What is the definition of prescriptivism?
The belief that a particular form of language is superior to another and should be treated as such
What does prescriptivism do?
It imposes rules on the use of language asserting ‘correctness’ of certain words, phrases and grammar and the ‘incorrectness’ of others
What tends to be the preferred language variety amongst prescriptivist institutions?
Standard english
Name some prescriptivist institutions
Newspapers, education system, government
Name some features of prescriptivism
- concerned with establishing a correct or incorrect use of language and with following rules
- enforces adherence to language rules
- applied in education, publishing, style guides, ‘professional environments’
- only focuses on enforcing the standard form of English
Who is a prescriptivist?
Those who practise and promote prescriptivism
What do prescriptivists focus on?
How language should be used rather than how it is used
In England, what two varieties do prescriptivists promote?
Standard English and RP (Received Pronunciation)
Define descriptivism
A non-judgemental, evidence-based approach to analysing language use
Who are we referring to when stating “descriptivists”?
- Linguists, students, researchers
- Not necessarily anyone who doesn’t label themselves prescriptivist
Give an example of prescriptivism
“Me friend and me went swimming”
Instead:
“My friend and I went swimming”
Or “fewer than” and “less than”
What are some benefits of prescriptivism?
- when trying to learn English is provided rules which can be followed
- it means language is consistent
- in the education sector everyone is taught the same curriculum and required to pass the same exams
- any situation where grammatical or lexical rules must be applied
What are some problems with prescriptivism?
- it can stigmatise other varieties of language used in communities and limits the understanding of them
- it rarely considers the context in which languages arise and evolve
