be complete when the language is perfect. Newspeak is Ingsoc and Ingsoc is Newspeak.

By the year 2050 - earlier probably - all real knowledge of Oldspeak will have disappeared. The whole literature of the past will have been destroyed. Chaucer, Shakespeare, Milton, Byron - they'll exist only in Newspeak versions, not merely changed into something different, but actually changed into something contradictory of what they used to be. Even the literature of The Party will change. Even the slogans will change. How could you have a slogan like "freedom is slavery" when the concept of freedom has been abolished? The whole climate of thought will be different. In fact there will be no thought, as we understand it now. Orthodoxy means not thinking - not needing to think. Orthodoxy is unconsciousness."...


Lost sequel to Orwell's "1984" discovered (Big Brother's been replaced with Big Moron; doublespeak has become nonsense speak). SpeciousReport, Aug 10, 2006

DESTROY LANGUAGE, DESTROY REBELLION (reader asks what Syme means about language completing the revolution)

Computers harm children's reading (more entertainment than education). Telegraph, Jan 9, 2006

DUCKSPEAKER BUSH (reader asks for duckspeak example) & Bush urges patience on Iraq war (no exit for 140,000 US troops). Boston Globe, June 29, 2005. Go to ORWELL EXPLAINS DUCKSPEAK

Reader invigorates discussion on: EURO ENGLISH MAYHEM which reminds Jackie Jura of: ORWELL RESISTS NU SPELING & ORWELL ON METRIC CONVERSION. Feb 21, 2005

COMMUNIST CAPITALIST ORWELL MOVIES

ORWELL'S INEZ SPOKE NEWSPEAK (reader wonders about Orwell's friend). Nov 19, 2004

Reader asks for doublethink examples: DUCKSPEAKING DOUBLETHINKERS

Reader points out that NEW YORK's numbers also add up to 666 (dialogue updated, updated)

Et tu, KC, can enjoy Bard's best (Heart of America Shakespeare Festival, whup-whup-whup of copter blades & spotlight shone on leading lady). KansasCityStar, Jun 16, 2004, Go to SHAKESPEARE IN BRAVE NEW WORLD

ORWELL DESCRIBED INTERNET (talking on telescreen in draft of 1984 was scratched out in final manuscript). May, 6, 2004

Email discussion about definition of words doublethink, newspeak and doublespeak

GULLIVER DESCRIBES ARTIFICIAL LEARNING (most ignorant person may write books). Apr 24, 2004. Go to 16.Minitrue

PIG TOYS TALE ANTI-EUROPE (they're "environmentally enriching manipulable materials"). CNN, Apr 13, 2004. Go to 22.Doublethink & ANIMAL FARM

Deaf signs politically incorrect (hook nose, limp wrist, slant eyes for Jew, gay, Chinese no more). Sydney Herald, Mar 25, 2004. Go to 16.Ministry of Truth & 27.Goodthink

METRIC MARTYRS (Britain's grocer who sold fruit & veggies by pound dies). BBC, Mar 16, 2004. Go to & ORWELL'S LOCAL PUB

CBC website bans 'Jew-Israel-Palestine' (allows 'Nazi-frog-masturbation-dyke-redneck-anti-Americanism-Arab-Christian-Hindu). National Post, Mar 12, 2004. Go to 16.Ministry of Truth (Lies) & 27.Goodthink & ZIONISM IN AMERICA

AN AMERICAN IN MONTREAL (says Orwell Today is disgruntled). Feb 23, 2004. Go to GET A LIFE, EH?

Comedian's puppet insults Quebec: ('So you're French & Canadian, yes? So you're obnoxious & dull. You're in North America -learn the language.' Gov't says 'vile-vicious-hatemongering'). Can News, Feb 14, 2004. Go to 27.Goodthink & FRENCHSPEAK IS NEWSPEAK & GET A LIFE, EH? & STUPID WHITE MEN NOT

Comedian's puppet insults Quebec: ("So you're French & Canadian, yes? So you're obnoxious & dull. You're in North America - learn the language." Gov't calls joke "vile and vicious"). Globe & Mail, Feb 14, 2004. Go to 18.Newspeak & FRENCHSPEAK IS NEWSPEAK & GET A LIFE, EH?

PIT BULL TERRIERISTS (not New Yorkies). National Post, Jan 14, 2004 & WOLVES IN WOLVES' CLOTHING

Big Brother Britain, 2004 (without any debate at all UK has highest level of cameras & gov't wants more cops). Independent, Jan 12, 2004. Go to 3.Surveillance & 20.Thought Police & ANIMAL FARM DOGS & 18.Newspeak (freedom no longer exists in UK- not even as a concept)

PLAN TO IMPROVE ENGLISH SPELLING, by Mark Twain. Go to TWAIN QUOTE NOT (reader sets the record straight)

PLAN TO IMPROVE ENGLISH SPELLING, by Mark Twain

AMERICA'S MORONS (dumb and dumber). Nov 16, 2003. Go to 10.The Rulers & FRENCHSPEAK IS NEWSPEAK

Ghetto lit the new genre (drugs-thugs-greed-sex… "B-more careful bad girlz"). Yahoo!AP, May 20, 2003. Go to 25.Prolefeed

