A code word is a word or a phrase designed to evoke a predetermined meaning to certain listeners while disguising the speaker's true meaning by allowing them to use a word that sounds much more acceptable to an average listener. Code word is implied to be more disingenuous than a standard rhetorical device by the user's knowing attempt to deceive large groups of people. A rhetorical device is a technique, sometimes called a resource of language, used by an author or speaker to induce an emotional response. ...

Politics

In political contexts, this refers sometimes to words or phrases allegedly used by politicians on either side of the political spectrum in superficially moderate statements but which covertly convey support for more extremist beliefs, like Orwell's "Newspeak". E.g., many conservatives argue that liberals do this when using speech that is politically correct. They argue that this is done not merely out of respect for others, but an attempt to further a larger liberal agenda. In politics and religion, a moderate is an individual who holds an intermediate position between two extreme or radical viewpoints. ... Eric Arthur Blair (25 June 1903[1][2] – 21 January 1950), better known by the pen name George Orwell, was a British author and journalist. ... Newspeak is a fictional language in George Orwells novel Nineteen Eighty-Four. ... Liberalism is an ideology, philosophical view, and political tradition which holds that liberty is the primary political value. ... Political correctness is the alteration of language to redress real or alleged injustices and discrimination or to avoid offense. ...

Interestingly, Code word has itself become a code word. The phrase has entered into recent debates with one or both parties intending to belittle the position of the other by accusing them of using code words. This implies that the target's arguments are insincere, and are little more than propaganda. Debate (North American English) or debating (British English) is a formal method of interactive and position representational argument. ... An Australian anti-conscription propaganda poster from World War One U.S. propaganda poster, which warns against civilians sharing information on troop movements (National Archives) The much-imitated 1914 Lord Kitchener Wants You! poster Swedish Anti-Euro propaganda for the referendum of 2003. ...

Professional

Professionals may use code words to send messages to one another in the presence of a client or customer. For example, a customer support professional may say "the problem was with the PEBKAC", (meaning "Problem Exists Between Keyboard and Chair", in other words the end user) or "it was an ID 10 t error" ("ID10t" meaning "idiot" in leet). A professional does something as a profession, or receives payment for some activity. ... Economics and commerce define an end-user as the person who uses a product. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Alternatively, a doctor or nurse may page "Dr. Brown" or a similar fictitious person as a covert request for immediate security when dealing with a potentially combative patient. Terms like "code red" and "code blue" are also commonly used in hospital settings to alert staff to fires or electrical problems, as well as "code brown" to describe a patient's involuntary loss of bowel control, without scaring other clients. This article focuses on the education and regulation of nurses. ... Pediatric polysomnography patient Childrens Hospital (Saint Louis), 2006 A patient or invalid is any person who receives medical attention, care, or treatment. ... A forest fire Fire is a rapid oxidation process that creates light, heat, and smoke, and varies in intensity. ...

Wal-Mart uses a system of code words to communicate with employees without alarming customers; for example, "Code Brown" signifies gunfire on the premises. ^[1] Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. ...

Emergency rescue workers or police officers may say "There is a 'K'" for dead body.

Movie theater employees may say "Mr. Johnson is in theater number three" to indicate that there is a fire or smoke in that theater. The need for such a code word is obvious since even the idea that there may be a fire in a crowded theater must be kept from the theatergoers.

Police also use the 10-code system. Ten-codes, properly known as ten signals, are code words used to represent common phrases in voice communication, particularly in radio transmissions. ...

See also

• Euphemism
• Dog-whistle politics
• Doublespeak
• Framing (communication theory)
• Glittering generality
• Loaded language
• Power word

This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Dog-whistle politics is a term used to describe a type of political campaigning which is only heard by a specific intended audience. ... Doublespeak is language deliberately constructed to disguise or distort its actual meaning, often resulting in a communication bypass. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Framing (psychology). ... Glittering generalities are emotionally appealing words so closely associated with highly valued concepts and beliefs that they carry conviction without supporting information or reason. ... Loaded words are words or phrases which have strong emotional overtones or connotations and which evoke strongly positive (or negative) reactions far beyond the specific meaning of the word which is listed in the dictionary. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Examples

• Compassionate conservatism
• Culture of Life
• Culture of Death
• People of Faith -- in the U.S., refers generally to Christians
• Hardworking families - United Kingdom
• Inclusive language
• Right to Choose

Definition Compassionate conservatism is a political philosophy that was invented by Marvin Olasky, who went on to memorialize it in his 2000 book Compassionate Conservatism: What it is, What it Does, and How it Can Transform America, and Myron Magnet of the Manhattan Institute. ... The phrase culture of life is a rhetorical term arising from Roman Catholic doctrine, used frequently by Republicans in United States politics. ... Culture of death has two distinct meanings: A term coined by John Paul II. It is used in contemporary political discourse in many countries, including the United States and Poland, to describe supportive positions on certain subjects, such as abortion, euthanasia, human cloning and capital punishment which adherents of opposing... This article is about the religous people known as Christians. ... Glittering generalities are emotionally appealing words so closely associated with highly valued concepts and beliefs that they carry conviction without supporting information or reason. ... Gender-neutral language (gender-generic, gender-inclusive, non-sexist, or sex-neutral language) is language that attempts to refer neither to males nor females when discussing an abstract or hypothetical person whose sex cannot otherwise be determined. ...

References

1. ^ AZCentral.com; last accessed October 31, 2006.

October 31 is the 304th day of the year (305th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 61 days remaining. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

External links

Usage examples:

• Code Word: Containment "...the new code word for sanctions..." - Jeff Guntzel, 08/14/02
• Paul Martin's codeword for "who cares" (Canada) "Unacceptable is a word that Martin and his Liberal members use when they disapprove of something but have absolutely no intention of doing anything about it." - Arthur Weinreb, 04/08/05