Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
REGION I
PANGASINAN SCHOOLS DIVISION OFFICE II
FLORES INTEGRATED SCHOOL
SAN MANUEL, PANGASINAN

Doubts About Double Speaking

By: William Lutz

(A Position Paper)

Submitted By:

Romar Jean D. Cacas

Grade 12 (STEM)

Submitted To:

Mr. Vincent Glenn Cachuela

English for Academic and Professional Purposes (EAPP)

 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
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PANGASINAN SCHOOLS DIVISION OFFICE II
FLORES INTEGRATED SCHOOL
SAN MANUEL, PANGASINAN

I. TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. About the Author…………………………………………………………………………………………………………1

II. Title………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………2

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………3

III. The Literary Piece……………………………………………………………………………………………………4

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………5

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………6

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………7

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………8

IV. Position Paper…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….9

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………10

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………11

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………12

V. References………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………13
 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
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FLORES INTEGRATED SCHOOL
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II. ABOUT THE AUTHOR (HISTORICAL CRITICISM)

William D. Lutz is a well-known American linguist best recognized
for his work on "doublespeak," the art of using language to obscure
or distort the true meaning of a message, or a language intended to
confuse or mislead others. He also discussed the four types of
doublespeak (euphemism, jargon, gobbledygook, and inflated language)
as well as the societal implications of doublespeak (William D.
Lutz, 2022).

Lutz, who was born on December 12, 1940, received his bachelor's
degree from Dominican College, his master's degree from Marquette
University, and his Ph.D. from the University of Nevada. He later
became a professor of English at Rutgers University in Camden, New
Jersey, where he taught for many years(Macmillan Publishers, 2021).

Lutz has authored numerous works about doublespeak. His work has
contributed to a better understanding of how language may be
employed in treacherous ways in politics, commerce, and advertising.

Throughout his career, as published by Thriftbooks (n.d.),

Lutz has written several books on doublespeak, including
"Doublespeak: From Revenue Enhancement to Terminal Living," "The New
Doublespeak," and "Beyond 1984: Doublespeak in a Post-Orwellian
Age." His work has significantly contributed to raising public
awareness about the deceptive use of language in politics, business,
and advertising.

Despite his retirement from teaching, Lutz continues to write and

speak about doublespeak and the importance of clear, honest
communication. His work has had a significant impact on the field of
linguistics and continues to influence the way we think about
language and power.
 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
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III. TITLE

In a world where language holds enormous power, it is critical to

question and cast doubt on deceptive languages like doublespeak. In
accordance with the essay's title, "Doubts about Doublespeak," we
should be doubtful of ambiguity, sugarcoating, and word manipulation,
especially in the media, because they can significantly influence our
view of reality.

In this essay, Lutz critiques the use of doublespeak, a kind of

language used to conceal or distort the true meanings of words.
According to Lutz, doublespeak is a type of language that is
deceptive, evasive, confusing, and misleading. He contends that
doublespeak is an intended, calculated misuse of language rather than
an accident or slip of the tongue.

Lutz distinguishes four varieties of doublespeak: euphemism, jargon,

gobbledygook (or bureaucratese), and inflated language. He gives
examples of each and discusses how they are used to confuse and
mislead the audience. He also emphasizes that "new doublespeak is
created every day," implying that deceitful language and communication
strategies are constantly evolving. As society evolves, so do the
techniques for manipulating language, shaping narratives, and avoiding
accountability. Individuals and institutions are always finding new
ways to conceal the truth as technology advances and global concerns
get more complex. This statement emphasizes the need for vigilance,
critical thinking, and a discerning approach to language in order to
navigate the truth in the ever-changing landscape of communication.

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Lutz's main argument is that doublespeak is a dangerous form of

language that can be used to manipulate people and control society.
Just like he described how unpleasant economic realities are
sugarcoated in the news by the use of doublespeak, he strongly argued
that doublespeak alters our perception of the reality. Therefore, he
calls for a greater awareness of doublespeak and urges readers to
challenge and resist its use.

