Style is about clarity, not pomposity

NAIROBI: Willis, the guy of ‘Mind Your Language’ on KTN, is different. The way he speaks, how he gestures and chuckles. Even the way he dresses. And this word master does it the same way week in week out. For sure, in a crowd, the wordsmith would stand out when it comes to style. And he isn’t all alone. Prof PLO Lumumba would say, for instance: “Come on, in the business of sending and receiving messages, language is the in-thing. Senders ‘ride’ on language to reach their destinations (recipients). Communicators therefore have to employ the power of language if they dream of going places. So I need this particular vocabulary – not that tired one – to drive my point home.”

However, Prof Okoth Okombo would have a contrasting view: “Oh yes, simplicity is the main thing. Provided I’m not too simplistic, I’ve to be simple. You see, I don’t intend to express to impress. If I do that, I’ll mask the meaning – yet message is everything. So I’ll choose this familiar word – and not that elitist or bookish one”. Now, the two professors are also stylists. Style is considered an attractive feature that forces or tricks people to be attracted to a person or thing.