Of all the institutions satirized in Jonathon Swift's "Gulliver's Travels," one that has perhaps been less scrutinized is the destruction of the English language. Throughout the travels, language is the key obstacle in Gulliver's "understanding" of various cultures. Only in book four, however, is the role of language central to Swift's satiric meaning. His condemnation of English Society, is more explicitly an indictment of those that intend to corrupt the English language by promoting lies, …
showed first 75 words of 1533 total

showed last 75 words of 1533 total
…disgust, and contempt" (310-11). Rather than converse with his family in "barbarous English," Gulliver buys two horses and communicates with them four hours each day in the language of the Houyhnhnms. Gulliver's wish in the final chapter that all travelers take an oath to print their adventures in truth to their best knowledge, is akin to Swift's strict belief that the English written word be completely truthful, and exact, while adhering to a noble standard.