Abstract This paper applies the Orwellian term of doublespeak to modern politics and media. Specifically, the paper attempts to show ways of spotting doublespeak and other methods of deception used in speeches by using quotes from George W. Bush and major media outlets as subjects for analysis.
From the Paper "Anyone can use doublespeak, and more and more are. A person isn't cheating on a test they're just resourceful; they're not promiscuous, just a swinger. When a person is getting closer to death they are in their golden years. Doublespeak does not have to be used as a permission devise, it can also be used as a beneficial motivator. Parents can tell a child that they "got to take a bath," would the child want to "get to take bath too?" Here the child would see the bath as something that he is fortunate enough to enjoy, and not something forced upon him."
Tags: orwellian bush politics, war on terror, religious
Abstract This paper studies George Orwell's short story "Shooting an Elephant" and William Lutz's essay "Doublespeak" to determine whether an individual can be stronger than the society in which he or she lives. The paper chose these two works since both look at aspects of society that are sometimes difficult to comprehend. The paper summarizes that in "Shooting the Elephant", the character who hates the society that condemns another must ultimately conform to it in order to ensure his own survival. "Doublespeak" discusses how our society creates 'gobbledygook' for communication in order to cover up and confuse a myriad of societal issues. Asking what these works say about choice in our society, the paper asserts that we learn from them that choice is difficult, and sometimes impossible. The paper concludes that a society which provides few choices to its members is a society that will not survive.
From the Paper "In the end, it is true that most individuals can indeed be stronger than the society where they live. If society is oppressive, there are always those who will hope to change it. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Gandhi are two relatively modern day examples of individuals who have been stronger than the society that oppressed and condemned them. Are Luther and Gandhi so different from the rest of society? Perhaps. It is not hard to see that in these two works; society seems stronger than the participants in the drama. In Orwell's short story, the narrator despises the British imperialistic government, but when surrounded by an angry mob of natives (society), he realizes that he must do something he does not want to do, (shoot the elephant), or the mob will probably murder him. However, it is clear this man is weak because his biggest worry is that the mob will "laugh" at him. Thus, this narrator is not as strong as the society that surrounds him. Some people might be able to persuade the mob to come around to their way of thinking, but it seems the narrator is not that strong, and so, in this case anyway, the society is stronger than he is, and he must submit to society's wishes, rather than his own."
Tags: society, change, individual, choice, drama, social, issues, character
Abstract This paper examines the conflict a soldier faces between following orders and following morality; military code and personal responsibility for one's actions. The author discussed the Nuremberg trials, the Geneva Convention, and the My Lai massacre.
From the Paper:
"The most obvious party responsible for what the military does is the military itself. The people who actually carry out the violence of war and those who give the direct order to do so are most clearly responsible for the results. They bear the brunt of the physical evidence that war leaves behind. Members of the armed forces are also the most at risk to face the consequences of the violence they cause because of the conflicting beliefs they are asked to hold. The concepts of personal responsibility and superior orders constitute a type of ethical doublespeak that creates a moral dilemma for military personnel."
Tags: convention, geneva, lai, massacre, morality, nuremburg, soldier, trials, war
Abstract This paper is about the manipulation of history by the government in George Orwell's novel "1984," primarily through encouraging the people to force themselves to recall information that never actually occurred. This paper explores why it was crucial for the Party to manipulate history in order to control those under their command.
From the Paper "In '1984,' the people are subject to a type of control called doublethink, which allows the general population to accept contradictions that are presented to them by the Party. The source of the doublethink equation is found in the Minitrue (The Ministry of Truth), and through doublethink the Party is able to gain control of the minds of their people through getting themselves to doubt their own memories. Through this process, even historical events that are protected in the minds of the citizens are altered, and this therefore effectively changes history. The strategy of doublethink is therefore extremely beneficial for the Party, where the population is kept is what can be perceived as a continual state of confusion."
Abstract This paper cites an article about seven Asian nations working toward an agreement on lowering tariffs, and assesses the impact on Nike. The paper provides answers to questions regarding forecast method, stock price indicators, and doublespeak.
From the Paper "According to the April issue of BRIDGES Weekly seven Asian countries have decided to pursue a preliminary agreement on trade liberalization in industrial goods. The seven nations ..."
Tags: international trade, economics, tariffs, NAMA
Abstract This paper explains good and bad uses to which ambiguity in the English language are put. The author argues that there is a linkage between language ambiguity and ethics. The paper presents examples of linguistic ambiguity.
From the Paper "Ambiguity as a linguistic and rhetorical strategy can take a variety of forms as Empson shows in "Seven Types of Ambiguity". It is important to recognize that Empson's study does not necessarily exhaust the subject of linguistic ambiguity when he identifies seven ..."
