September /28 /2020
ᴡɪɴsᴛᴏɴ sᴍɪᴛʜ ɪs ᴀ ғɪᴄᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʀᴏᴛᴀɢᴏɴɪsᴛ ᴏғ ɢᴇᴏʀɢᴇ ᴏʀᴡᴇʟʟ’s 1949 ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ‘ɴɪɴᴇᴛᴇᴇɴ ᴇɪɢʜᴛʏ-ғᴏᴜʀ’. ʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀᴋs ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇᴄᴏʀᴅs sᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍɪɴɪsᴛʀʏ ᴏғ ᴛʀᴜᴛʜ ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ʜᴇ ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇs ʙɪɢ ʙʀᴏᴛʜᴇʀ’s ᴏʀᴅᴇʀs ᴀɴᴅ ᴘᴀʀᴛʏ ʀᴇᴄᴏʀᴅs sᴏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴍᴀᴛᴄʜ ɴᴇᴡ ᴅᴇᴠᴇʟᴏᴘᴍᴇɴᴛs. ʜᴇ ʜᴇʟᴘs ᴄᴏʀʀᴇᴄᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ғʟᴏᴡ ᴏғ ʜɪsᴛᴏʀʏ ᴛᴏ ᴇɴsᴜʀᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʙɪɢ ʙʀᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ɪs ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ sᴇᴇɴ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴍɪsᴛᴀᴋᴇɴ. ʙɪɢ ʙʀᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴄᴀɴ ᴏɴ ɴᴏ ᴏᴄᴄᴀsɪᴏɴ ʙᴇ ᴡʀᴏɴɢ ᴀɴᴅ ᴡɪɴsᴛᴏɴ ɪs ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴏɴᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴏᴜsᴀɴᴅs ᴡʜᴏ ᴡᴏʀᴋ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴏʀʀᴇᴄᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴀsᴛ ɪɴ ᴏʀᴅᴇʀ ᴛᴏ ᴋᴇᴇᴘ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ ɪɢɴᴏʀᴀɴᴛ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ʜɪsᴛᴏʀʏ.
“The most effective way to destroy people is to deny and obliterate their own understanding of their history.”
― George Orwell
ɪɴ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ғɪᴠᴇ, ᴡɪɴsᴛᴏɴ ʜᴀs ʟᴜɴᴄʜ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ ᴍᴀɴ ɴᴀᴍᴇᴅ sʏᴍᴇ, ᴀɴ ɪɴᴛᴇʟʟɪɢᴇɴᴛ ᴘᴀʀᴛʏ ᴍᴇᴍʙᴇʀ ᴡʜᴏ ᴡᴏʀᴋs ᴏɴ ᴀ ʀᴇᴠɪsᴇᴅ ᴅɪᴄᴛɪᴏɴᴀʀʏ ᴏғ ɴᴇᴡsᴘᴇᴀᴋ, ᴀ ᴄᴏɴᴛʀᴏʟʟᴇᴅ ʟᴀɴɢᴜᴀɢᴇ, ᴏғ ʀᴇsᴛʀɪᴄᴛᴇᴅ ɢʀᴀᴍᴍᴀʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴠᴏᴄᴀʙᴜʟᴀʀʏ, ᴍᴇᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʟɪᴍɪᴛ ғʀᴇᴇᴅᴏᴍ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛ. sʏᴍᴇ sᴀʏs ᴛᴏ ᴡɪɴsᴛᴏɴ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴜʀᴘᴏsᴇ ᴏғ ɴᴇᴡsᴘᴇᴀᴋ ɪs ᴛᴏ ɴᴀʀʀᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴀɴɢᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ᴘᴏssɪʙʟᴇ ɪɴ ᴏʀᴅᴇʀ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛᴄʀɪᴍᴇ, ᴀ ᴄʀɪᴍᴇ ᴀɢᴀɪɴsᴛ ᴛʜᴇ sᴛᴀᴛᴇ, ɪᴍᴘᴏssɪʙʟᴇ.
ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ sʜᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴇxɪsᴛ ɴᴏ ᴡᴏʀᴅs ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴀʀᴇ ᴄᴀᴘᴀʙʟᴇ ᴏғ ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴜɴɪᴄᴀᴛɪɴɢ ɪɴᴅᴇᴘᴇɴᴅᴇɴᴛ, ʀᴇʙᴇʟʟɪᴏᴜs ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛs. ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ɪғ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʀᴇ ᴀʙʟᴇ ᴛᴏ ɴᴜᴍʙ ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴀɴɢᴜᴀɢᴇ, ʏᴏᴜ ɪɴ ᴛᴜʀɴ ɴᴜᴍʙ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍɪɴᴅ. ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ᴄᴏʀʀᴜᴘᴛs ʟᴀɴɢᴜᴀɢᴇ, sᴏ ʟᴀɴɢᴜᴀɢᴇ ᴍᴜsᴛ ᴀʟsᴏ ʙᴇ ᴀʙʟᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴏʀʀᴜᴘᴛ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛ.
“If people cannot write well, they cannot think well, and if they cannot think well, others will do their thinking for them.”
ɪᴛ ɪs ɪᴍᴘᴏssɪʙʟᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴏɴᴄᴇɪᴠᴇ ᴏғ ʀᴇʙᴇʟʟɪᴏɴ ɪғ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴀʀᴇ ɴᴏ ᴍᴇᴀɴɪɴɢғᴜʟ ᴡᴏʀᴅs ᴛᴏ ɪʟʟᴜsᴛʀᴀᴛᴇ sᴜᴄʜ ᴀ ᴄᴀᴜsᴇ. ᴀɴᴅ sᴏ, ʙɪɢ ʙʀᴏᴛʜᴇʀ sᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴏɴᴛɪɴᴜᴀʟʟʏ ᴅɪᴍɪɴɪsʜ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴠᴀɪʟᴀʙʟᴇ ᴠᴏᴄᴀʙᴜʟᴀʀʏ ᴜɴᴛɪʟ ᴄᴏᴍᴘʀᴇʜᴇɴsɪᴠᴇ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛs ᴀʀᴇ ʀᴇᴅᴜᴄᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴇᴇᴋ ᴛᴇʀᴍs ᴏғ sɪᴍᴘʟɪsᴛɪᴄ ᴍᴇᴀɴɪɴɢ.
‘ᴘᴏʟɪᴛɪᴄs ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇɴɢʟɪsʜ ʟᴀɴɢᴜᴀɢᴇ’ ᴡᴀs ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴀ ᴄᴏᴜᴘʟᴇ ᴏғ ᴍᴏɴᴛʜs ʙᴇғᴏʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪᴄᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴏғ ‘ɴɪɴᴇᴛᴇᴇɴ ᴇɪɢʜᴛʏ-ғᴏᴜʀ’. ᴛʜɪs ᴇssᴀʏ ᴘʀᴏᴠɪᴅᴇs ɢʀᴇᴀᴛ ɪɴsɪɢʜᴛ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴏʀᴡᴇʟʟ’s ғᴇᴀʀs sᴜʀʀᴏᴜɴᴅɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴇᴄʟɪɴɪɴɢ sᴛᴀᴛᴇ ᴏғ ʟᴀɴɢᴜᴀɢᴇ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇɴɢʟɪsʜ sᴘᴇᴀᴋɪɴɢ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ, ғᴇᴀʀs ʜᴇ ᴇxᴘʀᴇssᴇᴅ sᴏ ʙᴏʟᴅʟʏ ɪɴ ‘ɴɪɴᴇᴛᴇᴇɴ ᴇɪɢʜᴛʏ-ғᴏᴜʀ’.
ɪ ғɪʀsᴛ ᴄᴀᴍᴇ ᴀᴄʀᴏss ɢᴇᴏʀɢᴇ ᴏʀᴡᴇʟʟ’s ᴇssᴀʏ ‘ᴘᴏʟɪᴛɪᴄs ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇɴɢʟɪsʜ ʟᴀɴɢᴜᴀɢᴇ’ ᴍᴀɴʏ ʏᴇᴀʀs ᴀɢᴏ ᴀɴᴅ ɪ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴛʀɪᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴜsᴇ ɪᴛ ᴀs ᴀ ɢᴜɪᴅᴇ ғᴏʀ ᴍʏ ᴡʀɪᴛɪɴɢ, ʀᴇғᴇʀʀɪɴɢ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴛᴏ ɪᴛ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ sᴏ ᴏғᴛᴇɴ ᴡʜᴇɴ ɪ ғᴇᴀʀ ɪ ᴀᴍ ʟᴏsɪɴɢ ᴍʏ ᴡᴀʏ.
