The world of DOUBLESPEAK

Doublespeak is a blanket term for language which pretends to communicate but doesnt, language which makes the bad seem good, the negative seem positive. It is a language which avoids, shifts, or denies responsibility, language which is at variance with its real meaning. According to the U. S. Department of Agriculture farneras no longer have cows, pigs, chickens, or other animals on their farm, they have grainconsuming animal units. Home plaque removal instrument- toothbrush Nutritional avoidance therapy- diet Volume- related production schedule adjustment- closing an entire factory in doublespeak in General Motors Energetic disassembly- explosion in a nuclear power industry Jargon allows colleagues to communicate with each other clearly, efficiently, and quickly. It can also be doublespeak. Lawyers and tax use it. When your house burns down or your car is stolen you have suffered an involuntary conversion of your property. Inflated language is a kind of doublespeak. Car mechanics may be called automotive internists, elevator operators members of the vertical transportation corps, grocery checkout clerks career associate scanning professionals, initiates a career alternative enhancement program it is laying off 5000 workers, negative patient care outcome means that the patient died. Doublespeak is not the product of careless language or sloppy thinking. Such language is highly strategic and it breeds suspicion, cynicism, distrust. If we really believe that we understand doublespeak and think that it communicates, we are in trouble.