After airport cops dragged Doctor David Dao off a United Airlines flight recently, the first public comment from United’s CEO was to apologize for having to “re-accommodate” the passenger. That doublespeak expression, “re-accommodate,” is less objectionable than saying, “We threatened the passenger, physically abused him, and then hauled his ass off the plane.” Language works that way—if truth needs a makeover to mask a flaw, doublespeak, euphemisms or jargon can provide a distracting cover.
You have probably received a robo call that began, “This is not a solicitation….” That lie preceded a solicitation. Shameless lies work as well as doublespeak because a gullible public just does not often think critically. Um, have we ever? We become accustomed to the doubletalk and simply shrug our shoulders in acceptance of language that on close inspection is dishonest, misleading, and blurry.
For the purpose of confusion, it is much better to acknowledge “collateral damage” than to admit, “Regretfully, we killed a multitude of innocent civilians.” Along those same lines, among the espionage people there is an expression “wet work,” which indicates an assassination is on someone’s job description. “Wet work,” really? Naturally, it is much better to die from “friendly fire” than from enemy bullets. Oh, you know how this works. Wrap a bitter pill in a square of cheese to get it down your dog’s throat. Language is flexible and can be twisted into grotesque shapes to mislead one and sundry.
George Orwell’s observation: “Political language is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind.” If a politician does not want to vote for a tax increase, he may frame his vote as a user fee. If a CEO needs to boost profits for his or her shareholders, the term downsizing replaces less attractive word choices such as layoffs or firings.
In many ways, we are all susceptible to propaganda. The doublespeak method comes from various high pulpits—media, government, public relation firms, academicians, CEOs, and commercial advertisers. If we were to count the doublespeak lies and deceptions inflicted upon us each week, we would see the pattern of damage to our sense of honesty.
Sometimes the nakedness of telling truth is unnerving, I know, but it is much better than coming up with a phrase such as “servicing the target,” a military expression for bombing an enemy outpost.
In the spirit of truth, I have always had a fondness for one firebrand character in Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Part I, a man named Hotspur. He insisted on cutting through the verbiage and posturing of those around him. He wanted plain-speaking dialogue and people who led principled lives. He said, “O, while you live, tell truth and shame the devil!” Certainly, Hotspur cares more about honor and honesty than he does about patience, impetuous as he is, but I like him for his honest speech and lack of guile.
“How much do you usually charge for a gift?” I asked after an offer of a free gift if I purchased a subscription for a certain local publication. Really, sloppiness and deception is everywhere in our language.
It is a daily challenge for all of us when someone asks, “Are you pro-life or pro-choice?” Simply reply, “Both.” You do not need to decode foolish doublespeak.