Mandated Vocabulary

 

I recently read an interesting article* in Mental Floss titled 8 Extraordinary Examples of Constrained Writing. "Constrained writing" refers to a set of writing techniques that impose specific rules on word usage and style. The article examines eight different techniques and all are fascinating, but one stuck out for me: Mandated Vocabulary.

When using mandated vocabulary, the writer may be prohibited from using certain words, allowed to use only certain words, limited only to a certain number of words, or permitted to use only words that fit within a particular set of guidelines.

Mandated vocabulary has had a long and interesting history during my lifetime, such as the push to use gender-neutral terms (think mail carrier for mailman** or flight attendant for stewardess), all-purpose pronouns (they for he or she or theirs for his or hers), and the execrable Latinx for Latino or Latina. But mandated vocabulary has reached new heights under the reign of Der Furor, where every government database and library is being scrubbed of words considered objectionable by hard-right conservatives and their radical evangelical followers, and non-objectionable words are turned on their semantic heads to meet the needs of the political moment. As an example of the latter, consider the term patriot applied (with a straight face) to the violent rioters of January 6th, 2021.

Pen America has compiled an ever-growing list of words banned by various federal government agencies. The list contains more than 350 words and phrases, including such linguistic horrors as:

abortion;

affordable housing;

bias;

carbon footprint;

cultural sensitivity;

diversity;

disparity;

gender;

green;

hate speech;

indigenous;

marginalized;

pollution;

privilege;

racism;

science-based;

trauma;

underrepresented;

water quality; and, of course,

white privilege

Mandated vocabulary is similar in a political context to the famous Newspeak invented by George Orwell for his classic novel 1984. Newspeak was developed to help the government of Big Brother*** control people's minds by simplifying the language to channel conversation in approved directions and discourage free thought. In Newspeak, all the banned words on the government's pre-approved list would be considered doubleplus ungood. 

Constrained writing is not necessarily a bad thing but, as with just about anything, it can be used for ill purposes. Be on the linguistic lookout.

Have a good day and don't let the constrained thought of the MAGA movement limit your expression. Big Brother does not have your best interests at heart.

More thoughts coming.

Bilbo

* Interesting to a guy with a degree in Linguistics, anyhow.

** A classic example of the push for gender-neutral language was the joke about the very politically correct mother who told her child to "go out to the personbox and see if the personperson has left us any person."

** The 1984 version of Der Furor.