doublespeak
Sign in to saveDoublespeak is language that deliberately obscures, disguises, distorts, or reverses the meaning of words. Doublespeak may take the form of euphemisms (e.g., "downsizing" for layoffs and "servicing the target" for bombing), in which case it is primarily meant to make the truth sound more palatable. It may also refer to intentional ambiguity in language or to actual inversions of meaning. In such cases, doublespeak disguises the nature of the truth.
~10 min read
Article
17 sectionsContents
- Origins and concepts
- Examples
- In politics
- In advertising
- In comedy
- Intensify/downplay pattern
- In social media
- Doublespeak Award
- NCTE Committee on Public Doublespeak
- Hugh Rank
- Daniel Dieterich
- William D. Lutz
- Education against doublespeak
- See also
- Notes
- References
- External links
Doublespeak is language that deliberately obscures, disguises, distorts, or reverses the meaning of words. Doublespeak may take the form of euphemisms (e.g., "downsizing" for layoffs and "servicing the target" for bombing), in which case it is primarily meant to make the truth sound more palatable. It may also refer to intentional ambiguity in language or to actual inversions of meaning. In such cases, doublespeak disguises the nature of the truth.
Doublespeak is most closely associated with political language used by large entities such as corporations and governments.
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