EXPLAINING ONE SITUATION IN WHICH ASPECTS OF STYLE; AS MAN, AS

SITUATION AND AS CONFORMITY ARE PRACTICALLY CRUCIAL

Stylistics is the discipline which emerged in the middle of the twentieth century as a reaction to
what many perceived as vague and impressionistic nature of much literary criticism. It can
therefore, be defined as a discipline within the field of linguistics which is interested in the style
in both spoken and written language (Stockwell & Whiteley, 2014). This means that it is
concerned with a particular application of knowledge about language, just like sociolinguistics or
psycholinguistics. It is underpinned with the idea that whenever we use a language to talk or
write, we are always consciously or unconsciously making choices about the words we use. This
is in terms of the lexical choices and the order in which we use them (syntactic structure). These
choices form a particular style and changing the choices changes the style. Stylistics also
explores how authors create effects through their linguistic styles and how readers interpret these
effects (Leech & Short, 2007). Style is the particular manner of using language which may shift
over different periods (Lucas, 1955). It may be due to the change in contexts or choice of the one
using the language. Style as man, style as situation and style as conformity are very important
aspects of style that can be applied in the analysis and understanding of different circumstances
or contexts of our everyday lives.

Style as man is an important aspect of style that need to be taken into account when handling
different life situations to avoid the tendency of misinterpretation or misunderstanding. It states
that each person has a unique character that is different from another. This is because style is not
mostly chosen but it is unconscious manifestation of character (Genova, 1979). In literary
context, it is used to describe how an authors’ style reflects their personality, values and their
world view. For example, how Malawian writers during dictatorship such as Jack Mapanje
viewed the world and how their style of writing was, is different from democratic era writers
such as Robert Chiwamba and Raphael Sitima. This aspect of style or approach in stylistics is
used in understanding literary works and understanding author’s intentions and motivations. It
can also help readers gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of different texts by
providing insights into the author’s unique perspective and voice.
In a situation where different literary works of different writers in academic grounds are being
analysed, style as a man will be very crucial as it will help readers to identify the main author of
that particular work. This can either be by listening to the work of art or reading it. This is
because readers will be able to differentiate the work being presented due to their understanding
of uniqueness in style amongst individuals. For example, reading or listening to “Ndizakutengera
kunyayanja Ligineti” and “Timasulireni Baraba”, it will be easy for them to recognise that the
first literary work is done by Benedicto wokomaatani Malunga and the last for Robert
Chiwamba. This is because of their uniqueness in the style of articulation or presentation and
arrangement of words in their work of art.

The style on how different speeches can be presented and the choice of words to be used is
determined by context. Therefore, style as situation is another important aspect of style that
shapes the way language can be used in different day to day practical situations. This is the
context in which the text comes to life. The situation could be social, cultural, political and more.
Thus, context plays a major role in determining language choice in speaking and writing as some
words are appropriate for some context while in another context are considered bad, full of vice
and as taboo or vulgar. The issue of type of registers to be used at a particular time is also
determined by context (Widowson, 1992).

In a political situation or context, style as situation will be very crucial in determining the type of
or choice of words that are appropriate and fit for the group of people involved. The Vice
President of the Republic of Malawi, Dr Saulos Klaus Chilima, uses Chibrazi when he is
interacting or in a political gathering with youths. For example, in Ndirande, Malawi when he
was addressing the youths. But the same person uses formal language in formal gatherings. For
example, in the parliament when addressing issues affecting Malawi. This shows that the change
in context has a great influence on the choice of words or registers to be used at a particular time
in a particular context. This therefore, shows that different context have different registers and
words that are regarded as appropriate and not appropriate and style as situation helps speakers
to determine and use the type of words or registers that are appropriate and fit at a particular time
in a particular context there by providing a sure basis for the interpretation of a text or speech.

Lastly, style as conformity also plays a greater role in different practical situations. This is an
extent to which a text conforms to the norms and conventions of a particular genre or discourse
community. For example, a scientific paper would be expected to conform to the conventions of
scientific writing while short story and poetry would be expected to conform to those of literary
writing. The application of conformity as a style is also context dependent as it changes from
context to context where conventions are also different. It is important to conform to the
particular conventions or norms of a particular genre before coming up with deviation ideas.
conformity to established norms or format of writing especially in academic grounds confirms
that the writer is serious with his or her work and that they know what they are doing. It is also
easy for writer’s work to be published if it has followed or conforms to the established
conventions or agreed format of the particular genre the work was done. The main weakness of
style as conformity is that it hinders creativity amongst writers (Toolan, 1998). But all in all, a
text or speech that has some creativity in it is regarded as a text that has deviated from norm and
some consequences may follow either denial of the work or losing in case of competition as far
as style as conformity is concerned.

Style as conformity is important in the analysis of different writing competitions in academic

grounds. For example, in an essay writing competition context, students will be expected to
follow or conform to the established rules on how an essay should be written and any deviation
from the essay’s writing conventions will make a particular student work to be excluded,
removed or left out. In this case, student knowledge on style as conformity as an aspect of style
will help him or her to concentrate on the given conventions of that particular time because he or
she knows that context has a great impact on the type of format or conventions that are to be
followed. For example, speech and report conforms to different conventions despite that they are
both literary writings.

To sum up with, different aspects of styles are practically crucial in different everyday situations
as long as language is concerned. They help in giving identity to authors, determining the type of
language and registers to be used and also the importance of following given norms or
conventions when presenting different written works. Authors, readers and language are able to
understand the impact of context in their use of language.
 REFERENCES

Genova, G. The journal of Aesthetic and Art Criticism, spring, 1979, Vol. 37, No.3 (spring,
1979),

pp. 315-324; Wiley on behalf of The American Society for Aesthetics.

https://www.jstor.org/stable/430785.

Leech, G. & Short, M. (2007). style in fiction. (second edition). London: Routledge.

Lucas, F., L. (1955). Style. London: Casell and Coy.

Stockwell, P. & Whiteley, S. (eds) (2014). The Cambridge Handbook of Stylistics. Cambridge:

Cambridge University Press.

Toolan, M. (1998). Language in Literature: An Introduction to Stylistics. London: Hodder

Arnold.

Widowson, H., G. (1992). Practical Stylistics. Oxford: Oxford University Press.