The Rise of Fake Political Language and How to Spot It
In recent years, it seems like political language has taken a hit, with an increase in the use of fake words and phrases. The rise of populism and the spread of social media have both played a role in giving rise to fake political language. In this article, we explore the fake political words and phrases used and how to spot them.
The Number One Nonsense Word Right Now: “Wake Up”
One of the most commonly used fake political words is “wake up.” It is used to mean “any acknowledgment of racism or sexism,” “expressing an opinion while being black or female,” or simply “something new I don’t like.” This word is used to shut down discussion or criticism and is often an attempt to silence opposition.
Freedom: My Freedom, Not Yours
Another fake political word is “freedom.” Typically used by American libertarians to mean “my freedom, not yours,” it is used to justify doing whatever one likes, whether it is buying a gun, driving a car around town, or not wearing a mask. It does not recognize trade-offs and restricts the freedom of other people to go outside safely or not get Covid-19.
Conservative, Populist: Destroying Traditional Institutions
“Conservative” and “populist” are terms often applied to Trump-style movements. The problem with this is that these movements are anything but “conservative” in the sense that their aim is to destroy traditional institutions. “Populism,” once had an agreed academic meaning, but that clarity has been lost in popular debate. The best word to describe Trumpian movements is usually “nativist” or “far-right.”
Witch Hunt: Protecting Rogue Politicians
“Witch Hunt” is a phrase that has become the first refuge of any rogue politician in legal trouble. Anyone tempted to believe it without asking for corroborating evidence should reflect that it has been used by individuals with questionable credibility.
The Media: A Nonsense Phrase
“The media” (or “conventional media”) is another nonsense phrase because there are numerous very different means that do not act in concert. It is a blanket term used to criticize media outlets without actually addressing their specific sources of bias.
Not a Panacea: Criticizing Policies
“Not a panacea” is a phrase often used to criticize a particular policy, but it is meaningless because no intervention in society is a panacea. It is a way to deflect valid criticism by protecting proponents of a policy from accountability when it fails or has unintended consequences.
Understanding: You Agree with Me
“Understands” is a social media phrase used to mean “you agree with me.” It is often used by individuals when trying to get others to join in their dissent.
Is Not Perfect: Deflecting Valid Criticism
“Is not perfect” is often used to defend a political regime. However, since no human creation is perfect, the phrase is only meant to deflect valid criticism.
Fake News: Leading Producer of Fake Political Language
“Fake News” was a term used in 2016 to describe low-paid troll factories producing fake content posing as news on Facebook. Today, President Donald Trump is the leading producer of fake political language, reusing the phrase to refer to any news that is inconvenient for the speaker.
We Will Meet This Goal By…: Someone Else’s Problem
“We will meet this goal by 2030, 2050, etc.” means that “it is up to future leaders to decide if they will make any sacrifices to achieve this goal.” This is often used to make it seem like a cause is being supported without actually committing to anything.
Sustainable Luxury, Sustainable Flight: The Illusion of Progress
“Sustainable luxury,” “sustainable flight,” etc. usually mean that carbon emissions from packaging have been cut by a small percentage so one can purchase more of what they want without being overly concerned with the effects. These terms create an illusion of progress without any real change in behaviour.
Critical Race Theory, Gender Theory, Marxism: A Lack of Understanding
“Critical race theory,” “gender theory,” and “Marxism” are terms mostly used by those who have read precisely zero works in any of these fields. It is a way to criticize ideas without engaging in debate or even attempting to understand what is being discussed.
Cancelled: A Vague Term
“Cancelled” is a term used to describe people who claim to have been deprived of public platforms or fired for saying things that were perceived (often wrongly) as bigoted. Generally, though, people who say they’ve been “canceled” mean “criticized,” “convicted of sexual assault,” “replaced by someone who isn’t an outspoken fan,” or simply “ignored.”
Community: A Racial Divide
The word “community” is often used to mean “ethnic group,” as in “Jewish community,” “Hispanic community,” “black community,” etc. This creates a racial divide even within groups that share cultural ties and promotes a false sense of unity.
The Power of Language: Reducing Nonsense Words
George Orwell wrote about the role of political language in making “lies ring true and murder respectable” in his essay “Politics and the English Language” in 1946. He listed other “tired and useless” words and phrases that were disappearing in his day. Later, after the 9/11 attacks, the overused words “heroes” and “greatest country in the world” became clichéd. By getting rid of nonsense words, people can think straight and understand their world better.
Additional Piece: The Political Implications of Fake Language
Fake language has serious political implications that can undermine democratic principles and alter political discourse. When politicians use fake political language, it is often to avoid accountability for their actions or to stifle healthy debate about important issues. For example, when Trump uses the term “fake news,” he is trying to delegitimize criticism of his administration and divert attention from his own shortcomings.