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IV. THE LITERARY PIECE

Doubts About Doublespeak

William Lutz

(1) During the past year, we learned that we can shop at a

"unique retail biosphere" instead of a farmers' market, where we can
buy items made of "synthetic glass" instead of plastic, or purchase a
high velocity, multipurpose air circulator," odor threshold" or
electric fan. A "waste-water conveyance facility" may "exceed the from
time to time due to the presence of "regulated human nutrients,: but
that is not to be confused with a sewage plant that stinks up the
neighbourhood with sewage sludge. Nor should we confuse a "resource
development park" with a dump. Thus does doublespeak continue to
spread.

(2) Doublespeak is language which pretends to communicate but

doesn't. it is language which makes the bad seem good, the negative
seem positive, the unpleasant seem attractive, or at least tolerable.
It is language which avoids, shifts or denies responsibility; language
which is at variance with its real or purported meaning. It is
language which conceals or prevents thought.

(3) Doublespeak is all around We are asked to check our packages

at the desk "for our convenience" when it's not for our convenience at
all but for someone else's convenience. We see advertisements for
"preowned," "experienced" or "previously distinguished" cars, not used
cars and for "genuine imitation leather," "virgin vinyl" or "real
counterfeit diamonds." Television offers not reruns but "encore
telecasts." There are no slums or ghettos, just the "inner city" or
"substandard housing" where the "disadvantaged" or "economically
nonaffluent" live and where there might be a problem with "substance

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abuse." Nonprofit organizations don't make a profit, they have

"negative deficits" or experience "revenue excesses." With doublespeak
it's not dying but "terminal living" or "negative patient care
outcome."

(4) There are four kinds of doublespeak. The first kind is the
euphemism, a word or phrase designed to avoid a harsh or distasteful
reality. Used to mislead or deceive, the euphemism becomes
doublespeak. In 1984 the U.S: State Department's annual reports on the
status of human rights around the world ceased using the word
"killing." Instead the State Department used the phrase "unlawful or
arbitrary deprivation of life," thus avoiding the embarrassing
situation of government-sanctioned killing in countries supported by
the United States.

(5) A second kind of doublespeak is jargon, the specialized

language of a trade profession or similar group, such as doctors,
lawyers, plumbers, or car mechanics. Legitimately used, jargon allows
members of a group to communicate with each other clearly, efficiently
and quickly. Lawyers and tax accountants speak to each other of an
"involuntary conversion" of property, a legal term that means the loss
or destruction of property through theft, accident or condemnation.
But when lawyers or tax accountants use unfamiliar terms to speak to
others, then the jargon becomes doublespeak.

(6) In 1978 a commercial 727 crashed on take-off, killing three

tassengers, injuring 21 others and destroying the airplane. The
insured value of the airplane was greater than its book value, so the
airline made a profit of $1.7 million, creating two problems: the
airline didn't want to talk about one of its airplanes crashing, yet
it had to account for that $1.7 million profit in its annual report to
its stockholders. The airline solved both problems by inserting a

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footnote in its annual report which explained that the $1.7 million
was due to "the involuntary conversion of a 727."

(7) A third kind of doublespeak is gobbledygook or bureaucratese.

Such doublespeak is simply a matter of overwhelming the audience with
words - the more the better. Alan Greenspan, a polished practitioner
of bureaucratese, once testified before a Senate committee that "it is
a tricky problem to find the particular calibration in timing that
would be appropriate to stem the acceleration in risk premiums created
by falling incomes without prematurely aborting the decline in the
inflation-generated risk premiums.

(8) The fourth kind of doublespeak is inflated language, which is

designed to make the ordinary seem extraordinary, to make everyday
things seem impressive, to give an air of importance to people or
situations, to make the simple seem complex. Thus do car mechanics
become "automotive internists," elevator operators become: members of
the vertical transportation corps, grocery store checkout clerks
become "career associate scanning professionals,' and smelling
something becomes "organoleptic analysis."