Textbook case of political correctness ("Founding Fathers" now "Framers"; "snowman" now "snowperson"; "devil" removed - no replacement). Fox News, Apr 30, 2003. Go to 17.Falsification

"FRENCHSPEAK" is "NEWSPEAK" ~ Jackie Jura explains why ~

Frenchspeak forced on English (Canada ruled by Kaybec minority). National Post, Mar 12, 2003

Essay in phone-text shorthand (usd 2go2 NY 2C my bro). Telegraph, Mar 3, 2003 & Rewrite classic lit in text (2b or not 2b thats ?). BBC, Mar 3, 2003

Offensive opinions a 'thought-crime' (if UK courts get their way). Telegrah, Feb 18, 2003 Go to 21.Crimestop & 20.Thought Police

Schools ban word 'gun' (after parent complained). Ottawa Citizen, Feb 11, 2003. Go to ORWELL WAS ARMED

Miss Canada stripped of crown (made headlines at Miss World by leaving to avoid violence). Ottawa Citizen, Jan 22, 2003. Go to 27.Goodthink

Internet speech ban 'chilling' (targets differing opinions on abortion, homosexuality, holocaust etc). PC World, Dec 7, 2002

Word "homosexual" to disappear (to "protect" gays & lesbians). Independent, Nov 29, 2002

Teacher sent letters-to-editor (criticised homosexual behaviour, now accused of "hate-mongering"). National Post, Nov 25, 2002. Go to 5.Pyramidal New World Order & 27.Goodthink

Harvard to ban offensive speech (in violation of USA Constitution). Philly Inquirer, Nov 24, 2002. Go to 27.Goodthink

Writer jailed for "racist" comment (said hunters have same rights as blacks, Muslims & gays). Telegraph, Nov 20, 2002. Go to 27.Goodthink

Hate crime cops raid 150 homes ('suspected' of homophobia & racism). BBC, Nov 13, 2002. Go to 27.Goodthink

Harvard speech cancelled (poet has criticized Jews & Israel). Boston Globe, Nov 13, 2002. Go to 10.The Rulers

News dogs viciously attack butler (assassinating character to stop truth). Daily Mirror, Nov 11, 2002

Bookstores pull gun magazines (Chapters -Coles -SmithBooks -Indigo). Canada Press, Oct 31, 2002

EU gives convicts hardcore porn (right of expression & information). Aussie Age, Nov 11, 2002

but EU Council outlaws net speech (some ideas & theories are 'hate'). Wired News, Nov 11, 2002

Google censoring web content (gov't shutting politically incorrect but leaving hard-core porn). BBC News, Oct 28, 2002

Jail for insulting teachers, police (parents will lose benefits). London Telegraph, Sep 8, 2002

"Death to Israel" comment costs job (teacher baited in TV interview). Florida Herald, Sep 4, 2002
but allows"Abolish White Race" essay by Jew (published in Harvard Magazine). Washington Times, Sep 4, 2002

UN accuses Canada of racism (wants power to decide guilt). National Post, Aug 7, 2002. Go to 2.Big Brother

Facing jail for internet news articles (globalization of censorship). London Guardian, Jun 15, 2002

War posters plastered everywhere (warning Americans "not to talk"). National Post, Jun 6, 2002

Web sites dispense hate, lies (Jewish group accuses 3,300 sites). National Post, May 22, 2002

Inventor of 'Scruples' under fire (for believing women S/B proud of motherhood). National Post, May 7, 2002

Catholic Church joins in condemning Le Pen (the only anti-abortion candidate). The Australian, May 3, 2002.

2.6M teacher org will punish discrimination (to protect homo/bi-sexuals & transvestites). Newsday.com, Feb 9, 2002

Kremlin closes Russia's only independent TV station (same as Soviet era gov't control of airwaves). National Post, Jan 23, 2002

Canada's media owned by Israel Asper (editorials assigned at corporate headquarters). Toronto Star, Dec 20, 2001

Naughty children registered as potential criminals. London Telegraph, Nov 25, 2001

Teachers told not to preach against the war. London Telegraph, Nov 4, 2001

UCLA suspends librarian for 'electronic harassment' (he expressed a 'different' opinion via email). National Post, Oct 19, 2001. Go to TERRORIST means DISSIDENT

The war on dissent (Americans are sacrificing the very freedom they are defending. Globe & Mail, Oct 6, 2001.

More films altered, pulled, held back in wake of Sep 11 (Spielberg, Columbia Pictures, Jackie Chan, John Travolta, Warner Bros, Arnold Schwarzenegger etc). National Post, Sep 17, 2001

Schools teaching kids to be nice. National Post, Sep 8, 2001. Go to 27.Goodthink

Grocer guilty of refusing to sell in metric. National Post, April 10, 2001

Moulding children Oprah-Style. The Globe and Mail, March 31, 2001

Princeton ethics professor defends bestiality. Wall Street Journal, March 30, 2001

English an obstacle for dyslexics. Globe and Mail, March 16, 2001

Freedom of the press questioned. The Globe and Mail, March 13, 2001.

DOUBLESPEAK TODAY

EURO ENGLISH - AN ORWELLIAN JOKE, by Author Unknown

Jackie Jura
~ an independent researcher monitoring local, national and international events ~

email: orwelltoday@gmail.com
HOME PAGE
website: www.orwelltoday.com