860.3 million. The average number of words a person uses in their lifetime. But, how often do we ponder the impact of language? At times the words of others influence our judgment, especially, when it comes to political matters. The world runs because of politics and politics run because of words.
Aldous Huxley strongly advocates this idea as he writes from the perspective of an English citizen during an unsettling and conflicting time in history. The essay “Words and Behavior” proposes that language interconnects with war and the politics that shape our views and history. Simultaneously, Huxley states the malignant power a word’s connotation holds when it comes to formulating our perspective on governmental affairs. The essay starts off describing
…show more content…
Using a popularly known phrase such as “a war of attrition” and giving it a new meaning will remind people of his point every time they hear that phrase being used. Additionally, he hyperbolizes the meaning of the phrase by making it sound like politicians who use it have no conscience when it comes to war fatalities. Through a known expression Huxley is providing clear evidence to his claim that politicians overuse euphemisms, this allows the audience to consider his beliefs credible. Huxley’s hyperboles don’t end there “language is…a device which men use for suppressing and distorting the truth” is another clear example of Huxley exaggerating and dramatizing the intent of words. This is an ineffective way to persuade the audience due to the fact that he himself is trying to use words to manipulate his readers and yet, he is revealing to them that words are almost always false. Drilling this idea could lead the more aware readers to question whether or not what Huxley says holds truths. Stressing the dishonesty of politics could have been accomplished without him taking away his own reliability. However, his overly critical statement becomes easy to overlook and even gets lost in the middle of all his other compelling