Dialect Quote by David Foster Wallace
“There's a grosser irony about Politically Correct English. This is that PCE purports to be the dialect of progressive reform but is in fact - in its Orwellian substitution of the euphemisms of social equality for social equality itself - of vastly more help to conservatives and the US status quo than traditional SNOOT prescriptions ever were.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: "Consider the Lobster", 2004
The quote critiques how politically correct language, while claiming progressive intent, actually preserves existing power structures by masking true issues with euphemisms.
In simple terms: PC language pretends to be progressive but often sustains the status quo.
Key Takeaway
Beware of language that obscures real problems.
Themes
political correctness
language
power
social critique
Mood
skeptical
critical
analytical
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- political discourse
- media analysis
- education
- policy debates
Key Concepts
Orwellian euphemism
ideological masking
Questions to Reflect On
- How does language shape power dynamics?
- Can reformist language ever be truly neutral?
A Different Perspective
The argument may overlook genuine efforts to make language inclusive.
![“Our vulnerability [to ressentiment] is unavoidable (and probably incurable) in a kind of society in which relative equality of political and other rights and formally acknowledged social equality go hand in hand with enormous differences in genuine power, possessions and education; a society in…” quote by Zygmunt Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a5d/zygmunt-bauman-1861_differences_our-vulnerability-to-ressentiment-is-una_789126.jpg)
