Newspeak: Exploring the Language of 1984

Learning Targets I will be able to: Define the meaning of words/phrases as they are used in 1984 and Analyze their cumulative impact on theme/central message of the text. (Content) Detect logical fallacies as they arise. (Numeracy) Evaluate credibility and relevance and discern bias in information, ideas, and arguments (21 st Century Critical Thinking) Today, I will accomplish these goals by: Journaling about my beliefs about truth, meaning and language in response to art prompts. Discussing how language creates/distorts meaning. Creating my own Newspeak Dictionary. Why are these goals/activities important to your work in this course? Why are they relevant in the big picture of your life?

Summary Chapters 4 & 5 What happens? New characters? New Insights into existing characters? What is the feeling/mood of the text? What bothers/excites you while reading? Emerging ideas about theme?

Language Creates the Present/Past/Future in 1984 “Day by day and almost minute by minute the past was brought up to date… All history was a palimpsest, scraped clean and reinscribed exactly as often as was necessary.” (p. 40.)

Language Creates the Present/Past/Future in 1984 “We’re getting the language into its final shape– the shape it’s going to have when nobody speaks anything else. When we’re finished with it, people like you are going to have to learn it all over again. You think, I dare say, that our chief job is inventing new words. Not a bit of it! We’re destroying words, -- scores of them, hundreds of them, everyday. We’re cutting the language to the bone.” (Syme speaking of the Newspeak Dictionary 11 th Edition p ). Activity: With your shoulder partner, generate a list of all the curious terms/phrases involved in Newspeak (Focus on p ).

How does language create meaning? How does meaning create language? Object Concept Signifier CAT Experience Perception Convention Internal Reality External Reality

CAT

Newspeak What is Newspeak? What is it’s purpose? “A new language meant to provide a proper medium of expression for devotees of IngSoc… Once adopted, all divergent thought should be literally unthinkable.” (p.300) A Vocabulary: Words meant for everyday use ex: hit, run, dog, tree, house B Vocabulary: Words meant for political purposes Ex: goodthink meaning an “orthodox way of thinking” C Vocabulary: Technical terms existing in lists only for technical workers.

Creating Your Newspeak Dictionary Your Assignment:  Define & map 10 terms of your choosing in 1984  Goal/Purpose: To help you determine the theme of 1984 and evaluate outside texts for credibility and bias.  By End of Today: You will have completed at least 3 terms (2 together and 1 independently).  Add 1 term per reading assignment.  Final Dictionary Due 11/10. How is this assignment relevant to your final unit assessment?

Entry 1-Freedom 1.A,B, or C Vocabulary? 2.Reference(s) – p. 26, 53 3.Definition in 1984: 4.Definition in the “real” world: 5.Big Question(s)/Ideas: 6.Personal Relevance Freedom

Entry 2– Doublethink 1.A,B, or C Vocabulary? 2.Reference(s) – p. 3.Definition in 1984: 4.Definition in the “real” world: 5.BIG Questions/Uncertainties: 6.Personal Relevance

Entry ___– 1.A,B, or C Vocabulary? 2.Reference(s) – p. 3.Definition in 1984: 4.Definition in the “real” world: 5.BIG Questions/Uncertainties: 6.Personal Relevance Activity Closure: Now that you have completed 3 entries, what ideas about theme of 1984 have emerged? Will this activity help with your Contemporary Relevance Essay?

Closure ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS Is reality something we create? Or does it just exist? Is truth relative or absolute? What role does language play in creating reality, truth, and meaning? Is language an instrument that works to imprison us or set us free? Final Journal: Have your answers shifted/changed? How? Why? LEARNING TARGETS I will be able to: Define the meaning of words/phrases as they are used in 1984 and Analyze their cumulative impact on theme/central message of the text. (Content) Detect logical fallacies as they arise. (Numeracy) Evaluate credibility and relevance and discern bias in information, ideas, and arguments (21 st Century Critical Thinking)