ᴛʜᴇ ᴇssᴀʏ ᴏᴘᴇɴs ᴡɪᴛʜ, “ᴍᴏsᴛ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ ᴡʜᴏ ʙᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴀᴛᴛᴇʀ ᴀᴛ ᴀʟʟ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴀᴅᴍɪᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇɴɢʟɪsʜ ʟᴀɴɢᴜᴀɢᴇ ɪs ɪɴ ᴀ ʙᴀᴅ ᴡᴀʏ, ʙᴜᴛ ɪᴛ ɪs ɢᴇɴᴇʀᴀʟʟʏ ᴀssᴜᴍᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴇ ᴄᴀɴɴᴏᴛ ʙʏ ᴄᴏɴsᴄɪᴏᴜs ᴀᴄᴛɪᴏɴ ᴅᴏ ᴀɴʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ɪᴛ.” ᴏʀᴡᴇʟʟ, ɪɴ ʜɪs ᴜsᴜᴀʟ ᴄᴀʟᴍ ᴀɴᴅ ᴍᴇᴀsᴜʀᴇᴅ ᴡᴀʏ, sʜᴀʀᴇs ʜɪs ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛs ᴏɴ ʜᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴅᴇʀɴ ᴡʀɪᴛᴇʀ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ʜᴇʟᴘ ᴛᴏ ɪᴍᴘʀᴏᴠᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ɢᴇɴᴇʀᴀʟ sᴛᴀᴛᴇ ᴏғ ʟᴀɴɢᴜᴀɢᴇ. ʜᴇ ʟɪsᴛs sɪx ʀᴜʟᴇs ғᴏʀ ᴡʀɪᴛɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʜᴇ ʙᴇʟɪᴇᴠᴇs ᴡɪʟʟ ᴀɪᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ғɪɢʜᴛ ᴀɢᴀɪɴsᴛ ʀᴇsᴛʀɪᴄᴛɪᴠᴇ ʟᴀɴɢᴜᴀɢᴇ:
“(i) Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.
(ii) Never use a long word where a short one will do.
(iii) If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.
(iv) Never use the passive where you can use the active.
(v) Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.
(vi) Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.”
ɴᴏᴛɪᴄᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀᴅs ‘ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ’ ᴀɴᴅ ‘ᴀʟᴡᴀʏs’, sᴜɢɢᴇsᴛɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇsᴇ ʀᴜʟᴇs ᴀʀᴇ ᴀʙsᴏʟᴜᴛᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴍᴜsᴛ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ʙᴇ ʙʀᴏᴋᴇɴ. ʙᴜᴛ, ᴏʀᴡᴇʟʟ ʜɪᴍsᴇʟғ ᴅɪᴅ ɴᴏᴛ ᴏʙᴇʏ ᴛʜᴇᴍ. ‘ᴘᴏʟɪᴛɪᴄs ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇɴɢʟɪsʜ ʟᴀɴɢᴜᴀɢᴇ’ ɪs ʀɪᴅᴅʟᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴀssɪᴠᴇ ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴍᴀɴʏ ᴜɴɴᴇᴄᴇssᴀʀʏ ᴡᴏʀᴅs. ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪsᴛᴇᴅ ʀᴜʟᴇs ᴀʀᴇ ᴀɴ ɪᴍᴘᴏssɪʙʟᴇ sᴛᴀɴᴅᴀʀᴅ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴏʀᴡᴇʟʟ ᴋɴᴇᴡ ᴛʜɪs ʜɪᴍsᴇʟғ.
ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇssᴀʏ ᴡᴀs ɴᴏᴛ ᴛᴏ ɪɴᴛʀᴏᴅᴜᴄᴇ ᴀ ʟɪsᴛ ᴏғ sᴛʀɪᴄᴛ ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴀɴᴅᴍᴇɴᴛs, ʙᴜᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴇɴᴄᴏᴜʀᴀɢᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡʀɪᴛᴇʀ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜɪɴᴋ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ʜᴏᴡ ᴀɴᴅ ᴡʜʏ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴀʀᴇ ᴜsɪɴɢ ᴡᴏʀᴅs. ᴛʜᴇ ᴡʀɪᴛᴇʀ sʜᴏᴜʟᴅ ʙᴇ ᴄᴏɴsᴛᴀɴᴛʟʏ ǫᴜᴇsᴛɪᴏɴɪɴɢ ᴡʜᴇᴛʜᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀᴅs ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴡʀɪᴛᴇ ᴀʀᴇ ᴄʟᴇᴀʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴡᴏʀᴛʜᴡʜɪʟᴇ. ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴜʀᴘᴏsᴇ ᴏғ ʟᴀɴɢᴜᴀɢᴇ ɪs ғᴏʀ ᴇxᴘʀᴇssɪᴏɴ, ʀᴀᴛʜᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀɴ ᴄᴏɴᴄᴇᴀʟᴍᴇɴᴛ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴏɴᴇ’s ᴛʀᴜᴛʜ.
“A scrupulous writer, in every sentence that he writes, will ask himself at least four questions, thus:
- What am I trying to say?
- What words will express it?
- What image or idiom will make it clearer?
- Is this image fresh enough to have an effect?
And he will probably ask himself two more: - Could I put it more shortly?
- Have I said anything that is avoidably ugly?
ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ᴡᴏʀᴅ ᴏʀᴡᴇʟʟ ᴡʀᴏᴛᴇ, ᴘᴀʀᴛɪᴄᴜʟᴀʀʟʏ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴀᴛᴇ 1930s ᴀɴᴅ 40s, ᴡᴀs ᴜsᴇᴅ ᴀs ᴀ ᴡᴇᴀᴘᴏɴ ᴀɢᴀɪɴsᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡɪᴄᴋᴇᴅ ғᴏʀᴄᴇ ᴏғ ʜɪs ᴀɢᴇ, ɴᴀᴍᴇʟʏ ᴛᴏᴛᴀʟɪᴛᴀʀɪᴀɴɪsᴍ. ᴛʜɪs ᴡᴀs ʜɪs ʟɪғᴇ’s ᴘᴜʀᴘᴏsᴇ — ᴛᴏ ᴅᴇғᴇɴᴅ ʟᴀɴɢᴜᴀɢᴇ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴏsᴇ ᴡʜᴏ ᴡɪsʜ ᴛᴏ ‘ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ʟɪᴇs sᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴛʀᴜᴛʜғᴜʟ ᴀɴᴅ ᴍᴜʀᴅᴇʀ ʀᴇsᴘᴇᴄᴛᴀʙʟᴇ’.
ʟᴀɴɢᴜᴀɢᴇ ɪɴ ʙʀɪᴛᴀɪɴ, ᴏʀᴡᴇʟʟ ᴡʀᴏᴛᴇ, ᴡᴀs sʟᴏᴘᴘʏ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ’s ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛs ᴡᴇʀᴇ sʟᴏᴘᴘʏ. ᴛʜᴇ ғɪʀsᴛ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ ᴡᴀʀ ʟᴇғᴛ ʙʀɪᴛᴀɪɴ ɪɴ ᴀ sᴛᴀᴛᴇ ᴏғ sʜᴇʟʟ sʜᴏᴄᴋ, ᴀᴍɴᴇsɪᴀ, ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴏᴘᴇʟᴇssɴᴇss. ᴛʜᴇ ʙʀɪᴛɪsʜ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ɴᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴅᴇᴄᴀᴅᴇɴᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴏᴛᴛᴇɴ, ᴀɴ ᴇᴍᴘᴛʏ sʜᴀᴅᴏᴡ ᴏғ ɪᴛs ғᴏʀᴍᴇʀ sᴇʟғ. ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴏɴᴄᴇ ᴀ ᴘʀᴏᴜᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ᴜᴘʀɪɢʜᴛ ᴄᴜʟᴛᴜʀᴇ ᴡᴀs ɴᴏᴡ ʜᴜɴᴄʜᴇᴅ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴀ ʙᴀʏᴏɴᴇᴛ. ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs sᴜᴘᴘᴏsᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇɴɢʟɪsʜ ʟᴀɴɢᴜᴀɢᴇ ᴍᴜsᴛ ғᴏʟʟᴏᴡ ᴀʟsᴏ.
