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Linguistic descriptivism refers to the analysis of how language is used by its speakers / writers. It is a non-judgmental approach to analyzing language usage.
When taking a descriptivist approach, issues of correct or incorrect langauge are not considered.
Descriptivism is concerned with analyzing and recording how language is used, and what this can reveal about its users. It is an approach used to analyze both Standard and Non-Standard forms of English.
For more on this, have a look at the Standard English and Non-Standard English StudySmarter articles.
The opposite of descriptivism is prescriptivism. Prescriptivism, unlike descriptivism, asserts that certain language rules matter, authorising the 'correctness' of certain words, phrases, grammar, and the 'incorrectness' of others.
Linguists with a prescriptive approach focus on enforcing the pre-established grammar structures in their studies.
Linguists with a descriptive approach focus on analyzing language used in everyday communication.
For further comparisons between the two, see the Descriptivism vs Prescriptivism StudySmarter article.
Here are the key things to remember about descriptivism:
Features of Descriptivism |
Concerned with analyzing the ways in which we use language in the real world / daily life |
Non-judgmental approach |
Most frequently applied in academic linguistics to study language |
Studies standard and non-standard forms of language |
Evidence-based approach |
Let's compare the use of two phrases, "If I were you" and "If I was you":
'If I were you' is considered Standard English, and therefore grammatically correct from a prescriptivist perspective.
'If I was you' is considered to be Non-Standard English, and therefore grammatically incorrect from a prescriptivist perspective. However, it is frequently used by English speakers in day-to-day language.
A descriptivist would take the position that neither phrase is incorrect, as they both function in a way other English speakers can comprehend. As long as language can be understood, descriptivism argues no use of language is wrong.
Remembe r : Descriptivism is concerned with real-world language!
Today, the majority of academic linguists take a descriptivist approach.
The focus in linguistics is typically less on the rules of the English language, and more on the use of language in different contexts and among diverse communities.
Descriptivism is the preferred approach for analyzing language, which makes it perfect for academic linguists who study languages around the world.
The analytical nature of descriptivism makes it a useful approach for analyzing literature, as it allows for interpretation, unlike prescriptivism which evaluates language according to correctness.
Descriptivism has particular benefits that make it the preferred approach:
It has destigmatised certain kinds of language.
In terms of non-standard speech varieties, descriptivism provides an analysis of language that is neither hierarchical nor critical, as prescriptivism tends to be.
It looks at socially-stigmatised groups and their use of language in an analytical and not judgmental way, and can help to bridge the gap between social groups.
It offers a more accurate reflection of language use across the world than the prescriptivist approach. This is because it focuses on studying language as it is used in daily life.
It accounts for the ways languages evolve in different communities.
There are areas in which descriptivism is not the preferred approach when observing language usage.
Consider those learning English for the first time. Prescriptivism might be the preferred approach as new learners would need to be aware of the rules of the language they are learning.
Descriptivism is a good approach for analyzing language, but not necessarily for teaching language. In professional environments or when writing formally, for example, one would need to know the rules of the English language. It is important to be aware of when and where to use 'correct' grammar.
In the future, descriptivism may prove to be the more useful linguistic approach in mapping the evolution of language use around the world.
While prescriptivism can help us map the grammatical and structural rules of a language, descriptivism is the way we will be able to analyze how language evolves over time.
Linguistic descriptivism refers to the analysis of how language is used by its speakers / writers. It is a non-judgmental, evidence-based approach to analyzing language use.
Descriptivism is concerned with analyzing and recording how language is used, and what this can reveal about its users.
The opposite of descriptivism is prescriptivism.
The descriptivist approach to observing language has helped to destigmatising certain non-standard forms of English.
The descriptivist approach accounts for the ways language evolves in different communities rather than writing language variation and change off as incorrect.
Linguistic descriptivism is the analysis of how language is used by its speakers/writers. It is a non-judgemental, evidence-based approach to analysing language use.
Prescriptivism is the belief that a particular form of language is superior to another and should be treated as such. Descriptivism is the analysis of how language is used by its speakers/writers, one that is a non-judgemental approach to analysing language usage.
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