MANIPULATION OF LANGUAGEHow to identify if you are being manipulated in every day speeches, presentations, or the world itself!

1) LOOK FOR EUPHEMISMS

Definition: A way to describe something harsh in a non-harsh way.

Examples: Harsh term=death

Euphemisms=passed away, bitten the dust, breathed one’s last, cashed in your chips, asleep with Jesus

Harsh term=I really have to go (and you know what that means) Euphemisms=be excused, do your business, smallest

room in the house, visit the ladies room Harsh term= War

Euphemisms= Collateral damage, freedom fighters, friendly fire, ethnic cleansing, armed intervention, neutralize, pacify, relocation center

2) IDENTIFY HYPERBOLES

Definition: Making something sound way more extreme than it is.

Examples: He is as skinny as a toothpick. If you don’t vote for this, we will all die of

starvation. We are such a poor country, we don’t have two

cents to rub together. It adds amazing lustre for infinite, mirror-like

shine. This new car costs a bazillion dollars.

3) RECOGNIZE OBFUSCATION (OB-FUS-CATION ) Definition: using tricky phrasing to confusing an

audience into drawing fake, yet desirable conclusions.

Examples: Any failure by Visa to enforce any of its rights under

the Rules or applicable laws shall not constitute a waiver of such right. If any provision of the Rules is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, you, Visa, and the court shall endeavor to give effect to the intent reflected in that provision, and the remaining Rules provisions shall retain their full force and effect.

Our interpretation: What? Ok well that sounds like they will be held accountable. Therefore I WILL open a credit card.

4) LOOK OUT FOR DOUBLESPEAK!

Definition: a phrase that contradicts the actual meaning of the words used. AKA making something negative sound positive

Examples: Airplanes don’t crash, they just have

“uncontrolled contact with the ground” Farmers no longer have cows, pigs, chickens, or

other animals on their farms; according to the US Department of Agriculture, farmers have “grain-consuming animal units”

Cars aren’t used, they are “pre-owned” Vinyl is “genuine imitation leather” We have “real counterfeit diamonds”

5) BE LEERY OF JARGON!

Definition: technical terms that are not commonly understood by the general public but by people in a specific group, profession, etc.

Examples: Teenagers (you)

Peeps, homes, G, LOL, BFF Police

Suspect, 10-4, Code eight, FTP Business

Bang for the buck, due diligence, sweat equity Medical

BP, agonal, FX, JT, NBM, K, etc

6) TAKE NOTICE OF ALLUSIONS

Definition: Making references to well known events, works, leaders, people, etc.

Examples: Alluding to:

Martin Luther King Jr. to get a sense of awe and reverence

President Bush to make people think the person you’re talking about is an idiot.

Referencing Saturday Night Live to get people into the humour thinking mode, that the mood will be funny or to relate to people.

Using Homeless people as an excuse for bad things to get people thinking they might be expendable human beings.

7) LOOK OUT FOR BIAS

Definition: Obviously implying that your side is better than the opposition. Phrasing things in your favor.

Examples: The hard truth is that New Orleans has always

been crime-infested. There is no connection between Hurricane Katrina and crime. That's just part of a touchy-feely narrative that is supposed to make us think that anything wrong with New Orleans has to be as a result of Hurricane Katrina.