Orwell makes quite a statement with his examples of how the english language is used badly in the modern day. The meaning of words have become less "concrete" and more vague often due to a speaker or writer being unable to get his or her point across without using a metaphore or buzz word that is used so often that it can be taken many different ways. As Orwell says,"Prose consists less and less of words chosen for the sake of their meaning, and more and more of phrases tacked together like sections of a prefabricated henhouse." Like the use of the word "Phacism", many including myself, do not know the real meaning of the word, but as it is used in many political speeches, it is not seen as something good.
Many of the passages in the reading use so many metaphores of old that you are lost as to what the point of it was in the first place. This is one of the main points of learning about writing, trying not to distract someone from the main purpose of a writing or speech. We write something to get a point across. If we are using so many words or phrases that have more than one meaning to someone, how are we to get our point across without making it more confusing?
I believe Orwell is saying that being vague in writing and speaking has become a way of life in today's civilization. Sometimes this is used purposely, so that someone would not be offended by what is called Politically incorrect. Simplify your words to get a point across.
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