ʙᴜᴛ, ᴏʀᴡᴇʟʟ ᴅɪᴅ ɴᴏᴛ ʙᴇʟɪᴇᴠᴇ ᴛʜɪs ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ sᴏ. ʟᴀɴɢᴜᴀɢᴇ, ᴏʀᴡᴇʟʟ ᴡʀᴏᴛᴇ, ɪs ɴᴏᴛ ᴀ ɴᴀᴛᴜʀᴀʟ ɢʀᴏᴡᴛʜ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪs ʙᴏᴜɴᴅ ʙʏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏɴᴅɪᴛɪᴏɴs ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛɪᴍᴇ. ɪɴsᴛᴇᴀᴅ, ɪᴛ ɪs ᴀɴ ɪɴsᴛʀᴜᴍᴇɴᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴇ ᴀʀᴇ ᴀʙʟᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴜsᴇ ғᴏʀ ᴏᴜʀ ᴏᴡɴ ᴘᴜʀᴘᴏsᴇs.
“A man may drink because he feels himself to be a failure, and then fail all the more so because he drinks.”
ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴀᴅ ʜᴀʙɪᴛs ᴄᴀᴜsᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴏᴜʀ ғᴏᴏʟɪsʜ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛs ᴄᴀɴ ʙᴇ ʀᴇᴍᴏᴠᴇᴅ, ᴘʀᴏᴅᴜᴄɪɴɢ ᴘᴜʀᴇʀ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛs ᴀɴᴅ, ɪɴ ᴛᴜʀɴ, ᴘᴜʀᴇʀ ʟᴀɴɢᴜᴀɢᴇ. ᴏʀᴡᴇʟʟ ᴀʀɢᴜᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴇᴄʟɪɴᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇɴɢʟɪsʜ ʟᴀɴɢᴜᴀɢᴇ ɪs ʀᴇᴠᴇʀsɪʙʟᴇ ᴏɴʟʏ ɪғ ᴡᴇ ᴀʀᴇ ᴀᴡᴀʀᴇ ᴏғ ᴏᴜʀ ᴄᴏʀʀᴜᴘᴛ ᴡᴀʏs. ᴏʀᴡᴇʟʟ’s sɪx ʀᴜʟᴇs ᴅᴇᴍᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡʀɪᴛᴇʀ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴀᴡᴀʀᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴄʀᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ sᴇɴᴛᴇɴᴄᴇs ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ᴛʜᴇʏ ʜɪɢʜʟɪɢʜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴀʙɪᴛs ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴘʀᴇᴠᴇɴᴛ ᴄʟᴇᴀʀ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛ.
ʜᴇ ᴄᴏɴᴛɪɴᴜᴇs ʜɪs ᴀʀɢᴜᴍᴇɴᴛ ʙʏ ʟᴀʏɪɴɢ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴀ ᴄᴏᴜᴘʟᴇ ᴏғ ᴇxᴀᴍᴘʟᴇs. ʜᴇʀᴇ ɪs ᴀ ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴀʀɪsᴏɴ ʙᴇᴛᴡᴇᴇɴ ɢᴏᴏᴅ ᴇɴɢʟɪsʜ ᴀɴᴅ ʙᴀᴅ ᴇɴɢʟɪsʜ:
“I returned and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.”
