The Supplemental Paper: The Principles of Newspeak
1984’s Appendix contains Orwell’s ideas about Newspeak. Although Orwell felt that these ideas were too technical to integrate into the novel, they develop the novel’s stance on language and thought in the public’s acceptance of governmental control. And although this paper is to long it is important that the principals of Newspeak be addressed.
Newspeak is the official language of Oceania; it is scheduled for official adoption around 2050, and is designed to make the ideological premises of Ingsoc (Newspeak for English Socialism: the Party’s official political alignment) the only expressible ideology. Newspeak is engineered to remove even the possibility of rebellious thoughts by eliminating the words in which thoughts might be expressed. Newspeak contains no negative terms–the only way to express the meaning of “bad” is through the word “ungood.” Something extremely bad would be called “doubleplus ungood.” Newspeaks grammar is arranged so that any word can serve as any part of speech. There are three different vocabulary spheres within Newspeak.
A Vocabulary contains everyday words and phrases for such things as eating, drinking, working and so on. In comparison with Modern English, these words are fewer in number but more rigid in meaning. Newspeak leaves no room for nuance, or for degrees of meaning.
B Vocabulary contains all words with political or ideological significance. These words are especially tailored to provoke thoughtless acceptance of the Party’s doctrines. As example: “goodthink” means roughly the same thing as “orthodoxy.” The B Vocabulary is formed entirely of compound words and often squeezes words into smaller forms to attain abstract ease. The English phrase “Thought Police,” for instance, is compressed into “thinkpol”; “the Ministry of Love” becomes “miniluv.”
C Vocabulary is made up of words that relate to science and to technical fields. It is intended to guarantee that technological information remains segmented among many domains. Thus no one person would have access to too much knowledge. In fact, there is no word for science; Ingsoc already covers any meaning it could possibly bear.
The particularities of Newspeak make it impossible to translate most older English (oldspeak) texts into the language; the introduction of the Declaration of Independence, for instance, could only be translated into a single word: crimethink. Furthermore, each of the technical manuals must be translated into Newspeak; it is this bulk of translation work that explains the Party’s decision to hold off the full adoption of Newspeak to 2050.
Recommendation for Teaching
George Orwell s novel is depressing and fatalistic in nature. There are parts that are difficult to read and are (for lack of a better description) boring. But this is one of those pieces that should be read. Some students will get it but as teaching tools it, although it might be meet with some derision.
The importance of Orwell s message is an important lesson. The Negative Utopia concept he presents is essential to any understanding of the future. The questioning of governmental programs, what this generation leaves behind for future age groups are concepts that need to be addressed by the young, if not at least introduced to. The importance of technology and business are also a consideration. Does it control society or does society command it. Going hand in hand with the concepts of governmental power is the antithesis of Civil Disobedience. Which might make an excellent supplemental reading.
While the body of this essay did not (purposely) contain mention of Big Brother it is another reason for reading this novel. Big Brother is the figurehead of a government that has total control. The Big Brother regime uses propaganda and puts fear in its citizens to keep the general population in line. Big Brother is watching you (5) is just one example of many party slogans that puts fear in its citizens. Big Brother uses various ways to catch people guilty of bad thoughts And the term Big Brother is used though out other literature as well as other forms of media and communication.
Lesson Ideas
1. The entire class would have to comply with the societal rules that Winston has to. By either having the class have a discussion on how to make everyone completely equal. If one person has glasses they all would have glasses. Etc.
2. Write a paper in Newspeak, or have a class conversation in Newspeak.
3. How would they feel if their entire life was predestined? What if the only was to survive was to conform.
4. What is freedom? What is this type of society born from? If a class of seniors is they involved with government or do they allow it to happen?
5. Might teach Civil disobedience along with this. At least a supplemental reading for a one-day discussion.