Sir, – While recent correspondence has suggested the English we speak is changing in an Orwellian manner, toward the Newspeak of 1984 (Letters, September 18th,19th), it seems to be to be moving in the opposite direction.
The word “ungood” was a way to eliminate the use of the word “bad” so as to eliminate negative or critical thinking. However the recent correspondence has emphasised how the word “incredible” has become almost synonymous with good – as in “an incredible game”.
The real challenge in modern expression, these linguistic trends might suggest, is in finding sufficient ways to express excellence or joy.
Over the 20th century it is well known the “terrific” and “awesome” (originally related to terrify and awful) came to denote approval. More recently in Ireland “deadly” has been similarly rebranded and “wicked” and even “bad” have somehow come to have a slang, positive meaning.
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It is not that authorities are banning the use of negative, critical adjectives but rather that we are using them for a different meaning, as we seem to lack colourful ways of approving.
As to the idea that we cannot express “that something is untrue”, the correspondent does so succinctly with that very phrase. In context “I find these claims incredible” will rarely be understood as meaning “really great”. Expressing cynicism, scepticism, doubt, reservations or hesitancy about a claim will usually communicate the point even in forums where accusations of lying are not permitted. – Yours etc,
BRIAN O’BRIEN,
Kinsale,
Co Cork.