評論
打印
A hypnotic state of cognitive dissonance in which one is compelled to disregard their own perception in place of the officially dictated version of events, leaving the individual completely dependent on the State's definition of reality itself.
一種催眠狀態下的認知失調，在此狀態下，人們被強迫放棄自己的認知，取而代之的是事件解讀的官方版本，使個人完全依附于政府定義下的“現實”。
The result is a world in which even the privacy of one's own thought process is violated, where one may be found guilty of thoughtcrime by talking in their sleep, and keeping a diary or having a love affair equals a subversive act of rebellion.
這樣的結果就是個人獨立的思維過程被侵犯，夢囈可能被認定是思想犯罪，寫日記或者發生外遇被認為是反叛的顛覆性行為。
This might sound like something that can only happen in totalitarian regimes.
這看起來只有在極權政體下才可能發生的現象。
But Orwell was warning us about the potential for this occurring even in democratic societies.
但是奧威爾警示我們，這種現象在民主社會仍有可能發生。
And this is why "authoritarian" alone does not "Orwellian" make.
這就是為什么單單“專制主義”并不等同于“奧威爾現象”。
In his essay, "Politics and the English Language," he described techniques like using pretentious words to project authority, or making atrocities sound acceptable by burying them in euphemisms and convoluted sentence structures.
在他的《政治與英語語言》一文中，他描述了各種手段，諸如矯飾詞匯來形容權威，或者用委婉說法掩蓋殘暴行徑，使其得到接受或者迂回扭曲句子結構。
But even more mundane abuses of language can affect the way we think about things.
更平常的語言濫用也可以影響我們的思維方式。
The words you see and hear in everyday advertising have been crafted to appeal to you and affect your behavior.
我們每天在廣告中看到、聽到的言論都是為了吸引觀眾和改變其行為而塑造的。
As have the soundbites and talking points of political campaigns which rarely present the most nuanced perspective on the issues.
政治競選中的評述和論點亦是如此，這些都很少表達出細致的觀點。
And the way that we use ready-made phrases and responses gleaned from media reports or copied from the Internet makes it easy to get away with not thinking too deeply or questioning your assumptions.
在我們使用這些媒體報道中現成的短語、評論，或者從網絡上復制內容的時候，很少再去深刻思考或者質疑前提假設。
So the next time you hear someone use the word Orwellian, pay close attention.
下一次你聽到某人使用“奧威爾現象”這次詞的時候可要注意了。
If they're talking about the deceptive and manipulative use of language, they're on the right track.
如果他們說的是對語言的欺詐性和操控性的使用，那就是正確的使用方式。
If they're talking about mass surveillance and intrusive government, they're describing something authoritarian but not necessarily Orwellian.
如果他們說的是大規模監視和干預型政府，那他們更像是在說“專制主義”，而不一定是“奧威爾現象”。
And if they use it as an all-purpose word for any ideas they dislike, it's possible their statements are more Orwellian than whatever it is they're criticizing.
如果他們試圖用萬能詞匯描述他們反對的觀點，那么有可能他們的說法更傾向于“奧威爾現象”而非他們所批評的內容。
Words have the power to shape thought.
詞匯有塑造思維的力量。
Language is the currency of politics, forming the basis of society from the most common, everyday interactions to the highest ideals.
語言是政治的流通貨幣，從日?；拥礁呒壚硐虢⑸鐣幕A。
Orwell urged us to protect our language because ultimately our ability to think and communicate clearly is what stands between us and a world where war is peace and freedom is slavery.
奧威爾勸告我們去保護我們的語言，因為思考和交流的能力正是我們與一個顛倒的世界之間的屏障，在那里，戰爭即和平，奴役即自由。
