1. The imagery used by Orwell is wonderful. He shows his craftsmanship by first unveiling "dying metaphors" while interweaving his own creativity in metaphors and similes. His images were new, fresh, and helped to refresh the reader, knowing that new metaphors and similes are possible! Orwell writes, "an accumulation of stale phrases chokes him [the writer] like tea leaves blocking a sink." (p. 8) I laughed because he brilliantly used a simile to combat the idea that common phrases can be a hindrance to a writer. Orwell was not limited in his metaphors and similes, he comes up with many creative ways to make his point, right when the readers feel like there is no hope left for the English language.
2. The idea that "if thoughts corrupt language, language also corrupts thought," (p. 10) is fascinating. I agree with the concept of thoughts affecting language, because according to Chomsky and linguistics underlying each person's language, there is a innateness to that language. Everyone has the thought of language, meaning that our thoughts directly help to affect how or what we speak. We think about how to form sentences or what words apply to what we want to say.
The statement of language corrupting our thoughts shows that all what we hear, what we surround ourselves with, will affect what we think. This is a common thought of parents when they don't swear in front of their children. They don't want language to corrupt their children's thoughts. But, did the first language ever spoken automatically corrupt thoughts of the speakers? Or was it the decline of language that caused the corruption? If so, how can we believe that language has truly declined when really, language is always changing and adapting? Orwell says that we are untidy with our speech and that causes foolish thinking (p. 1), but according to social linguists, language changes because of social factors. So, perhaps it is the society in which we live that ultimately affects our speech and then our thoughts.
3. I enjoyed that after discussing lists in class, we were able to read a piece that incorporated lists. Lists are pleasant to the eye because they provide organization for the reader. Rather than writing multiple pages to prove one point, Orwell's lists give direct examples. I appreciated seeing this in his writing and knowing that lists are not part of why English is dying. Orwell made it a point to create a list for his readers so they could easily follow along. (Thus, my own list for this response!)
4. While reading, I realized I am at fault for the problems he sees with the English language. Unfortunately, the "jargon" he speaks of is common in my writing. I felt discouraged because Orwell is harsh and my words seem inadequate compared to his writing ability. Therefore, I have much work to do, but I know that there is hope! If he can successfully write, so can I! :)
Angela Payaban
You brought up some interesting questions in your second point. I have to wonder the same things. I agree with you and don't think language really "declines" but just evolves. And it makes sense that society is really the cause, because if someone hadn't picked up that new grammatical twist, or stretch of meaning, then we would never have heard it and then used it ourselves. Society also shapes how we think, which would in turn shape how we speak.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately for Orwell, I don't think this allows for any kind of "fix," be it slow or otherwise, haha.
Above post by Justyne Marin.
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