Doublespeak

by William Lutz

Overview

Doublespeak is the language of non-responsibility, carefully constructed to appear to communicate when it fact it doesn't. In this lively and eye-opening expose, originally published in 1989, linguist William Lutz identifies the four most common types of doublespeak—euphemism, jargon, gobbledygook or "bureaucratese," and inflated language—showing how each is used in business, advertising, medicine, government, and the military. In this seminal book, Lutz articulates that the goal of doublespeak is "to distort reality and corrupt thought."

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781632460172
Publisher:	Ig Publishing
Publication date:	01/12/2016
Series:	Rebel Reads , #1
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	300
Sales rank:	183,224
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.20(h) x 1.00(d)

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments ix

Preface xi

I Involuntary Conversions, Preemptive Counterattacks, and Incomplete Successes: The World of Doublespeak 1

II Therapeutic Misadventures, the Economically Nonaffluent, and Deep-Chilled Chickens: The Doublespeak of Everyday Living 22

III Virgin Vinyl, Real Counterfeit Diamonds, and Genuine Imitation Leather: With These Words I Can Sell You Anything 71

IV Negative Deficits and the Elimination of Redundancies in the Human Resources Area: Business Communication, Sort Of 108

V Protein Spills, Vehicle Appearance Specialists, and Earth Engaging Equipment: Doublespeak around the World 144

VI Predawn Vertical Insertions and Hexiform Rotatable Surface Compression Units: The Pentagon Word Machine Grinds On 169

VII Nothing in Life Is Certain Except Negative Patient Care Outcome and Revenue Enhancement: Your Government at Work 200

VIII Winnable Nuclear Wars and Energetic Disassemblies: Nuclear Doublespeak 262

Appendixes

Quarterly Review of Doublespeak 280

Recipients of the Doublespeak Award 281

Recipients of the George Orwell Award for Distinguished Contribution to Honesty and Clarity in Public Language 285

Index of Doublespeak 289

General Index 293