ᴛʜɪs ᴘᴀssᴀɢᴇ ᴜsᴇs ᴄᴏᴍᴘʀᴇssᴇᴅ, sʜᴏʀᴛ, ᴀɴɢʟᴏ-sᴀxᴏɴ ᴡᴏʀᴅs ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴏɴᴇ ᴄᴀɴ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀsᴛᴀɴᴅ. ɪᴛ ɪs ᴀ sʟɪɢʜᴛʟʏ ᴅᴀᴛᴇᴅ ᴇxᴀᴍᴘʟᴇ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴇᴀɴɪɴɢ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ɪɴᴛᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴ ʀᴇᴍᴀɪɴs ᴄʟᴇᴀʀ. ᴛʜᴇ ɪᴍᴀɢᴇs ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴀssᴀɢᴇ ᴘᴏʀᴛʀᴀʏs ᴀʀᴇ ᴠɪᴠɪᴅ, ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴀʟʟᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍɪɴᴅ ᴄʟᴇᴀʀ ᴘɪᴄᴛᴜʀᴇs ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴜᴛʜᴏʀ’s ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛs ᴀɴᴅ ᴘᴜʀᴘᴏsᴇ.
“Objective considerations of contemporary phenomena compel the conclusion that success or failure in competitive activities exhibits no tendency to be commensurate with innate capacity, but that a considerable element of the unpredictable must invariably be taken into account.”
ᴏʀᴡᴇʟʟ ʜɪᴍsᴇʟғ ᴀᴅᴍɪᴛs ᴛʜɪs ᴇxᴀᴍᴘʟᴇ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴀɴ ᴇxᴀɢɢᴇʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴ. ʏᴇᴛ, ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ɪs ᴛʀᴜᴛʜ ɪɴ ʜʏᴘᴇʀʙᴏʟᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ɪᴛ ɪs ᴏғᴛᴇɴ ɴᴇᴄᴇssᴀʀʏ ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴛʀʏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴇxᴘʀᴇss ᴀɴ ɪᴅᴇᴀ sᴏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀs ᴍᴀʏ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀsᴛᴀɴᴅ. ᴇᴀᴄʜ ᴡᴏʀᴅ ʜᴇʀᴇ ɪs ʜᴀᴢʏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛʟᴇss; ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ɪs ᴀ ʟᴀᴄᴋ ᴏғ ᴇxᴀᴄᴛɴᴇss, ɴᴏ ᴡᴏʀᴅ ɪs ᴄᴏɴᴄʀᴇᴛᴇ, ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ɪs ᴀʙsᴛʀᴀᴄᴛ. ᴛʜᴇ sᴇɴᴛᴇɴᴄᴇ ᴀᴠᴏɪᴅs ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀᴘᴘᴇᴀʀs ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴀ ᴄᴏɴғᴜsɪᴏɴ ᴏғ sᴄɪᴇɴᴛɪғɪᴄ, ᴛᴇᴄʜɴɪᴄᴀʟ, ʀᴇᴀᴅʏ-ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ᴡᴏʀᴅs ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴛʜʀᴏᴡɴ ᴛᴏɢᴇᴛʜᴇʀ ᴛᴏ ᴄʀᴇᴀᴛᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀʟʟᴜʀᴇ ᴏғ ᴋɴᴏᴡʟᴇᴅɢᴇ.
ᴛʜᴇ ǫᴜᴀʟɪᴛʏ ʙᴇᴛᴡᴇᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴡᴏ ɪs ᴄʟᴇᴀʀ. ᴛʜᴇ ғɪʀsᴛ ᴇxᴀᴍᴘʟᴇ ʟᴇᴛs ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴇᴀɴɪɴɢ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘɪᴄᴛᴜʀᴇ ᴄʜᴏᴏsᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀᴅ, ᴡʜᴇʀᴇᴀs ᴛʜᴇ sᴇᴄᴏɴᴅ ᴇxᴀᴍᴘʟᴇ ᴘɪᴄᴋs ᴡᴏʀᴅs ғʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ sɪɢʜᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴏᴡ ᴇᴀsɪʟʏ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴄᴀɴ ʙᴇ ᴘᴜᴛ ᴛᴏɢᴇᴛʜᴇʀ.
“In prose, the worst thing you can do with words is to surrender them.”
