Compare and Contrast

Essay 3: Block Comparison/Contrast

Society tends to misquote or put words in other peoples mouths. Instead of quoting exactly what someone else said, they put it into their own words or add something that wasn’t there before. One different word can change everything, and this is why indirect speech can be a problem. This can also lead to euphemism, which is also mentioned in the essay, “Doublespeak”, by William Lutz. Euphemism is way to make something harsh seem inoffensive. Therefore, direct speech is more effective in present-day culture.

Indirect speech is a very poor way of speaking. If someone states something, someone else using indirect speech will distort it, and maybe even change the words to their benefit. Euphemism is used in this instance to change a phrase or a statement that is harsh or negative to something positive or insensitive. Lutz uses the examples of covering up and respecting social taboos when talking about someone “sleeping with him/her” or “going to restroom”, to cover up the real meanings of the phrases. So they use those terms to cover up that someone is having sex with someone or getting rid of bodily wastes. This form of euphemism is seen as using your manners, but it doesn’t quite tell the full truth or state anything frankly. Indirect speech has done nothing for the person in this instance, and has only caused confusion and doubt.

Filatoff 2

Now for instance, direct speech is a clearer and more beneficial way of speaking. This reduces controversy or any doubt with the words used. If we refer back to the examples used, people are covering up the reality for “manners”. People need to face the truth and stop being fearful of the obvious. The fact human beings get rid of wastes will always happen and there’s no changing it. People that decide to have sex with someone is normal, and others shouldn’t have anything to say about it. We need to let go of things that are holding us back and stop using words to cover up the truth....