George Orwell, "Politics and the English Language," 1946 CLAIM: The English language is misused...

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George Orwell, "Politics and the English Language," 1946 CLAIM: The English language is misused and in a bad state. by Mind Map: George Orwell, "Politics and the English Language," 1946  CLAIM:  The English language is misused and in a bad state.

1. Orwell believes that the mis-use of the English language has an economic affect in the way that messages get misconstrued and therefore can take on new meanings. One should say what they mean to say in as little words as possible.

1.1. Orwell feels that there are Economical Affect from the mis-use of the English language:

2. What effects does the mis-use of english have?

2.1. Political affects:

2.2. Economic affects:

3. Orwell feels that the English language is decaying. He states that it has become "Ugly and Inaccurate". Orwell indicates that the leading factors for the mis-use of the English language are:

3.1. Bad writers:

3.2. Orwell indicates that writers mis-use the English language because they may not know how to express their real intent or simply know what they want to say. Writers also mis-use the English language due to vagueness and incompetence, especially in Political writing.

3.3. Bad influences:

3.4. An example of bad influences would be excessive wording used to hide the truth instead of expressing it. Using meaningless words for no formal intent.

3.5. Bad habbits:

3.6. An example of bad habbits would be using a word or phase incorrectly. Simply using the word or phrase because you have heard someone else use it.

4. Orwell believes that the mis-use of the English language has an economic affect in the way that messages get misconstrued and therefore can take on new meanings. One should say what they mean to say in as little words as possible.

4.1. Orwell feels that there are Political Affects from the mis-use of the English language:

5. Orwell feels that we can correct the problems by:

5.1. Breaking bad habits:

5.2. Orwell believes that we can reverse the process and improve the English language by breaking bad habits. These habits spread by imitation and can be avoided if one is willing to take the necessary trouble. If one gets rid of these habits one can think more clearly.

5.3. Use precision:

5.4. Orwell believes that we can also correct this problem by using precision. Say what you want to say and do not add additional words. Be concrete and use clarity.

5.5. Rules to follow:

5.6. Orwell suggests that we should use the following rules as guidelines for using proper English: - 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 one 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. - Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.