{
  "id": 18830310,
  "title": "Petua 10: Gaya bahasa samar, berlapik dan mengelirukan–senjata sulit propaganda moden",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/08/petua-10-gaya-bahasa-samar-berlapik-dan-mengelirukan-senjata-sulit-18830310",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-08T00:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2026/11/08/petua-10-gaya-bahasa-samar-berlapik-dan-mengelirukan-senjata-sulit-propaganda-moden"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In today's modern political world filled with an overwhelming flow of information, propaganda no longer operates through the crude, forceful and blatant methods of the past. Modern propaganda operates through language, particularly language that is vague, forceful, and confusing. According to Jason Stanley, a Yale University philosophy professor and author of How Propaganda Works (2015), modern propaganda succeeds not because it confuses, but because it presents truth in a misleading manner. The language of propaganda becomes a tool for controlling people's minds in a subtle, almost undetectable way, but highly effective in shaping what people believe to be true. Stanley explains modern propaganda functions by blocking critical discourse. It's not just about denying access to information, but manipulating the meaning of information so people cannot make rational judgments. The language used appears professional, technical, and rational, but in reality, it hides the actual actions or covers failures. For instance, when subsidies are withdrawn, they are often described as \"restructuring support mechanisms\" or \"rationalizing subsidies.\" When government management problems arise, phrases like \"issue under consideration,\" \"assessment is being made,\" or \"matter is being thoroughly investigated\" are heard. All these sentences sound polite and convincing, but upon closer examination, they don't explain anything at all. The art of propaganda through vague language functions because it fulfills two political needs: first, it maintains government image; second, it reassures people to prevent panic. Stanley categorizes propaganda into two types. Supporting propaganda uses language that appears to support democratic values such as integrity, professionalism, and stability, but the real goal is to maintain government power. Undermining propaganda, on the other hand, is language that sounds rational but is used to cover up dishonesty or actions contrary to the public interest. Both use the same vague, forceful, and patient language, functioning differently in context. In modern society, forceful language is used to manage people's perceptions and emotions. When sensitive issues arise such as rising prices, mega project failures, government institution weaknesses, or inter-ethnic tensions, governments tend to choose comforting phrases. \"Managing global economic pressure,\" \"restructuring fiscal structure,\" \"strengthening the management system,\" or \"conducting improvement procedures\" are all examples of how language is used to camouflage reality. People hear pleasant-sounding words, but do not understand the actual actions being taken. Stanley emphasizes that modern propaganda also works through information overload. In a system where media is directly or indirectly controlled, one-sided information becomes the norm. People rely on \"official facts,\" and government language becomes media language. Therefore, the same forceful language is repeated through news, newspaper statements, economic reports, and leaders' speeches. This repetition ultimately makes language propaganda part of everyday speech. People are unaware they are being influenced, because the language used is not coarse or deceptive, but professional and evasive. Vague language is also used to create an unnamed enemy. This technique is very effective because it plants emotions without needing to prove anything. Phrases like \"certain parties are trying to undermine national stability,\" \"foreign agenda is infiltrating,\" or \"extremist elements cannot be taken lightly\" are often used without clear identities. People hear threats, feel concern, but do not know who the real enemy is. This technique creates a sense of fear that is carefully controlled and ultimately provides justification for the government to take harsh actions, pass additional laws or control the public space. In the context of Malaysia, the culture of forceful language has long been ingrained. When a racial issue arises, the phrase \"community sensitivity\" is used to avoid continued discussion on discrimination or inequality. When a scandal occurs, the phrase \"minority\" is used. When the economy declines, the phrase \"economic structure adjustment\" becomes the choice. When the government fails to manage a disaster, the phrase \"adjustment challenge\" is used to divert attention from management shortcomings. The language is not wrong, but it separates people from understanding the true reality. Propaganda through vague language works not by forcing people to believe something, but by filling the gap between explanation and confusion. People who do not receive the true information eventually build their own narrative based on assumptions and feelings. This is what Stanley means when he says modern propaganda sometimes manipulates human rationality. It limits people's thinking, but teaches them to accept deception as truth. In the digital age, vague language has become even more important because information spreads rapidly. Propagandists need to manage people's perceptions quickly, and forceful language gives them the time. One vague statement is enough to stop criticism for 24 hours, while communication strategies are subsequently formulated. Consequently, people live in a world full of words but little meaning. They hear many words, but little fact. They feel they are receiving information, but in reality, they are receiving vaguely. Modern propaganda is most successful when it makes people believe they understand an issue when they actually know nothing.",
  "summary": "Propaganda ialah manipulasi kehendak rasional manusia sehingga perbincangan terhenti. Ia bukan hanya menutup kebenaran tetapi menutup pintu untuk bertanya.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}