1984 #3

            By systematically reducing available vocabulary in the world of 1984, Orwell demonstrates the role of language in the thought process. Winston’s acquaintance Syme describes the benefits of cutting down the English language. He believes that most adjectives and verbs are superfluous, and therefore a single word should be chosen to convey an idea. The chosen words are also straightforward with a singular meaning, devoid of connotative significance. Words that encompass abstract ideas that do not coincide with Party philosophy are eliminated altogether. Syme reveals, “In the end we shall make thoughtcrime literally impossible, because there will be no words in which to express it” (Orwell 52). Most people think in words, especially when considering abstract concepts. One cannot simply visualize democracy or freedom. Humans need something definitive in order to cement it in their minds. This human tendency to believe in the concrete is demonstrated by the population’s acceptance of Party lies. Since all contradictory records are destroyed, people do not refute any claims the Party makes. There is nothing else for the population to draw on, so what they are told must be true. When people can no longer draw on certain words, the ideas those words convey will also no longer exist. In essence, “[t]he Revolution will be complete when the language is perfect” (52). Once the government has eradicated the means for citizens to defy their ideals, to think of defying their ideals, or even to think of thinking of defying their ideals—namely, when the words to express heretical ideas cease to exist—the population will be completely under its control. Without the capacity to think freely, the population will be enslaved without realizing it. They will not, of course, be able to describe the fact that they are enslaved because the words will not be available to them. To the Party, everyone will be orthodox because in their minds “[o]rthodoxy means not thinking—not needing to think. Orthodoxy is unconscious” (53). Since there will no longer be any thinking, all thinking will be orthodox. Rather, all lack of thinking will be orthodox. No one will truly understand anything because there is nothing to understand. This is a drastic change in human identity and development.