Journal of Technical Writing and Communication Oct 1985

Newspeak, 1984, and Technical Writing

Dennis E. Minor Louisiana Tech University

Abstract

Although George Orwell's “Politics and the English Language” offers good advice to writers, the technical writer's situation and use of language are more effectively discussed in 1984 and its Appendix, “The Principles of Newspeak.” The technical writer must make use of some Newspeak principles, such as limiting vocabulary and narrowing the definition of words; conversely, the writer must try to keep his expression of a corporate point of view and his limitations on wording from finally serving to limit the range of thought itself. Orwell considers these points much more important than “good prose style.”

Journal
Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Published
1985-10-01
DOI
10.2190/dgqx-dbu8-kq2k-qakw
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Closed
Topics
voice and style technical communication
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No articles in this index cite this work.

References (7) · 3 in this index

  1. Orwell G. (1981)
    1984
  2. Minor (1978)
    A Concept of Language for Technical Writing Students
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  3. Minor D. E. (1979)
    The Technical Writing Teacher
  4. Minor (1980)
    Coherent Deformation in Scientific and Technical Writing
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  5. Minor D. E. (1980)
    English in Texas
Show all 7 →
  1. Minor D. E. (1982)
    The Technical Writing Teacher
  2. Minor (1984)
    Albert Einstein on Writing
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
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