How did George Orwell connect vague language with political power?

George Orwell argued that political power is maintained through the deliberate debasement of language, where vague terminology, euphemisms, and "cloudy vagueness" are used to defend the indefensible. By obscuring the reality of violent or oppressive actions—such as labeling the destruction of villages as "pacification"—political actors can manipulate public perception and shield themselves from accountability.1

In his essay "Politics and the English Language," Orwell highlighted how such evasive writing serves to protect political orthodoxy and conformity. He further explored this concept in his novel Nineteen Eighty-four through the creation of "Newspeak," a language designed by a totalitarian state to limit the range of human thought. By restricting vocabulary and promoting contradictory concepts like "doublethink," the state effectively prevents dissent, as the very words required to formulate rebellious ideas are systematically eliminated. Ultimately, Orwell viewed the corruption of language as a fundamental tool for totalitarian control, asserting that clear, honest communication is essential for preserving human dignity and independent thought.123