Home About IUP Magazines Journals Books Amicus Archives
     
A Guided Tour | Recommend | Links | Subscriber Services | Feedback | Subscribe Online
 
The IUP Journal of English Studies :
Towards a Stylistics of Historical Writing
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

While many senior executives continue to talk about the "voice of the customer," few demonstrate their commitment to this concept by spending time with customers. Many continue to use their intuition or `golden gut' in their attempt to provide superior customer value. Unfortunately, `senior executive intuition' is rarely attuned to the needs of their customers. While the competitive environment continues to intensify, executives have cut back on the time devoted to customers just when it should be increasing. This article discusses the need for senior executives to spend time with customers and provides examples of the benefits that this approach will provide.

 
 
 

This paper advocates the use of correct literary skills that add flavor to the narrative in historical writings. Historians, in their historical presentation of facts, should endeavor to keep the reader engrossed and generate an interest for reading further. This can be accomplished through a variety of ways but, first and foremost, the historian must be proficient in making the right choice of words. It is not that the presentation of facts requires sophisticated writing, but it definitely helps a working historian to write clearly and persuasively. The sharpness of arguments gets reinforced when expressed in a precise language. Intelligent organization and sensitivity to writing style breathe life and meaning into the narrative. This aspect was well recognized by the ancient historians who wrote historical accounts crafted in the exquisite literary style in India and beyond. Thus, an effective narration of history requires more than clear analysis. It demands a good literary stylean awareness of a new stylistics.

Learning history and writing history cannot be separated, at least, not distinctly. It becomes significant to explain this dichotomy, as it is often said that too much importance is given to "content" and not enough to "grammar and style." The argument in simple words connotes that good history equals good writing. In short, this article aims to help recognize the significance of good literary skills in the writing of history. It intends to look at the functional aspects of language that a working historian should be familiar with.

History is not solely a representation of mere facts, unique events, public life, or material artifacts, although these elements are important to its definition. In a sense, history comprises the sum total of everything in the past. But even a brief contemplation makes one conscious of the fact that this definition is too broad, primarily because not every part of the past is available for study, since it was not preserved or recorded. In this context, history becomes a method, a way of understanding the past, which takes its most common shape in the form of written compositions. Such an assessment is based on several factors. First, clear thinking requires good writing. One way to think clearly is through writing.

 
 
 
Towards a Stylistics of Historical Writing, literary skills, historical writings, historical accounts, unique events, public life, or material artifacts, literary stylean awareness, Intelligent organization, written compositions.