(9) Doublespeak is not the product of careless language or sloppy

thinking. Quite the opposite. Doublespeak is language carefully
designed and constructed to appear to communicate when in fact it
doesn't. it is language designed not to lead but mislead. Thus, it's
not a tax increase but "revenue enhancement" or "tax-based
broadening." So how can you complain about higher taxes? These aren't
useless, billion dollar pork barrel projects; they're really
"congressional projects of national significance, so don't complain
about wasteful government spending. That isn't the Mafia in Atlantic
City; those are just "members of a career-offender cartel," so don't
worry about the influence of organized crime in the city.
 Republic of the Philippines
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(10) New doublespeak is created every day. The Environmental

Protection Agency once called acid rain "poorly-buffered
precipitation" then dropped that
term in favour of "atmospheric
6
deposition of anthropogenically-derived acidic substances," but
recently decided that acid rain should be called "wet deposition." The
Pentagon, which has in the past given us such classic doublespeak as
"hexiform rotatable surface compression unit" for steel nut, just
published a pamphlet warning soldiers that exposure to nerve gas will
lead to "immediate permanent incapacitation." That's almost as good as
the Pentagon's official term "servicing the target," meaning to kill
the enemy. Meanwhile, the Department of Energy wants to establish a
"monitored retrievable storage site," a place once known as a dump for
spent nuclear test.

(11) Bad economic times give rise to lots of new doublespeak

designed to avoid some very unpleasant economic realities. As the
"contained depression" continues so does the corporate policy of
making up even more new terms to avoid the simple, and easily
understandable, term "layoff." So it is that corporations
"reposition," "restructure," ," "reshape," or "realign," the company
and "reduce duplication" through "release of resources" that involves
a "permanent downsizing" or a "payroll adjustment" that results in a
number of employees being "involuntarily terminated."

(12) Other countries regularly contribute to doublespeak. In

Japan, where baldness is called "hair disadvantaged," the economy is
undergoing a "severe adjustment process," while in Canada there is an
"involuntary downward development" of the work force. For some
government agencies in Canada, wastepaper baskets have become "user
friendly, space effective, flexible, deskside sortation units."
Politicians in Canada may engage in "reality augmentation," but they
never lie. As part of their new freedom, the people of Moscow can

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visit "intimacy salons," or "sex shops as they're known in other

countries. When dealing with the bureaucracy in Russia, people know
that they should show officials "normal gratitude," or give them a
bribe.

(13) The worst doublespeak is the doublespeak of death. It is the

language, wrote George Orwell in 1946, that is "largely the defense of
the indefensible...designed to make lies sound truthful and murder
respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind." IN
the doublespeak of death, Orwell continued, "defenceless Villages are
bombarded from the air, the inhabitants driven out into the
countryside, the cattle machine-gunned, 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 or
rectification or frontiers." Today, in a country once called
Yugoslavia, this is called "ethnic cleansing."

(14) It's easy to laugh off doublespeak. After all, we all know
what's going on, so what's the harm? But we don't always know what's
going on, and when that happens, doublespeak accomplishes its ends. It
alters our perception of reality. It deprives us of the tools we need
to develop, advance and preserve our society, our culture, our
civilization. It breeds suspicion, cynicism, distrust and, ultimately,
hostility. It delivers us into the hands of those who do not have our
interests at heart. As Samuel Johnson noted in 18th century England,
even the devils in hell do not lie to one another, since the society
of hell cold not subsists without the truth, any more than any other
society.
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V. POSITION PAPER

In the realm of communication, language serves as a powerful

tool, capable of illuminating truths or shrouding them in
obscurity. One such manifestation of language manipulation is
'doublespeak', a term popularized by (Lutz, 1989), which
refers to the deliberate distortion of meaning of words to
deceive or mislead. This position paper aims to delve into the
intricate world of doublespeak, exploring its implications on
various societal domains. By dissecting the mechanics of
doublespeak and its influence, this paper seeks to contribute
to the discourse on the ethical use of language and the
pursuit of transparency and clarity in communication.

