The Giver Language Analysis

In The Giver, the community places extraordinary importance on language and requires the utilization of certain words or phrases. Specific words have been chosen to distort or hide the actual meaning of the words, making them sound less emotional. To the people living in the community, these words are used every day and appear normal; however, to a reader, certain words and phrases appear awkward and disturbing. A few interesting examples of manipulated language are “telling,” “comfort object,” and “Naming list.” The members of the community are obliged to follow rules regarding their precision of language or they will face punishment. Accordingly, saying what one means is a significant aspect of the controlled, organized society.
Every morning,
Comfort objects are given to sleep with and resemble “soft, stuffed imaginary creatures” such as hippos, elephants, badgers, and bears. After a child becomes eight years, they are forced to abandon their comfort object so it may be recycled and passed on to a younger, newchild. In the community, each person’s life is full of rules. Consequently, dictating how long a child may have a comfort object is one example of how structured life is. Comfort objects are actually plush stuffed animals that all children love, except they are described in a detached, distant way. Apparently, in The Giver, the children have never seen real animals and, therefore, the comfort objects represent imaginary creatures. One realizes that these children are not truly allowed to be children at all since their lives are already determined in a formal, unfeeling
Members of the society are required to follow strict rules regarding precise language. If a person makes a mistake or is lazy, he or she will experience severe consequences. Through these rules, the community gains power over its members and can regulate the way minds and behaviors. Sadly, members must say the same words and be exact in their meaning and descriptions. Almost all characters in The Giver seem to have accepted this way of life and follow the rituals of “telling” and “comfort objects” and the “Naming list.” As a result, the odd language serves to manipulate the community into viewing life in specific, restricted