The Ultimate Threat to Effective Communication

The Ultimate Threat to Effective Communication

We hear and read doublespeak every day, but what, exactly, is doublespeak? Webster's dictionary defines doublespeak with these words: evasive, ambiguous, pretentious language intended to deceive or confuse. In his essay “The World of Doublespeak”, William Lutz notes that doublespeak is not an accident or a “slip of the tongue”. Instead, it is a deliberate, calculated misuse of language. Nearly everyone uses it and we see it everywhere. As long as we know it is out there, it can't affect us, right? Wrong! Doublespeak corrupts thought, destroys communication, and erodes trust.

The use of doublespeak is so prevalent in today’s society. For example, many people can talk on the phone for hours and if you were to ask them what they talked about, they would simply state “Nothing”. How is that possible? You can’t just talk for hours and not say anything. Unfortunately, doublespeak does just that. It misleads, pretends to communicate, and creates uncertainty on what is being said or not being said. As I have learned in English 1101, doublespeak lacks one of the main elements of writing, which is substance. It used to be considered wrong to use words to disguise meaning, but nowadays, this is an accepted and established practice.

First, I feel that doublespeak is completely negative, and has a harmful influence on the human thought process. Think of it this way: language is the basis of all human communication. In fact, it may not be too farfetched to say that language forms the basis of all human actions. After all, we use language to think, to make decisions, and to express our thoughts and feelings on issues. Next, we react according to how our brain processes the information, which we can only do by using language. Therefore, the language we hear and use in our everyday lives influences us and helps shape our opinions to a greater degree than we probably realize. If the language we hear and read is corrupt and misleading, it will corrupt and mislead our thought processes.

Second, not only does language affect how we think and act, it also affects our ability to communicate with other people. To discuss issues intelligently, we must use the language that we all agree with. If some people or groups use their own language of doublespeak that hides the truth from the receivers of the message, then open, honest discussion cannot take place. In other words, we cannot truly relate with others. As Lutz notes in his essay, “It is only through clear language that we have any hope of defining, debating, and deciding the issues of public policy that confront us.”

Finally, not only does the language of doublespeak corrupt thought and destroy the ability to communicate, it also destroys relationships by eroding trust. Our nation was founded upon the idea of free speech: the intention of open, honest discussion of ideas and issues. When we hear doublespeak from all sides, such as the government, education, the advertising industry, and the media, we begin to become cynical and distrustful toward these institutions. This attitude of distrust then adds yet another barrier to true, open