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New conflicts change many aspects of life in many ways, often violent but sometimes in soft power ways as well. This was recognised by George Orwell, the British novelist and poet, who lived between 1903 and 1950 and was versed in experiencing World Wars One and Two, as well as the early stages of the Cold War. His classic novel, “Animal Farm” envisaged a world where base human traits are exhibited by a class structure of animals, with the Pigs at the top. The justification for unfair treatment by the Pigs over lesser creatures is the chilling phrase “All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others.” That was thought at the time to be a reference to communism, although the book never expressly states this. Orwell almost certainly recognised that fascism also contained the same traits – he had witnessed the horrors of the Nazis during WWII. He recognised that the traits could exist in both the Far Right and the Far Left of social politics.
His other famous work “1984” continues the totalitarian theme, where an oppressive government, overseen by the ruling political party Ingsoc (English Socialism) rules a totalitarian superstate and distorts the truth to its citizens through what we now today call ‘disinformation’. Orwell termed it ‘Newspeak’.
Newspeak is a controlled language of simplified grammar and limited vocabulary designed to limit a person’s ability for critical thinking. The Newspeak language deliberately limits the ability to articulate and communicate abstract concepts, such as personal identity, self-expression, and free will, which are designated as thoughtcrimes – acts of personal independence that contradict the ideological orthodoxy of Ingsoc collectivism. Newspeak entailed the construction of new words to reduce the ability of dissent to be articulated or even thought.
This is exactly what has been occurring in Western media, with a rise in new terms and words over the past two years. Here we identify some of the common newspeak words – and their actual meanings:
- “Democratic Revolution” – Coup
- “Humanitarian intervention” – Invasion
- “Promoting Democracy” – Interference in domestic affairs
- “Enhanced interrogation techniques” – Torture
- “More Europe” – Centralising power
- “European integration” – Redividing Europe by expanding its military bloc
- “Public Diplomacy” – Our propaganda
- “Content moderation” or “Pre-bunking” – Censorship
- “Rules-based international order” – Sovereign inequality
- “Support the troops” – Perpetual war & occupation
- “Well-governed states” – Sphere of influence
- “Freedom of navigation” – Gunboat diplomacy
- “Extraordinary rendition” – Kidnapping
- “Homeland security” – Domestic surveillance
- “Appeasement” – Negotiations
- “Principled” – Uncompromising
- “Moral support” – Different opinion
- “Off topic” – Discussion forbidden
- “Position of strength” – Dominance
- “Regime” – Adversarial government
- “International community” – The West
- “Whataboutism” – Comparison
- Shill – (derogatory) paid opinion from adversary
What is remarkable about these new terms is that normal people tend not to use them, although some such as “Homeland security” are now the names of actual government institutions. For much of the rest, their usage effectively means they have been inserted into media by very specific sources and with very specific political intent to obscure, obfuscate or redefine what is actually meant. Readers can make up their own minds whether to trust any article that uses this type of terminology. Meanwhile, if you have seen these terms used in media – then congratulations, someone has attempted to manipulate you.
