Lecture - Orwell

As always my mind was left a boggle of information after attending another History and Context lecture! We looked a little at the book Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus (as we're looking at for our seminars) and we talked mostly about the author George Orwell.

Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus looks a little at the Verification Principle. It suggests that unless you can prove a statement to be true then it is meaningless.

'What is language? Language is everything. Everything is language.'

Orwell was a journalist, broadcaster and socialist who wrote three novels; most famously 1984. He has said to be of the same thinking as Hannah Arendt.

"Speech Act" -
1. Thought takes place in purely linguistic terms
2. Control language, and you can control thought
Therefore: mind control (may be) possible through manipulation of language

USSR = 'linguistic reform'

• Certain words were banned
• Certain letters were changed or removed from the alphabet
• In favor of a 'politically correct' language
• Theory that removing certain words would remove racial discrimination
• They invented new words such as 'agitprop'

Language is like plastic, it can be moulded and reshaped

Orwell said never to use a metaphor, simile or other figure of speech and never to use long words where a short word would do.

An example of pure vocalisation:
'The school aims to be at the leading edge of interprofesional education, practise and research for health, social care and complimentary therepies'

QUACK QUACK QUACK!! It all means nothing!