The World of Doublespeak William Lutz

Discussion Director How does doublespeak affect our official language? How often is it misinterpreted by others? Will we be able to one day to distinguish the double standard?

Evidence Researcher “Doublespeak is a blanket term for language which pretends to communicate but doesn't, language which makes the bad seem good, and negative appear positive, the unpleasant attractive, or at least tolerable” (Lutz, 249). “… ‘Killing’. Instead, it would use the phrase ‘unlawful or arbitrary deprivation of life’” (Lutz, 249). “Serious doublespeak is highly strategic and, it breeds suspicion, cynicism, distrust, and ultimately, hostility” (Lutz, 252).

Key Word Indexer Communicate: Doublespeak: Denotation: language that can be understood in more than one way and that is used to trick or deceive people. Connotation: lies, meaningless. Search Terms: Doublespeak and political power. Incongruity: Denotation: Lacking in harmony; incompatible. Not in agreement, as with principles Not in keeping with what is correct, proper, or logical; inappropriate. Connotation: confusing, inconsistent, different Search Terms: Incongruity and communication. Euphemism: Denotation: a mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing. Connotation: nice way of mentioning something, delicate, nice. Search Terms: The contradictions of euphemism. Communicate: Denotation: share or exchange information, news, or ideas. Connotation: talk, passing or transmitting information. Search Terms: How do we communicate in society? Strategic: Denotation: relating to the identification of long-term or overall aims and interests and the means of achieving them. Connotation: method, system, way of doing things. Search Terms: Strategies in communication.

Comparer/Contraster Compare: Doublespeaking and Chunking Both forms of English to give things another meaning. Make English harder to understand.  Contrast: Doublespeaking: makes simple things not seem as bad by making them more articulate. Chunking takes phrases that make up a meaning. Ex: Hang in there

Summarizer It is important to know how to use resources and be educated to be able to identify doublespeak.

Work Cited Lutz, William. “The World of Doublespeak.” Language Awareness. Ed.11. Karen S. Henry, Elizabeth M. Schaaf. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2013. 248-258. Print.