The unmentionable expansion gets panned in PC Gamer - Page 4

Steeltrap · 10-18-06, 09:57 PM

To add to the 'debate' (it hardly merits such a tag, but I'm being kind) about written English, I shall defer to a master:

"Most people who bother with the matter at all would admit that the English language is in a bad way, but it is generally assumed that we cannot by conscious action do anything about it. Our civilization is decadent and our language — so the argument runs — must inevitably share in the general collapse. It follows that any struggle against the abuse of language is a sentimental archaism, like preferring candles to electric light or hansom cabs to aeroplanes. Underneath this lies the half-conscious belief that language is a natural growth and not an instrument which we shape for our own purposes.
Now, it is clear that the decline of a language must ultimately have political and economic causes: it is not due simply to the bad influence of this or that individual writer. But an effect can become a cause, reinforcing the original cause and producing the same effect in an intensified form, and so on indefinitely. A man may take to drink because he feels himself to be a failure, and then fail all the more completely because he drinks. It is rather the same thing that is happening to the English language. It becomes ugly and inaccurate because our thoughts are foolish, but the slovenliness of our language makes it easier for us to have foolish thoughts." (not in bold in original)

George Orwell, Politics and the English Language, 1946 (!!!)

For anyone interested, here's a link to the essay in full:

http://www.orwell.ru/library/essays/...nglish/e_polit

I am glad poor Eric doesn't have to see what has become of the language these days. I find the comment about foolish thoughts being linked with language extremely potent (find me a politician who says anything clearly and concisely these days....can anyone see us producing a person with the ability to motivate and make telling oratory such as Winston Churchill these days??), and there have been many thorough studies on the link between language and thoughts.

For those who will laugh at me and say I'm being a puritan, I simply point to the level of clarity, intelligence and fresh thinking to be found in today's politics, news and businesses (don't get me started on 'business-ese'). Are we better off for it? If so, how? If not, why is it the way it is? Think about that next time you want to express something.....

Ciao

10-18-06, 09:57 PM	#46
Steeltrap Grey Wolf Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 818 Downloads: 3 Uploads: 0	To add to the 'debate' (it hardly merits such a tag, but I'm being kind) about written English, I shall defer to a master: "Most people who bother with the matter at all would admit that the English language is in a bad way, but it is generally assumed that we cannot by conscious action do anything about it. Our civilization is decadent and our language — so the argument runs — must inevitably share in the general collapse. It follows that any struggle against the abuse of language is a sentimental archaism, like preferring candles to electric light or hansom cabs to aeroplanes. Underneath this lies the half-conscious belief that language is a natural growth and not an instrument which we shape for our own purposes. Now, it is clear that the decline of a language must ultimately have political and economic causes: it is not due simply to the bad influence of this or that individual writer. But an effect can become a cause, reinforcing the original cause and producing the same effect in an intensified form, and so on indefinitely. A man may take to drink because he feels himself to be a failure, and then fail all the more completely because he drinks. It is rather the same thing that is happening to the English language. It becomes ugly and inaccurate because our thoughts are foolish, but the slovenliness of our language makes it easier for us to have foolish thoughts." (not in bold in original) George Orwell, Politics and the English Language, 1946 (!!!) For anyone interested, here's a link to the essay in full: http://www.orwell.ru/library/essays/...nglish/e_polit I am glad poor Eric doesn't have to see what has become of the language these days. I find the comment about foolish thoughts being linked with language extremely potent (find me a politician who says anything clearly and concisely these days....can anyone see us producing a person with the ability to motivate and make telling oratory such as Winston Churchill these days??), and there have been many thorough studies on the link between language and thoughts. For those who will laugh at me and say I'm being a puritan, I simply point to the level of clarity, intelligence and fresh thinking to be found in today's politics, news and businesses (don't get me started on 'business-ese'). Are we better off for it? If so, how? If not, why is it the way it is? Think about that next time you want to express something..... Ciao