Language and Style in 1984 by George Orwell

LANGUAGE AND STYLE

We are going to talk about the language and style used in 1984. We studied 3 different aspects of this; firstly we studied the language and style that Orwell wrote the book in; secondly at the language and style in which some of the characters at the different parts of society speak in; and to finish the language created for the book: Newspeak.

I. George Orwell / NarratorЎЇs Language and Style

This novel is written in Orwell's typical style. That is to say in the 3rd person narrative and in a clear, lucid way. None of the words used in the novel are particularly complicated, this is due to two different things. Firstly, George Orwell was principally an essayist, he is considered to be one of the best English essayists of the 20th century, and he is known for his opinion that long words and complicated grammar structures are unnecessary for good prose. This meant that he preferred to write in a way that could be easily understood but was also very interesting. Moreover, there are very few examples of ÐŽopoeticalÐŽ± writing, that is to say figurative language such as metaphors or similes, which means that OrwellЎЇs ideas are presented as universal truths.

We can presume that Orwell wrote like this in order to make the book more accessible to the public and thus to be able to impose his opinions on as many people as possible. Secondly, as the story is told from Winston's point of view, we could hypothesise that the language and style used is the kind used by Winston when he thinks and talks. As well as its simplicity, neither the language nor style is particularly dated which helps the book to maintain its popularity.

TRANSITION: Next we are going to talk about the language and style of speaking used by the proles and the party members. The way the 2 main parts of the society in 1984 speak is very different and within the party itself we found 3 different types of speech belonging to the loyal outer party members, the party members who commit thoughtcrime and finally the inner party members.

II. Language and Style of Society

v Proles

The Proles speak using contractions and slang; they also have accents which could be seen as working class and donЎЇt use correct grammar; as can be seen on page 86: ÐŽoÐŽoÐŽoYes,ÐŽ± I says to ÐŽ®er, ÐŽothatЎЇs all very well,ÐŽ± I says. ÐŽoBut if youЎЇd of been in my place youЎЇd of done the same as what I done. ItЎЇs easy to criticise,ÐŽ± I says, ÐŽobut you ainЎЇt got the same problems as what I got.ÐŽ±ÐŽ±ÐŽ±. As well as this there are certain words such as ÐŽoguvЎЇnorÐŽ± on page 87 which show the Proles to be working class and uneducated.

As well as this almost all the words used to describe the Proles are negative; for example: ÐŽotwo monstrous womenÐŽ± and ÐŽocrudely lipsticked mouthsÐŽ± page 86. Winston, as the narrator, also speaks quite contemptuously of them when he talks about the songs they listen to saying ÐŽodrivelling songÐŽ± on page 227.

The only time Winston ever speaks about them really positively is when he talks about the woman singing on page 227 where he says, ÐŽo sheЎЇs beautifulÐŽ±. However when he says this he means that she is beautiful because she is unaffected by the party, in a way she is innocent compared to the Party Members. From this we can see WinstonЎЇs hate for the Party and also his nostalgia for the past.

So the main view given of the Proles is that they are completely hopeless and a horrible group of people which emphasises how unlikely WinstonЎЇs dream of them revolting is.

v Loyal Outer Party Members

In contrast to the Proles, the loyal party members speak using correct English, the only words they use which could be considered as slang are words used as propaganda such as ÐŽovictory ginÐŽ±. This shows that they are educated, at least compared to the proles. As well as this they refer to each other as ÐŽocomradeÐŽ± and talk very positively about things to do with the party, thereЎЇs an example on page 39: ÐŽoWe donЎЇt all have the privilege of fighting in the front line, but at least we can all keep fit. Remember our boys on the Malabar front! And the sailors on the Floating Fortresses! Just think what they have to put up with.ÐŽ±

All of this shows the PartyЎЇs control over its members as they are all taught to speak the same way and to support the Party without question.

v Party Members Who Commit Thoughtcrime

Next are the party members who commit thoughtcrime. They are Symes, Winston, Parsons and Julia. The main difference between their speech or writing and the loyal Party members is that they are a lot freer with how they talk which makes it seem as though they are covering up their real feelings.

Symes talks a lot about himself and his work, he shows his opinions as can be seen on page 53: ÐŽoÐŽoThe eleventh Edition is the definitive edition,ÐŽ± he said, ÐŽoWeЎЇre getting the language into its final shape©¤the shape itЎЇs going to have when nobody speaks anything else. When weЎЇve finished with it, people like you will have to learn it all over again.ÐŽ±ÐŽ±. As can be seen on page 54 he doesnЎЇt think about Big Brother as much or as positively as he is supposed to : ÐŽoÐŽoIt was B.BЎЇs idea originally, of course,ÐŽ± he added as an afterthought.ÐŽ±. He also seems more intelligent than the average party member, p56 ÐŽoBy 2050 ЁC earlier probably ЁC all real knowledge of Oldspeak will have disappeared. The whole literature of the past will have been destroyed. Chaucer, Shakespeare, Milton, Byron ЁC theyЎЇll 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 ÐŽofreedom is slaveryÐŽ± when the concept of freedom is 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 ЁC not needing to think. Orthodoxy is unconsciousness.ÐŽ±