ʟᴀɴɢᴜᴀɢᴇ ᴄᴀɴ ᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴄʀʏ, ᴄʜᴇᴇʀ, ʙʟᴜsʜ, ɪᴛ ᴄᴀɴ sɪɴɢ sᴏɴɢs, ᴛᴇʟʟ sᴛᴏʀɪᴇs, sᴘᴇᴀᴋ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛʀᴜᴛʜ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛᴇᴀᴄʜ ʟᴇssᴏɴs. ʟᴀɴɢᴜᴀɢᴇ ᴄᴀɴ ʜᴜᴍ ʀʜʏᴍɪɴɢ ᴘᴏᴇᴛʀʏ, ᴅʀɪғᴛ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʀʜʏᴛʜᴍ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʟɪɢʜᴛs ᴀɴᴅ sᴏᴜɴᴅs. ɪᴛ ɪs ᴀ ʙᴇᴀᴜᴛɪғᴜʟ ɢɪғᴛ — ᴀ ɢɪғᴛ ᴍᴀɴʏ ᴏғ ᴜs ᴀʀᴇ ᴜɴᴀᴡᴀʀᴇ ᴏғ.
ʟᴀɴɢᴜᴀɢᴇ ɪs ᴘᴏᴡᴇʀғᴜʟ ғᴏʀ ɪᴛ ᴀʟʟᴏᴡs ᴍᴀɴ ᴛᴏ ᴇxᴘʀᴇss ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴏᴡɴ sᴛᴏʀʏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʀᴜᴛʜ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴡɪᴛʜ sᴜᴄʜ ᴀ ɢɪғᴛ ᴄᴏᴍᴇs ᴀ ᴅᴜᴛʏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴇ ᴍᴜsᴛ ʙᴇ ᴍɪɴᴅғᴜʟ ᴏғ. ᴛʜɪs ʀᴇᴄᴏɢɴɪᴛɪᴏɴ ɪs ᴄʀᴜᴄɪᴀʟ ɪғ ᴡᴇ ᴀʀᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴀᴠᴏɪᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴏʀʀᴏʀ ᴏғ ‘ɴɪɴᴇᴛᴇᴇɴ-ᴇɪɢʜᴛʏ ғᴏᴜʀ’.
ᴏʀᴡᴇʟʟ ᴡᴀs ᴇɴᴄᴏᴜʀᴀɢɪɴɢ ᴡʀɪᴛᴇʀs ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴄʟᴇᴀʀ, ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴜɴɪᴄᴀᴛɪᴠᴇ, sɪᴍᴘʟᴇ, sᴛʀᴏɴɢ ᴀɴᴅ ᴘᴜʀᴘᴏsᴇғᴜʟ. ᴏʙsᴄᴜʀᴇ, ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟɪᴄᴀᴛᴇᴅ, sᴄɪᴇɴᴛɪғɪᴄ, ʜᴏʟʟᴏᴡ ᴀɴᴅ sᴇɴsᴇʟᴇss ᴡʀɪᴛɪɴɢ ʙᴇᴛʀᴀʏs ᴛʜᴇ ɢʀᴇᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴘᴏᴡᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɢᴏᴅ ʜᴀs ɢɪᴠᴇɴ ᴛᴏ ᴜs.
“ᴛʜᴇ ɢʀᴇᴀᴛ ᴇɴᴇᴍʏ ᴏғ ᴄʟᴇᴀʀ ʟᴀɴɢᴜᴀɢᴇ ɪs ɪɴsɪɴᴄᴇʀɪᴛʏ. ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ɪs ᴀ ɢᴀᴘ ʙᴇᴛᴡᴇᴇɴ ᴏɴᴇ’s ʀᴇᴀʟ ᴀɴᴅ ᴏɴᴇ’s ᴅᴇᴄʟᴀʀᴇᴅ ᴀɪᴍs, ᴏɴᴇ ᴛᴜʀɴs ᴀs ɪᴛ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ɪɴsᴛɪɴᴄᴛɪᴠᴇʟʏ ᴛᴏ ʟᴏɴɢ ᴡᴏʀᴅs ᴀɴᴅ ᴇxʜᴀᴜsᴛᴇᴅ ɪᴅɪᴏᴍs, ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴀ ᴄᴜᴛᴛʟᴇғɪsʜ sᴘᴜʀᴛɪɴɢ ᴏᴜᴛ ɪɴᴋ.”
― ɢᴇᴏʀɢᴇ ᴏʀᴡᴇʟʟ, ᴘᴏʟɪᴛɪᴄs ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇɴɢʟɪsʜ ʟᴀɴɢᴜᴀɢᴇ
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