Doublespeak is described by William Lutz as a blanket term for language which pretends to communicate but doesn’t, language which makes the bad seem good, the negative appear positive, the unpleasant attractive, or at least tolerable (249). Basically, all that doublespeak does is hide the meaning of a word or phrase or misrepresent that word or phrase to change the meaning. A type of doublespeak is an euphemism, which is a word or phrase that is inoffensive or positively connotated to avoid an unpleasant situation (249). Euphemisms can be used by politicians and other leaders to make something bad sound good or at least make them sound not as bad; for example, instead of using the word “killing”, they would say “arbitrary deprivation of life” (Lutz). Another type of doublespeak is inflated language, which just takes a simple word or phrase and makes it sound more professional. Lutz uses this example, “car mechanics may be called ‘automotive internists'” (251). Doublespeak is used to mislead people, but it is created throughly with clear thought. Many people who use doublespeak are trying to be sincere and protect other people’s feelings. Mostly politicians use doublespeak to get people to interpret the words they say in one way, when really they mean something else. Words can be used as tools and weapons according to Lutz (251). The easiest uses of doublespeak to identify are the less sophisticated uses. There is an example in paragraphs 20-21 that specifically points out a more sophisticated use and Ronald Reagan is using doublespeak in an advertisement and he goes on to say that almost all commercials are misleading in some way (253). Commercial producers just want you to buy their product or buy your vote for them.
Propaganda is a unrecognizable way of persuading people and can be used for good reasons and bad reasons (Cross). It can help a person decide what kind of products they use daily or who they vote for in an election. Propaganda works better on an uncritical audience, or everyday people (209). There are many different types of propaganda that are used daily. One type of propaganda that I might use for my essay is the argumentum ad hominem, propaganda that is used not to discuss the issue at hand, but to attack a person or the people involved in the issue. I think this is one of the biggest types because it is used so often by politicians and big companies. Another type of propaganda that I may use for my essay is glittering generalities. Glittering generalities are where words with positive connotations are used to make a subject sound better or more persuading.
Works Cited:
Lutz, William. “The World of Doublespeak “. Language Awareness: Readings for College Writers. Eds. Paul Eschholz, Alfred Rosa, and Virginia Clark. New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2013. 248-58. Print.
Cross, Donna Woolfolk. “Propaganda: How not to Be Bamboozled”. Language Awareness: Readings for College Writers. Eds. Paul Eschholz, Alfred Rosa, and Virginia Clark. New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2013. 209-19. Print.
Quinton Lyvers 