Doublespeak is the intentional use of ambiguous,

euphemistic, or obscure language with the goal to confuse or
mislead the listener or reader. The problem with doublespeak
is that it has the capacity to distort reality, alter
perceptions, and undermine the fundamental principles of
honest communication. Doublespeak is frequently used to
conceal the truth, sell products or ideas, or sway public
opinion in a variety of cultural spheres such as politics,
advertising, education, and media. For example, in politics,
doublespeak might be employed to disguise policy failures or
contentious judgments. In advertising, it can be used to
exaggerate product features or minimize potential concerns.
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While popularized in the late twentieth century, the concept

of doublespeak has roots in ancient rhetoric and political
9
discourse. The term was inspired by George Orwell's dystopian
novel "1984", in which he presented the concepts of
"doublethink" and "newspeak" as instruments of manipulation
and control (Orwell, 1949). In more recent history, doublespeak
has been identified in political propaganda used during World
War I and II, where language was manipulated to control public
perception and sentiment (Lasswell, 1927). The advent of mass
media and advertising in the 20th century further amplified
the use of doublespeak, with language being used to sell
products and ideas (Bernays, 1928).

This paper recognizes and fully supports William Lutz's

concept of doublespeak as a detrimental and manipulative use
of language. It firmly believes that doublespeak undermines
transparency, honesty, and the democratic process. First and
foremost, doublespeak hinders effective communication and the
exchange of accurate information. By using language that is
intentionally vague or misleading, individuals and
organizations can obscure their true intentions or hide
inconvenient truths. This not only erodes trust between
individuals and institutions but also impedes informed
decision-making. Furthermore, doublespeak poses a significant
threat to democratic societies. In a democracy, citizens rely
on clear and truthful communication from their leaders and
institutions to make informed choices and hold them
accountable. When language is manipulated through doublespeak,

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it becomes difficult for citizens to discern the truth and

make informed decisions. This undermines the very foundation
of democracy and can lead to a loss of faith in the political
system. In conclusion, we firmly stand against the use of
doublespeak. We believe that clear, honest, and transparent
communication is essential for the functioning of a healthy
society and the preservation of democratic values. By
rejecting doublespeak and promoting open dialogue, we can
foster trust, accountability, and informed decision-making for
the betterment of individuals and society as a whole.

To address the issue of doublespeak, we propose the

following solutions: First, education and awareness: implement
educational programs to raise awareness about doublespeak and
its negative impact on communication and democracy. Next,
Transparency and Accountability: Encourage public figures,
institutions, and organizations to prioritize transparency and
honesty in their communication. This includes providing clear
and accurate information, avoiding doublespeak, and being
accountable for their words and actions. Last, Regulations and
Guidelines: Advocate for regulations and guidelines that
discourage the use of doublespeak in advertising, political
campaigns, and corporate communication. By holding individuals
and organizations accountable for their communication
practices, we can discourage the use of doublespeak. These
proposed solutions align with our stance on doublespeak by
addressing the issue through education, transparency, and
accountability. By promoting awareness, critical thinking, and

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ethical communication practices, we can combat doublespeak and

foster a society that values honesty, transparency, and
informed decision-making.

In conclusion, this position paper highlights the

detrimental effects of doublespeak on communication and
society as a whole. It emphasizes that doublespeak distorts
reality, undermines transparency, and hinders informed
decision-making. The paper firmly stands against the use of
doublespeak and advocates for clear, honest, and transparent
communication. It recognizes the historical roots of
doublespeak and proposes solutions to address the issue,
including education and awareness, transparency and
accountability, and regulations and guidelines. By promoting
these solutions, the paper aims to combat doublespeak and
foster a society that values honesty, transparency, and
informed decision-making.

In a world where words can be twisted and truth can be

obscured, let us rise above the haze of doublespeak and
embrace the power of clarity, honesty, and transparency.
Together, we can build a future where communication is a
beacon of truth, guiding us towards a society that thrives on
informed choices and unwavering integrity.
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VI. REFERENCES

William D. Lutz. (2022, October 24). Wikipedia.

T. (n.d.). William Lutz Books | List of books by author

William Lutz. ThriftBooks.

Author - Macmillan Publishers. (2021, May 19). Macmillan

Lutz, W. (1989). Doubts about doublespeak. ETC: A Review of

General Semantics."

Orwell, G. (1949). Nineteen Eighty-Four. Secker & Warburg.

Lasswell, H. D. (1927). Propaganda Technique in the World War.

MIT Press.

Bernays, E. L. (1928). Propaganda. Horace Liveright.