Such nuances precisely illuminate Syme's Oldspeak worries.

The first is systematic lying in Newspeak, the second a passionate search for truth in Oldspeak. Orwell contrasts the mindless, bureaucratic attitude Winston needs to do this work with his panic at the blank sheet of paper, his poor handwriting, his mental and emotional confusion when he starts writing for himself.

Spin has finally moved us into the Orwellian darkness of "newspeak, oldspeak, doublethink and doublespeak." Press defines spin as: "Something between truth and a lie." But "Most of the time, spin is an innocent form of speech." Then, a curious contradiction: "The rule is: "Spin yes--lies no--unless you're under oath when only the truth and nothing but the truth will do." Even Press can spin it both ways.

During the interview, which appeared in Rutherford's online magazine Oldspeak, Whitehead asked Thomas about the claim that America was founded on Christianity.

If a woman heartlessly plays fast and loose with her fiance, trading him in for a richer, better-looking model but hanging on to his grandmother's heirloom engagement ring as a keepsake, most of their social circle will studiously try to avoid "taking sides." They'll indulge in a little psycho-babble, noting that it takes both members of a dyad to create a dysfunctional arena (or, in Oldspeak, it takes two to tango).