One of the biggest threats of fake language is that it can blur the lines between truth and lies, making it difficult for people to distinguish between the two. This is particularly dangerous when political leaders use fake language to spread lies and misinformation. It can lead people to make decisions based on false information, which, in turn, can lead to disastrous consequences.
Another danger of fake language is that it can be used to manipulate the public’s opinion on important issues. For example, when politicians use the term “freedom” to justify their actions, they are appealing to the public’s sense of independence and individuality. This language can be used to mask authoritarianism and limit people’s freedom rather than facilitate it.
Fake language also has the potential to create division and mistrust between different groups of people. This can be especially true when terms like “witch hunt” and “fake news” are used to demonize those who hold opposing views. Rather than engaging in respectful debate, these terms can fuel animosity and further polarize groups.
In conclusion, fake political language has become a major concern in modern political discourse. By recognizing and calling out fake language, people can help promote healthy political debate and hold politicians accountable for their actions. It is time to recognize the importance of language and the impact it has on shaping political discourse.
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Each era spawns its own nonsense political language. The number one nonsense word right now is “wake up,” which is used to mean “any acknowledgment of racism or sexism,” “expressing an opinion while being black or female,” or simply “something new I don’t like.” I’ve tried to identify some of today’s other fake political words and phrases:
• “Freedom”: typically used by American libertarians to mean “my freedom, not yours”. When they invoke “freedom,” they usually mean, “I should be free to do what I like, whether it’s buying a gun, driving my car around town, or not wearing a mask.” They do not recognize trade-offs; their freedoms restrict the freedom of other people to go outside safely or not get Covid-19. The “my freedom, not yours” case study is self-proclaimed “free speech absolutist” Elon Musk allowing authoritarian regimes to censor content on Twitter.
• “Conservative”, “populist”: both terms are commonly applied to Trump-style movements. However, these movements are anything but “conservative” in the sense that their aim is to destroy traditional institutions. “Populism” once had an agreed academic meaning: Cas Mudde defined it as the idea that politics was a clash between the “pure people” and the “corrupt elite”, but this clarity has been lost in popular debate. The best word to describe Trumpian movements is usually “nativist” or “far right.”
• “Witch hunt”: a phrase that has become the first refuge of any rogue politician in legal trouble. Anyone tempted to believe it without asking for corroborating evidence should reflect that it has been used by speakers with the credibility of Jorge Santosthe Republican congressman accused of fraud, and Donald Trump before him.
• “The media” (or “conventional media”): a nonsense phrase because there are innumerable very different means, which do not act in concert.
• “Not a panacea”: a phrase often used to criticize a particular policy, but meaningless because no intervention in society is a panacea.
• “Understands”: a social media phrase used to mean “you agree with me”.
• “Is not perfect”: often used to defend a political regime, as in “My country’s government is not perfect, but . . . In truth, since no human creation is perfect, the phrase is only meant to deflect valid criticism.
• “Fake News”: in 2016, this meant low-paid troll factories producing fake content posing as news on Facebook. Trump, today’s leading producer of fake political language, reused the phrase to refer to any news that is inconvenient for the speaker.
• “We will meet this goal by 2030, 2050, etc.”: this means that “it is up to future leaders to decide if they will make any sacrifices to achieve this goal.”
• “Sustainable luxury”, “sustainable flight”, etc: it usually means something like, “We’ve cut carbon emissions from our packaging by 7 percent, so buy more of our stuff.”
• “Critical race theory”, “gender theory”, “Marxism”: terms mostly used by nativists who have read precisely zero works in any of these fields.
• “Cancelled”: some people have actually been deprived of public platforms or even fired for saying things that were perceived (often wrongly) as bigoted. Generally, though, people who say they’ve been “canceled” mean “criticized,” “convicted of sexual assault,” “replaced by someone who isn’t an outspoken fan,” or simply “ignored.” I will always remember the obscure French writer who told me that Le Monde was “boycotting” his books.
• “Community”: it is often used to mean “ethnic group”, as in “Jewish community”, “Hispanic community”, “black community”, etc. The claim is that all “Hispanics,” for example, are united. You can then go and see your “community leaders”, often self-proclaimed older men, who will tell you what the “community” wants. The word is typically used by white people who would never consider themselves members of the “white community”. They think they are individuals, with their own points of view.
“Political language is designed to make lies ring true and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to sheer wind,” George Orwell wrote in his 1946 essay “Politics and the English Language” (The Complete Guide on how to write in just 13 pages). He lists other “tired and useless” words and phrases that were disappearing in his day: boot, Achilles heel, hotbed, crucible, trial by fire, veritable hell. Later, the same fate befell words overused after the 9/11 attacks: “heroes” (a euphemism for victims) and “greatest country in the world” (meaning the largest army and GDP). People were also embarrassed to finally say “international community” or “give up spending time with my family.” As Orwell said, you can only think straight once you get rid of nonsense words.
Follow Simon on Twitter @KuperSimon and send an email to simon.kuper@ft.com
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