ext_216606 ([identity profile] wlach.livejournal.com) wrote in [personal profile] sabotabby 2006-01-12 03:58 am (UTC)

I can't resist the urge to link to George Orwell's most excellent essay on writing[1]:

http://www.resort.com/~prime8/Orwell/patee.html

Maybe the answer is, as Orwell says, that writing ambiguous and muddy prose is simply easier than sitting down and articulating your thoughts clearly. That, and the fact that some people just get off on using jargon where it's not necessary.

You are correct that this type of language is used in the realm of business and government to shift accountability and obscure information (e.g..: in the case that someone is fired), but such situations are generally more the exception than the rule. In most cases people have a choice, and they're simply more comfortable expressing themselves the way that they do.

[1] I can't remember if you're one of the people that I know who hates Orwell: if you do, try to put that aside because it's really good.

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