Abstract

CARDENAS CASTANEDA, Leonardo. A criticism to the political speech in Borges' work. Rev. Lasallista Investig. [online]. 2016, vol.13, n.2, pp.9-17. ISSN 1794-4449.  https://doi.org/10.22507/rli.v13n2a1.

Abstract Introduction. There are reasons to think that Borges assumes a conservative attitude towards aesthetics, especially concerning the preservation of the old virtues in the narrative art and the good use of language, as many of his works are focused into those aspects. Objective. Indicate the way Borges defends the good use of language and the communication, showing how he satirizes certain contemporary fashions that use language in distorted ways. Materials and methods. This paper is divided into two parts: In the first one I will use Jon Stewart´s analysis Tlön, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius as a base, as Stewart´s affirms in this work that Borges makes a refutation to idealism by means of a reductio ad absurdum. Stewart´s idea is that language would be practically impossible in a world ruled by idealism, communication would be broken, thinking and sciences would be artificial, not genuine. In the second part, I will use other Borges´ stories, El Lenguaje analítico de John Wilkins and El informe de Brodie, especially where a certain resemblance with the absurd consequences of idealism are shown. Results. A certain maladjustment between the reality and the language built from subjective perceptions can be perceived. At this point, besides, I will appeal to two essays: Politics and the English Language, by George Orwell and Orwell and the Offense to Eternity, by George Steiner. The point on Orwell´s observations is that there is a clear relationship between neglecting language and the way certain totalitarian governments express themselves. Conclusions. Borges is vindicating lost traditional values, such as plain and bold communication, and at the same time ironically criticizes the new contemporary narrative fashions used by many totalitarian governments and by certain academic circles that show off a supposed elegance and depth.

Keywords : Borges; conservative; language; politics; literature.

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