Language Empowerment
The use of clichés or stock phrases in writing
Cliché is a Phrase that is used excessively and has become a bit meaningless and even irritating.
SAMPLE CLICHES:
• Always look on the bright sight of life
• To be or not to be
• Live and learn
• Live and let live
• C'est la vie
• Que sera, sera
• What goes around comes around
• Don't worry, be happy!
The seven most overused journalistic clichés
• 1. At the end of the day
• 2. Split second
• 3. About face
• 4. Unsung heroes
• 5. Outpouring of support
• 6. Last-ditch effort
• 7. Concerned residents
• A phrase that has been overused to the point where it loses any wit or descriptive merit it may once have had. Tabloid newspapers are a rich source of clichés and should be… avoided like the plague!
• (Yes, that was a sneaky cliché.)
• How do you spot a cliché in your own writing though? Or check that your carefully crafted phrase isn’t actually flogging a dead horse? Well here’s a nifty web-site called ‘Cliché Finder’ that allows you to check if you’re about to use a cliché. Of course there are no absolutes here.
POLITICS and THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
By George Orwell
Modern English,especially written English is full of bad habits which spread by imitation and which can be avoided if one is willing to take the necessary trouble.
What makes bad English?
1. staleness of imagery
2.lack of precision
-the writer has a meaning and cannot express it
-he accidentally says something else
-he is almost indifferent as to whether his words mean anything or not
Prose consists less and less of words chosen for the sake of meaning and more and more of phrases tacked together like the sections of a prefabricated hen-house.(clichés and stock phrases)
Dying Metaphors
Worn our metaphors fail to evoke vivid ,visual imagery
Eg: toe the line , stand shoulder to shoulder with, play into the hands of
Operators or verbal false limbs
Save the trouble of picking out appropriate verbs and nouns
Pad each sentence with extra syllables which give an appearance of symmetry
Eg: make contact with ,give rise to,have the effect of ,serve the purpose of,play a leading part(role)in,exhibit a tendency to
These “ verbal false limbs” eliminates simple verbs.
Instead of being a single word such as break,stop,spoil,mend,kill,a verb becomes a phrase,made up of a noun or adjective tacked on to some general purposes verb such as prove,serve,form,play,render
The passive voice is used instead of the active
Noun constructions are used instead of gerunds(by examination of instead of by examining)
The range of verbs is further cut down by means of the –ize and de-formations
Dehumanize,deconstruct,vocalize,neutralize,decentralize
Banal statements given an appearance of profundity be means of the not un-formation.(avoid double negatives)
Not uncommon, not unacceptable,not unusual
Simple conjunctions and prepositions are replaced by phrases like
With respect to,having regard to,the fact that,in view of,in the interests of
End of sentences are saved from anticlimax by such resounding commonplaces like
Greatly to be desired,cannot be left out of account,deserving of serious consideration,brought to a satisfactory conclusion
Pretentious Diction (Pompous,bombastic vocabulary)
To dress up simple statements and give an air of scientific impartiality to biased judgments.
Eg. Phenomenon ,virtual , primary , constitute , exhibit , utilize , eliminate, objective ,element
Adjectives to dignify the sordid processes of international politics
Eg. Epoch-making, epic ,historic ,triumphant, age-old ,inevitable
Writing that aims at glorifying war takes on an archaic colour.
Eg. Realm ,throne , banner ,clarion ,shield ,sword
Foreign words and expressions are used to give an air of culture and elegance
Eg. Cul de sac ,status quo, savoir-faire ,faux pax,zeitgeist,kismet
The normal way of coining a new word is to use a Latin or Greek root with the appropriate affix and where necessary the –ize formation.
It is easier to make up words (deregionalize,impermissible,extra-marital..)than to think up the English words that will cover one’s meaning.
Meaningless Words (Glittering glitterati, empty weasel words)
Eg. Plastic,human,sentimental,natural,vitality,values
Many political words are similarly abused.
Eg. Democracy,socialism,freedom,patriotic,justice,realistic
In the case of a word like democracy,not only is there no agreed definition,but the attempt to make one is resisted from all sides.It is almost universally felt that when we call a country democratic we are praising it;consequently the defenders of every kind of regime claim that it is a democracy,and fear that they might have to stop using the word if it were tied down to any one meaning.
Words of this kind are often used in a consciously dishonest way.That is,the person who uses them has his own private definition,but allows his hearer to think he means something quite different.
Other words used in variable meanings,,in most cases more or less dishonestly,are: class,science,progressive,equality,totalitarian
Modern writing at its worst does not consist in picking out words for the sake of their meaning and inventing images in order to make the meaning clearer.
