Politics and Language

Virtually 100% Spotless Virtually: (adv) being in essence or in effect, but not in fact. Palmolive guarantees that it will not in fact get your dishes spotless.

(1967 poll) Do you approve of the recent decision to extend bombing raids in North Vietnam aimed at strategic supply depots around Hanoi and Haiphong? 65% approve

(1967 poll) Do you believe the U.S. should bomb Hanoi and Haiphong? 14% approve

U.S. Supporting El Salvadoran Death Squads During the 1980s, the Salvadoran military along with right-wing death squads terrorizing rural Salvadoran civilians during their fight against communist rebels. They believed that anyone working with the poor was being subversive and supporting the rebels. America was supporting the Salvadoran military when its soldiers killed three nuns and a missionary, Maura Clarke, Ita Ford, Dorothy Kazel and Jean Donovan. The evidence was irrefutable.

Foreign Policy Advisor Jeanne Kirkpatrick “The nuns were not just nuns. They were political activists.”

Secretary Alexander Haig I'd like to suggest to you that some of the investigations would lead one to believe that perhaps the vehicle the nuns were riding in may have tried to run a roadblock, or may accidentally have been perceived to have been doing so, and there'd been an exchange of fire and then perhaps those who inflicted the casualties sought to cover it up. And this could have been at a very low level of both competence and motivation in the context of the issue itself. But the facts on this are not clear enough for anyone to draw a definitive conclusion.

Senator Claiborne Pell Did you mean the nuns were firing at people, or what did you mean by an exchange of ‘gunfire’?

Thucydides-Peloponnesian Wars (c. 460 BC – c. 395 BC)

Interaction between political ideas and political language Unclear Language Unclear Ideas Unclear ideas result in unclear language use

Interaction between political ideas and political language Unclear Language Unclear Ideas Unclear language can also cause unclear ideas

Examples Euphemisms Jargon Bureaucratese Inflated Language

Speaker’s Goals Speaker’s goals and consciousness affect language 1. Sincere Goals 2. Unconscious Objectionable Goals 3. Conscious Objectionable Goals

Unclear Language Unclear Ideas Speaker 2. Unconscious Objectionable Goals 3. Conscious Objectionable Goals 1. Sincere Goals

Unclear Language Unclear Ideas Speaker 2. Unconscious Objectionable Goals 3. Conscious Objectionable Goals 1. Sincere GoalsClarity: meaning chooses words

Unclear Language Unclear Ideas Speaker 2. Unconscious Objectionable Goals 3. Conscious Objectionable Goals 1. Sincere Goals

Speaker is unconscious that she has objectionable goals Effect on Language: 1.Words chosen without regard for meaning 2.Words do not convey meaning (stale imagery, incompatible metaphors) 3.Words inflate the impression of communication

Unclear Language Unclear Ideas Speaker 2. Unconscious Objectionable Goals 3. Conscious Objectionable Goals 1. Sincere Goals

Speaker is conscious that she has objectionable goals Effect on Language: 1.Words chosen with regard for speaker’s intent 2.Words carefully chosen to conceal interests and goals 3.Words chosen at variance with real or purported interests and goals 4.Bad seems good, negative appears positive, unpleasant becomes attractive or tolerable

Unclear Language Unclear Ideas Speaker Effect of Speaker’s language upon audience Listener 1. Language corrupts thought (Orwell) 2. Powerless not aware of their objective interests (Gaventa) Society 1.Topics become socially settled. 2.Orthodoxy, restricted consciousness and unclear language 3.Limits ability to challenge powerful 1. Speaker’s consciousness affected

Doublespeak Language that pretends to communicate but really doesn’t. It is language that makes the bad seem good, the negative appear positive, the unpleasant appear attractive or at least tolerable. Doublespeak is language that avoids or shifts responsibility, language that is at variance with its real or purported meaning. It is language that conceals or prevents thought; rather than extending thought, doublespeak limits it.

Solution? = 4 The invasion of one’s mind by “ready made phrases can only be prevented if one is constantly on guard against them.”

Some thoughts What is the problem with unclear political language? Are there relatively harmless and also harmful aspects to unclear political language? How would you identify harmful political language? What does Orwell say is the best way to address unclear or deceptive political language? Can you think of specific steps you might take?