Sir, – George Orwell published his book, Nineteen Eighty-Four, 75 years ago. The book is about England under a dictatorship, and he described the introduction of Newspeak, a version of the English language with such a limited vocabulary that dissent would be impossible, as there would be no words to express it.
Adjectives were reduced to “good” and “ungood”.
The modern version of Newspeak goes further, and replaces all such descriptive words with “unbelievable” or “incredible”.
We speak of looking at an unbelievable view or watching an incredible game.
Fionnula Flanagan: I remember the ‘No Irish or dogs’ signs. I didn’t want to live in a country that took that attitude towards me
Rory McIlroy at The Masters: Brace for the next chapter in one of Ireland’s greatest sporting sagas
Miriam Lord: With Verona under fire, TDs suddenly realise they are gravely concerned about misogyny after all
Looking forward to a future where doctors prescribe time to take in a hedgerow
The cry of “I don’t believe it!” now means “I am amazed/ delighted/disappointed/ horrified (and I do believe it)”.
In an era of misinformation, disinformation and lies, it is dangerous that we are losing the ability to say we think that something is untrue.
MICHAEL PEGUM,
Donnybrook,
Dublin.
