Word of the Day
April 7, 2020
Doublespeak
Language deliberately constructed to disguise, distort, or reverse the meaning of words, often used by governments and political movements to make the unpalatable seem acceptable.
Coined by combining 'double' and 'speak,' inspired by George Orwell's concepts of 'doublethink' and 'Newspeak' in his 1949 novel '1984,' which depicted a totalitarian state that controlled thought through language manipulation.
Usage Examples
- The regime's doublespeak redefined surveillance as 'public safety enhancement.'
- Calling abortion 'reproductive freedom' is classic doublespeak, since reproduction has already occurred.
- Political doublespeak transforms tax increases into 'revenue enhancements' and spending cuts into 'right-sizing.'
From the Show
The concept of doublespeak emerged during David Horowitz’s discussion of how the left manipulates language to obscure its true intentions. Horowitz referenced George Orwell’s novel 1984 in explaining how Democrats use linguistic deception on issues from abortion to identity politics. Explore the full analysis in the April 7th broadcast.