It consists in gumming together long strips of words which have already been set in order by someone else,and making the results presentable by sheer humbug.It is easier-even quicker,once you have the habit to say”In my opinion it is a not unjustifiable assumption that “than to say “I think”
By using stale metaphors,similes and idioms,you save much mental effort,at the cost of leaving your meaning vague,not only for your reader but for yourself.
A scrupulous writer,in every sentence that he writes,will ask himself at least four questions,thus:
What am I trying to say?
What words will express it?
What idiom or image will make it clearer?
Is this image fresh enough to have an effect?
Could I put it more shortly?
Have I said anything that is avoidably ugly?
Political language has to consist largely of euphemism,question-begging and sheer cloudy vagueness.
Defenceless villages are bombarded from the air,the inhabitants driven out into the countryside,the huts set on fire with incendiary bullets-this is called pacification
Millions of peasants are robbed of their farms and sent trudging along the roads with no more than they can carry:this is called transfer of population
People are imprisoned for years without trial,or shot in the back of the neck or sent to die of scurvy in Artic lumber camps:this is called elimination of unreliable elements.
Such phraseology is needed if one wants to name things without calling up mental pictures of them.The inflated style is itself a kind of euphemism.
“In my humble opinion,that’s a social disclaimer” By James Valentine (ABC)
Social disclaimers are the phrases you use when you know that what follows is insulting (John Mulhall)
A social disclaimer always says the exact opposite of what is meant and is always followed by “but”.
“With all due respect” is never followed by “your views were most sound and I see now how specious my argument truly is.”
“With all due respect” is a clear indication that you have scant respect for this person and itb is your onerous duty to now explain your view again in terms the village idiot can follow.
Emma was straight in with “I don’t mean to be rude but..”
Puneet has found “Don’t take this personally,” to be useful,particularly,when he wants to say something quite personal.
“Don’t take this personally but that dress on you sucks/you smell like rotten fish
“I don’t mean to pry” but I simply have to
“I don’t usually gossip,”but I’m sure going to now.
“I don’t want to judge”but let me get my wig and gavel.
Positive disclaimer
Yes,I take your point but let’s get back to my point which unlike your point is actually interesting and relevant.
“I hear what you are saying.” Then the speaker goes on to hammer his point yet again showing along the way he didn’t hear a thing the other person said.
“We make no apology” .It always means there’s something coming that they ought to be apologizing for.
The use of clichés or stock phrases in writing
Cliché is a Phrase that is used excessively and has become a bit meaningless and even irritating.
SAMPLE CLICHES:
• Always look on the bright sight of life
• To be or not to be
• Live and learn
• Live and let live
• C'est la vie
• Que sera, sera
• What goes around comes around
• Don't worry, be happy!
The seven most overused journalistic clichés
• 1. At the end of the day
• 2. Split second
• 3. About face
• 4. Unsung heroes
• 5. Outpouring of support
• 6. Last-ditch effort
• 7. Concerned residents
• A phrase that has been overused to the point where it loses any wit or descriptive merit it may once have had. Tabloid newspapers are a rich source of clichés and should be… avoided like the plague!
• (Yes, that was a sneaky cliché.)
• How do you spot a cliché in your own writing though? Or check that your carefully crafted phrase isn’t actually flogging a dead horse? Well here’s a nifty web-site called ‘Cliché Finder’ that allows you to check if you’re about to use a cliché. Of course there are no absolutes here.
POLITICS and THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
By George Orwell
Modern English,especially written English is full of bad habits which spread by imitation and which can be avoided if one is willing to take the necessary trouble.
What makes bad English?
1. staleness of imagery
2.lack of precision
-the writer has a meaning and cannot express it
-he accidentally says something else
-he is almost indifferent as to whether his words mean anything or not
Prose consists less and less of words chosen for the sake of meaning and more and more of phrases tacked together like the sections of a prefabricated hen-house.(clichés and stock phrases)
Dying Metaphors
Worn our metaphors fail to evoke vivid ,visual imagery
Eg: toe the line , stand shoulder to shoulder with, play into the hands of
Operators or verbal false limbs
Save the trouble of picking out appropriate verbs and nouns
Pad each sentence with extra syllables which give an appearance of symmetry
Eg: make contact with ,give rise to,have the effect of ,serve the purpose of,play a leading part(role)in,exhibit a tendency to
These “ verbal false limbs” eliminates simple verbs.
