Twisting the Language Around

Purpose of Twisting the Language Around

There are three reasons someone would attempt to twist the language around, which are ranked here from the most to least innocent.

Twisting the Language Around out of Ignorance

Some people simply don't know better. Not everyone is a logician, well-honed debater, or politician. Some people might twist the language around without even knowing it's wrong.

This isn't surprising. Arguments are politically charged and polarizing these days, and people frequently get away with lies and ad hominem attacks on television and in debates. Unfortunately, twisting the language around is almost a norm!

Fig. 1 - Unfortunately, politicians frequently twist their language.

Twisting the Language Around as a Last Resort

Some people know it's wrong to cover up their weak arguments with twisty language, but if you corner someone, they might do something they wouldn't otherwise do.

A lot of people do not like to lose an argument. Instead of accepting defeat graciously, they will twist the language of their argument around as one last, desperate attempt to repair the argument.

Twisting the Language Around for Nefarious Effect

Finally, someone might twist the language around on purpose. Twisting the language around is a strategy for some debaters, pundits, and politicians.

This is because if you twist the language around, you can manipulate the conversation and attempt to create a certain effect on the audience.

Effects of Twisting the Language Around

When someone tries to cover up the holes in their argument using language, this results in one of a few things.

Agreement

Unfortunately, someone inexperienced in logical discourse might not notice that someone is twisting the language around. As a result, they might take someone's illogical twist as a good argument.

Someone might blindly agree with this sentiment if they're upset. However, this argument never attempts to explain the city's "big problems," which is a gaping hole in the logic.

Confusion

Someone might hear that argument about needing a city oversight council and be confused.

An arguer might not be able to get someone to agree with them right away, but if they can confuse the issue, in time, they might bring someone around to their point of view.

Fig. 2 - Don't let someone confuse you. Step back and think it through logically.

If an issue becomes so muddy and vague that no one can make heads or tails of it, someone can take advantage of that misinformation and create a new narrative and plan of action.

Distraction

Readers and listeners might be on to their illogic, so someone might twist the language to change the subject.

Rattling on, this person pushes the topic toward the president and democratic representation. There is still no explanation of the city's "problems."

Defeat

If your opponent is on point, there is only one effect of twisting the language around: defeat.

They're right, of course. In the end, you will not get away with vapid or weak arguments, especially in an academic setting. If you twist the language around, you have committed a logical fallacy.

There's that term again: logical fallacy. It's time to break down why twisting the language around is illogical and why you should never do it.

Why You Shouldn't Twist the Language Around

Broadly speaking, twisting the language around is a logical fallacy.

A keen writer or speaker can identify a logical fallacy and explain exactly why it fails. We saw that with the last example.

Twisting the language around is a logical fallacy because it does not prove any logical point; it merely looks like a logical point.

If someone uses something illogical instead of something logical, they commit a logical fallacy. In some ways, it's that simple!

Examples of Twisting the Language Around in an Argument

You can twist the language around in many ways. Some of these ways do not adhere to the definition of "twisting the language around" in terms of logic, but they do adhere to its definition in terms of its common usage today.

Twisting the Language Around with Semantics

Semantics is a major branch of linguistic study.

One part of semantics is "the meaning of words through time." For example, the word "handsome" used to mean "easy to handle" or "handy." Only over time did it gain the meaning "attractive," which its main usage today.

It doesn't always take hundreds of years and a natural shift to occur, though. A semantic shift can occur quicker than ever today, thanks to the Internet. The name "Karen" has experienced a dramatic semantic shift, for instance. In 2015, it was more or less just a name. By 2020 the name had taken on a different connotation, to mean a "privileged, angry white woman."

This is how you can twist the language around to mean different things. Take the term "snowflake," which for hundreds of years had only to do with snow. However, in the 1980s, it developed the positive connotation of "someone special." Then that changed, too, and the term came to be sarcastic and derisive, meaning someone who is overly sensitive.

Individuals, movements, and organizations have the ability to co-opt words and twist language around to mean things that they never did before.

Twisting the Language Around in Logical Fallacies

Here are some specific logical fallacies that twist the language around.

Take this example again.

This is an example of circular reasoning, a logical fallacy that twists the language around.

Circular reasoning might look good, especially the longer it goes on, but it is not actually a strong argument.

Finally, take this example again.

This example begs the question.

This example assumes a problem with the city to justify a course of action.

Twisting the language around is just the tip of the iceberg regarding logical fallacies. If you want to look at logical fallacies more in-depth, you can study the syllogism, deduction, and deductive flaws. Or, you can read more about specific logical fallacies such as equivocation, false dichotomy, and argument from authority!