The problem of choosing the right statement to express one’s feelings is probably the most difficult task facing some writers, especially the green horns who are just learning the ropes and are yet to be accepted or recognised as professional craft men in the act of writing. Can you blame them that even those who one may categorise as accomplished essayists are not left out on this; weaving together vocabularies that can best transmit one’s opinions or ideas to the public space. Believe me, it is only those who are born with the special or innate gift or who acquired it through training or through self-development that can boast of knowing where to place the right clauses to achieve flawless and effective communication. One ought to be wary of the pitfalls and blind spots of the language. And this calls for vigilance in order not to be seen as being careless or be written off as a toddler in the game.
Technical or creative writing applies to the five senses of hearing, sight, smell, taste and touch, including figures of speech, if need be, to make a lasting impression on the consumer of information; information that emanates from the plethora of sources and platforms he or she could barely cope with on daily basis. I always encourage people, particularly the journalists and reporters to get the reader and listener on their side; they must adhere strictly to the newsroom maxim of the four-lettered word, KISS- keep it short and simple. The reader or listener in Europe, for example, is getting impatient with technologies at his or her disposal to get the gist or headlines of the story and move on to other things. The culture of selective and on-the-move readers is fast becoming part of the average Nigerian who is always on the march and whose mind is preoccupied with the worries of picking up the litany of bills that his or her income could hardly support at the end of the month. He or she won’t have that luxury of time to be bombarded with flowery language and unnecessary jargons. Precision and straight-to-the-point writing is the smart editor’s desire, at least, to free the reader or listener from being held down. Rejection or outright rebuff could stand between the medium and the users as the information at his or her disposal may not be easily digested, especially when the person is confronted with those irritating and hard to crack vocabulary. And now the commonly used expression, “cater for” and “cater to”, how some writers mislead the listening or reading audience.
Again, some writers down to the news hunters, others call them foot soldiers on the field for their respective media outfits, both print and electronic, use the construction “cater for” and “cater to” interchangeably, often without dawning on them that the phrases meant different things, but would rather engage them as they deemed it fit or at their convenience. Going by the Chambers 21st Century dictionary interpretation, the phrase “cater for” is used in a positive and dignifying manner. To cater for someone or something conjures the picture of reaching out to someone in need, or just working for, or seeing to the welfare of others in return for a fee, or paid for the services rendered; to supply food, accommodation or entertainment for people. Make a provision for someone, or take him or her into account in one’s plans to feed people during the event or occasion. On the flip side, the “cater to” expression is un-dignifying and selfish or self-centered in motive.
The same dictionary summarises the statement as; to indulge on or pander for something (unworthy desires), just to gratify people, their wishes or tastes pointing to things of the flesh. Someone who obtains a sexual partner for someone else. For instance, one can correctly write or speak, “John pandered to the amorous need of Johnson, his friend when he lured Jane to accept and spend the night with him”. Know when and how to engage the sentences, “cater for” and “cater to” to starve off the lingering confusion that appears to trail the two English grammatical construction. Avoid the pitfall and black spot of the language; aim at communicating the right message and stay out of trouble. Remember that the language of mass communication, English is odd and it is eccentric. One must learn it and understand the rules, apply them for a seamless and unambiguous exchange of ideas in building a better and saner society.
