Thursday, May 20, 2004
Death Sentence - Don Watson
A very well written and thought provoking book. It looks at the decay in public language that had its beginnings in marketing and managerialism but has now become endemic in our communications, especially that of politicians and government agencies.
Don Watson was Paul Keating's speech writer and wrote Keating's biography - Recollections of a Bleeding Heart. (Paul Keating was Australian treasurer from 1983 until 1991 when he became Prime Minister until 1996)
As an essay its major themes are similar to a well known essay by George Orwell -
Politics and the English Language
The book is filled with quotes in sidebars and as footnotes. These highlight examples of poor public language as well as examples of the clear, lucid, and beautiful writing that we should all aspire to.
Think about how often you have seen the some of the following words in company reports and mission statements. Think about if the words actually hold any meaning any more, or if their meaning has been eviscerated by overuse.
outcomes, enhance, committment, accountability, transparency, core business, core promises, closure, benchmark, value adding, continuously improve, world class, ideology, paradigm, vital role, moral clarity, implement, empower, move forward.
The problem not only exists with the use of such words by companies and politicians, but also with the media's unthinking parroting that has led to the decay of the language. If the media would unrelentingly hound public figures to say what they mean, and answer questions as asked, rather than pandering to some agenda, then the journey back to clear language would have begun.
The difficulty with a book of this type, and a review of this book is that it is so easy and almost instictive to relax into the use of public language. I know that significant portions of what I write on this blog are typed without thinking. In my defense I am not being paid to write this, and am often surfing the net at the same time so my thought process is not concentrated. But it is this exact casualness with the written word that has led us into this problem. It is simple (not 'all too easy')to set up your own blog and unthinkingly (as I do) post your opinion onto the web. This is then read by other bloggers and the poor, banal language perpetuates. I remember reading somewhere that a few decades ago the average college graduate could be expected to have a vocabulary in the vicinity of 60,000 words. Now the average is closer to 20,000. I find this alarming, and worse, realise that I am part of the problem. My vocabulary is perhaps broader than average, but is still lacking. Ignorance appals me, my own more than anyone elses.
There are just so many thoughts from this book that are worth pursuing. But instead of making you suffer through my mediocre treatment I suggest you read the book.
Once on paper, words assume a horrifyingly concreteness. All the beautiful fluidity of thought is gone, replaced by rows of squalid and humourless squiggles. Yet these squiggles (this is the horrifying part) have somehow become 'your idea' . . . 'If you want your idea to get better', they say,'you will have to deal with us.' But you are already realising as you stare at them, that your idea is utterly vapid - and you haven't even had it yet. Louis Menand New Yorker.
Don't you hate it when someone takes an idea that you have been stewing in your brain for some time and then expresses it in the most perfect way that leaves you feeling both inadequate and ignorant.
The limits of my language mean the limits of my world - Ludwig Wittgenstein
Myths are tempting to those who are in a position to manipulate their fellow human beings, because myth is sacred, and what is sacred cannot be questioned. That's where their power comes from. They simplify and provide meaning without the need for reason. . . Cliches are the myths of language.
What is written without effort is usually read without pleasure.
Television has made dictatorship impossible, but democracy unbearable.
And to finish off, some classic George W Bush quotes, as he perfectly engenders the public's disinterest in thoughtful language.
You teach a child to read and he or her will be able to pass a literacy test.
More and more of our imports come from overseas.
I've been misunderestimated
The family is where our wings take dream.
Don Watson was Paul Keating's speech writer and wrote Keating's biography - Recollections of a Bleeding Heart. (Paul Keating was Australian treasurer from 1983 until 1991 when he became Prime Minister until 1996)
As an essay its major themes are similar to a well known essay by George Orwell -
Politics and the English Language
The book is filled with quotes in sidebars and as footnotes. These highlight examples of poor public language as well as examples of the clear, lucid, and beautiful writing that we should all aspire to.
Think about how often you have seen the some of the following words in company reports and mission statements. Think about if the words actually hold any meaning any more, or if their meaning has been eviscerated by overuse.
outcomes, enhance, committment, accountability, transparency, core business, core promises, closure, benchmark, value adding, continuously improve, world class, ideology, paradigm, vital role, moral clarity, implement, empower, move forward.
The problem not only exists with the use of such words by companies and politicians, but also with the media's unthinking parroting that has led to the decay of the language. If the media would unrelentingly hound public figures to say what they mean, and answer questions as asked, rather than pandering to some agenda, then the journey back to clear language would have begun.
The difficulty with a book of this type, and a review of this book is that it is so easy and almost instictive to relax into the use of public language. I know that significant portions of what I write on this blog are typed without thinking. In my defense I am not being paid to write this, and am often surfing the net at the same time so my thought process is not concentrated. But it is this exact casualness with the written word that has led us into this problem. It is simple (not 'all too easy')to set up your own blog and unthinkingly (as I do) post your opinion onto the web. This is then read by other bloggers and the poor, banal language perpetuates. I remember reading somewhere that a few decades ago the average college graduate could be expected to have a vocabulary in the vicinity of 60,000 words. Now the average is closer to 20,000. I find this alarming, and worse, realise that I am part of the problem. My vocabulary is perhaps broader than average, but is still lacking. Ignorance appals me, my own more than anyone elses.
There are just so many thoughts from this book that are worth pursuing. But instead of making you suffer through my mediocre treatment I suggest you read the book.
Once on paper, words assume a horrifyingly concreteness. All the beautiful fluidity of thought is gone, replaced by rows of squalid and humourless squiggles. Yet these squiggles (this is the horrifying part) have somehow become 'your idea' . . . 'If you want your idea to get better', they say,'you will have to deal with us.' But you are already realising as you stare at them, that your idea is utterly vapid - and you haven't even had it yet. Louis Menand New Yorker.
Don't you hate it when someone takes an idea that you have been stewing in your brain for some time and then expresses it in the most perfect way that leaves you feeling both inadequate and ignorant.
The limits of my language mean the limits of my world - Ludwig Wittgenstein
Myths are tempting to those who are in a position to manipulate their fellow human beings, because myth is sacred, and what is sacred cannot be questioned. That's where their power comes from. They simplify and provide meaning without the need for reason. . . Cliches are the myths of language.
What is written without effort is usually read without pleasure.
Television has made dictatorship impossible, but democracy unbearable.
And to finish off, some classic George W Bush quotes, as he perfectly engenders the public's disinterest in thoughtful language.
You teach a child to read and he or her will be able to pass a literacy test.
More and more of our imports come from overseas.
I've been misunderestimated
The family is where our wings take dream.
