Language, a political tool

If thoughts can corrupt language, language can also corrupt thoughts. - George Orwell

 

Language is a crucial tool for interaction and communication. It is through language that thoughts, ideas and emotions can be expressed effortlessly. However, language is not just a neutral medium of communication but a prominent tool to serve power. It shapes perceptions of the world and controls the narratives, thereby influencing social, political and cultural aspects of life.

George Orwell, in his well-known novel, 1984, asserts that thought and language are interconnected and interact in numerous ways. For Orwell, language is the basis of human thought because it structures and shapes the way of thinking and the way the world can be seen. It limits the ideas that people can conceive and express. "War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength." That is how, according to Orwell, language shapes the minds of the subjects to embrace these sorts of contradictory, unacceptable claims.

The term 'newspeak' in Orwell's fictional totalitarian state is the official language promoted by the government, which Orwell describes as "designed to diminish the range of thought" through the deliberate elimination and addition of words. Without a word for 'rebellion', for instance, the concept of rebellion itself can no longer exist. Newspeak proscribes people from thinking any 'illegal' thoughts. If they do not have any words to describe how they think or feel, they cannot commit any 'thought crime', hence the language lacking words to complain, stand or rebel against the government.

'Linguistic Determinism' is the idea that human knowledge and thought are determined and structured by language. In other words, language influences thought. People who speak different languages think differently. George Orwell's novel, Newspeak, is a good example of linguistic determinism as it fuels the claim that if a language does not have the means to express certain ideas, its speakers cannot conceptualise them.

In politics, politicians often use language to frame issues in a way that suits their agenda. They may use emotive language to stir up feelings of fear or anger or use euphemistic language to downplay the severity of a situation to serve their interests. Similarly, in the media, language can be used to create certain narratives or stereotypes, which can in turn shape public perceptions and attitudes. A single word, even without a complete phrase or sentence, leaves their fingerprints on individuals or even groups of people. Depending on the context, these words can provoke positive or negative reactions. For instance, assume words like, 'no', 'stop', 'go', 'ugly', 'love', 'kill', 'forgive', 'peace', and many more. These are not just empty words, but in contrast, they have colossal power to sway the people's action.

Furthermore, Michel Foucault sheds light on the way language serves power through his Foucaultian Discourse Analysis. Discourse refers to the use of language to construct knowledge and truths. He believes that discourse benefits the bourgeoisie and can be used as a form of social control; additionally, the 'truths' that shape our lives don't simply 'exist' but are created through discourse. The theory examines how people express themselves through language and suggests that the structures of power narrow the paths for people to communicate in society. Foucault was critical of those in power, especially the bourgeoisie, and states that those with power could create discourses for their own interest yet shelter their intentions.

Antonio Gramsci's views on language are closely tied to his broader theories on culture and power. In his Prison Notebooks, he unfolds how language functions as a tool of cultural hegemony. Language and ideology, according to Gramsci, the ruling class uses language to propagate its own ideology, making it seem natural and universally accepted. This means that the language used in media, education, and day-to-day communication often reflects and fuels the interests of those in power.

That's how, from the communist perspective, it is said, "Language is political."