Newspeak

Overview 

Newspeak is a fictional language that Orwell invented for Nineteen Eighty-Four. In the novel’s setting, Newspeak is a constructed language designed for use by the Party and it plays an important role in the story. The book even contains an Appendix that provides more detailed and organised information about it (pp. 312-326). Some useful information can also be found in Winston’s conversation with his colleague Syme (a Newspeak expert) in an early section of the book (pp. 53-56). Orwell’s dedication to explaining how Newspeak works indicates that it is fundamental to the society that he has invented for the novel.

Newspeak is a modified version of British English (called ‘Oldspeak’ in the book), designed to make the language much simpler and much more closely matched to the Party’s id...