Instead of being a single word such as break,stop,spoil,mend,kill,a verb becomes a phrase,made up of a noun or adjective tacked on to some general purposes verb such as prove,serve,form,play,render
The passive voice is used instead of the active
Noun constructions are used instead of gerunds(by examination of instead of by examining)
The range of verbs is further cut down by means of the –ize and de-formations
Dehumanize,deconstruct,vocalize,neutralize,decentralize
Banal statements given an appearance of profundity be means of the not un-formation.(avoid double negatives)
Not uncommon, not unacceptable,not unusual
Simple conjunctions and prepositions are replaced by phrases like
With respect to,having regard to,the fact that,in view of,in the interests of
End of sentences are saved from anticlimax by such resounding commonplaces like
Greatly to be desired,cannot be left out of account,deserving of serious consideration,brought to a satisfactory conclusion
Pretentious Diction (Pompous,bombastic vocabulary)
To dress up simple statements and give an air of scientific impartiality to biased judgments.
Eg. Phenomenon ,virtual , primary , constitute , exhibit , utilize , eliminate, objective ,element
Adjectives to dignify the sordid processes of international politics
Eg. Epoch-making, epic ,historic ,triumphant, age-old ,inevitable
Writing that aims at glorifying war takes on an archaic colour.
Eg. Realm ,throne , banner ,clarion ,shield ,sword
Foreign words and expressions are used to give an air of culture and elegance
Eg. Cul de sac ,status quo, savoir-faire ,faux pax,zeitgeist,kismet
The normal way of coining a new word is to use a Latin or Greek root with the appropriate affix and where necessary the –ize formation.
It is easier to make up words (deregionalize,impermissible,extra-marital..)than to think up the English words that will cover one’s meaning.
Meaningless Words (Glittering glitterati, empty weasel words)
Eg. Plastic,human,sentimental,natural,vitality,values
Many political words are similarly abused.
Eg. Democracy,socialism,freedom,patriotic,justice,realistic
In the case of a word like democracy,not only is there no agreed definition,but the attempt to make one is resisted from all sides.It is almost universally felt that when we call a country democratic we are praising it;consequently the defenders of every kind of regime claim that it is a democracy,and fear that they might have to stop using the word if it were tied down to any one meaning.
Words of this kind are often used in a consciously dishonest way.That is,the person who uses them has his own private definition,but allows his hearer to think he means something quite different.
Other words used in variable meanings,,in most cases more or less dishonestly,are: class,science,progressive,equality,totalitarian
Modern writing at its worst does not consist in picking out words for the sake of their meaning and inventing images in order to make the meaning clearer.
It consists in gumming together long strips of words which have already been set in order by someone else,and making the results presentable by sheer humbug.It is easier-even quicker,once you have the habit to say”In my opinion it is a not unjustifiable assumption that “than to say “I think”
By using stale metaphors,similes and idioms,you save much mental effort,at the cost of leaving your meaning vague,not only for your reader but for yourself.
A scrupulous writer,in every sentence that he writes,will ask himself at least four questions,thus:
What am I trying to say?
What words will express it?
What idiom or image will make it clearer?
Is this image fresh enough to have an effect?
Could I put it more shortly?
Have I said anything that is avoidably ugly?
Political language has to consist largely of euphemism,question-begging and sheer cloudy vagueness.
Defenceless villages are bombarded from the air,the inhabitants driven out into the countryside,the huts set on fire with incendiary bullets-this is called pacification
Millions of peasants are robbed of their farms and sent trudging along the roads with no more than they can carry:this is called transfer of population
People are imprisoned for years without trial,or shot in the back of the neck or sent to die of scurvy in Artic lumber camps:this is called elimination of unreliable elements.
Such phraseology is needed if one wants to name things without calling up mental pictures of them.The inflated style is itself a kind of euphemism.
“In my humble opinion,that’s a social disclaimer” By James Valentine (ABC)
Social disclaimers are the phrases you use when you know that what follows is insulting (John Mulhall)
A social disclaimer always says the exact opposite of what is meant and is always followed by “but”.
“With all due respect” is never followed by “your views were most sound and I see now how specious my argument truly is.”
“With all due respect” is a clear indication that you have scant respect for this person and itb is your onerous duty to now explain your view again in terms the village idiot can follow.
Emma was straight in with “I don’t mean to be rude but..”
Puneet has found “Don’t take this personally,” to be useful,particularly,when he wants to say something quite personal.
“Don’t take this personally but that dress on you sucks/you smell like rotten fish
“I don’t mean to pry” but I simply have to
“I don’t usually gossip,”but I’m sure going to now.
“I don’t want to judge”but let me get my wig and gavel.
Positive disclaimer
Yes,I take your point but let’s get back to my point which unlike your point is actually interesting and relevant.
“I hear what you are saying.” Then the speaker goes on to hammer his point yet again showing along the way he didn’t hear a thing the other person said.
“We make no apology” .It always means there’s something coming that they ought to be apologizing for.
