Prescriptivism vs. Descriptivism

Summary

This video explores the distinction between prescriptivism and descriptivism in linguistics. Prescriptivism is the belief in fixed rules for language use, often taught in schools. In contrast, descriptivism, the approach favored by linguists, involves objectively describing how language is actually used without judgment. The video emphasizes the importance of setting aside personal biases to study language objectively.

Takeaways

• 📚 The video discusses the fundamental concepts of prescriptivism and descriptivism in linguistics.
• 🏫 Prescriptivism is the belief in right and wrong ways to use language, often taught in language classes.
• 🚫 Prescriptivists might discourage certain language structures, like split infinitives or starting sentences with conjunctions.
• 🗣️ Prescriptivism extends beyond education, influencing our personal beliefs about language use.
• 🔍 Linguistics, on the other hand, adopts a descriptivist approach, focusing on describing how language is actually used.
• 🌐 Descriptivists are interested in the context and patterns of language use rather than prescribing rules.
• 🚫 A descriptivist would not criticize a double negative; instead, they would analyze its usage.
• 🌈 Descriptivism acknowledges the validity and complexity of all languages and dialects.
• 🧐 It's important to set aside personal prejudices when performing linguistic analysis for objectivity.
• 👋 The video concludes by emphasizing the importance of understanding the difference between prescriptivism and descriptivism.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is the difference between prescriptivism and descriptivism in the study of language.

What is prescriptivism in language use?

Prescriptivism is the idea that there are rights and wrongs associated with language use, whether in terms of speaking or writing, often enforced through grammatical rules.

Can you provide examples of prescriptive rules mentioned in the video?

Examples of prescriptive rules include not splitting an infinitive, not starting a sentence with a conjunction, and not ending a sentence with a preposition.

How does prescriptivism manifest in educational systems?

In educational systems, prescriptivism is seen when students receive feedback or corrections on their language use, such as pronunciation or grammar, based on prescriptive standards.

What is descriptivism in linguistics?

Descriptivism in linguistics is the approach of describing how language is actually used without assigning rights or wrongs to it, focusing on observation and analysis.

How does a descriptivist view the use of double negatives?

A descriptivist would view the use of double negatives as an interesting linguistic feature to be studied and analyzed, rather than something to be corrected.

What does descriptivism acknowledge about language varieties?

Descriptivism acknowledges that every language and language variety has the right to exist, demonstrating their own uniquenesses and complexities, and all exist on a level playing field.

Why is it important to distinguish between prescriptivism and descriptivism in linguistics?

It is important to distinguish between the two because linguistics aims for an objective analysis of language, and descriptivism allows for this by focusing on how language is used rather than prescribing how it should be used.

What is the role of personal attitudes and beliefs in language use according to the video?

According to the video, personal attitudes and beliefs about language use are natural but should be set aside when performing linguistic analysis to ensure a more objective approach.

How does the video suggest we approach language study?

The video suggests approaching language study by understanding the concepts of prescriptivism and descriptivism, and embracing a descriptive approach to better understand language use.

What is the significance of the video's message for language learners?

The significance of the video's message for language learners is that it encourages them to understand and appreciate the diversity and complexity of language use, rather than focusing solely on prescriptive rules.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Prescriptivism and Descriptivism

This paragraph introduces the concepts of prescriptivism and descriptivism in linguistics. It emphasizes the importance of understanding these concepts for students new to linguistics. The paragraph explains that prescriptivism is the belief in the correctness or incorrectness of language use, often taught in language classes with rules like not splitting infinitives or ending sentences with prepositions. It contrasts this with descriptivism, which is the approach that linguists take, focusing on describing how language is actually used without assigning right or wrong. The paragraph also touches on the natural human tendency to have prescriptive attitudes and the importance of setting these aside in linguistic analysis for a more objective study of language.

Keywords

💡Prescriptivism

Prescriptivism is the belief that there are objective standards for language use, dictating what is considered 'correct' or 'proper' in terms of grammar, syntax, and pronunciation. In the video, prescriptivism is exemplified by the rules provided in language classes, such as 'don't split an infinitive' or 'don't start a sentence with a conjunction.' The video contrasts this with the approach of linguists, who are more interested in describing language as it is used rather than prescribing how it should be used.

💡Descriptivism

Descriptivism is the approach taken by linguists to objectively describe and analyze language as it is actually used by speakers, without making value judgments about correctness. In the video, descriptivism is highlighted as the core philosophy of linguistics, where the focus is on understanding language patterns and usage, rather than enforcing prescriptive rules. For instance, a descriptivist might study the context in which a double negative is used, rather than simply declaring it incorrect.

💡Linguistics

Linguistics is the scientific study of language and its structure, including the sounds, words, and rules that make up languages. The video emphasizes that linguistics adopts a descriptivist stance, aiming to understand how language functions and varies across different communities and contexts. Linguists are interested in the diversity and complexity of languages, treating all dialects and languages as valid and worthy of study.

💡Language Use

Language use refers to the way people employ language in communication, which can include speaking, writing, reading, and listening. The video discusses how prescriptivists focus on the 'right' way to use language, while descriptivists are concerned with documenting and analyzing the actual use of language by speakers, regardless of prescriptive standards.

💡Prescriptive Rules

Prescriptive rules are the guidelines or instructions that dictate how language 'should' be used, often based on tradition or perceived standards of correctness. The video provides examples of such rules, like not ending a sentence with a preposition, and contrasts this with the descriptive approach of linguists who document language as it is used, without enforcing these rules.

💡Double Negative

A double negative is a grammatical construction where two negative elements are used in the same clause, which is often considered incorrect in prescriptivist grammar. The video uses the phrase 'I ain't seen nothing' as an example of a double negative, illustrating how a descriptivist would analyze its usage and context rather than simply labeling it as incorrect.

💡Language Variety

Language variety refers to the different forms and manifestations of language, including dialects, accents, and sociolects. The video stresses that descriptivists acknowledge the right of every language variety to exist, recognizing their uniqueness and complexity, and that all varieties are on an equal footing.

💡Educational System

The educational system is where many people first encounter prescriptivist attitudes towards language, as teachers often correct students based on prescriptive rules. The video suggests that these prescriptive attitudes can be deeply ingrained from an early age, but it's important for linguists and students to set these aside to adopt a more objective, descriptive approach.

💡Pronunciation

Pronunciation is the way in which words are articulated when spoken. The video mentions that in language classes, students might be corrected for pronouncing a word 'incorrectly,' which is an example of prescriptivism. Descriptivists, on the other hand, would be more interested in how pronunciation varies among speakers and what patterns can be observed.

💡Objectivity

Objectivity in linguistics means analyzing and describing language without personal bias or preconceived notions of correctness. The video emphasizes the importance of objectivity for linguists to ensure a fair and unbiased study of language, setting aside personal beliefs and attitudes that might be influenced by prescriptivist views.

💡Linguistic Analysis

Linguistic analysis is the process of examining language data to identify patterns, structures, and variations. The video suggests that to perform linguistic analysis effectively, one must adopt a descriptivist approach, focusing on describing and understanding language as it is used, rather than prescribing how it should be used.

Highlights

Introduction to the concepts of prescriptivism and descriptivism in linguistics.

The importance of understanding these concepts for students of linguistics.

Defining prescriptivism as the belief in right and wrong language use.

Examples of prescriptive rules such as not splitting infinitives or starting sentences with conjunctions.

The role of prescriptivism in educational settings and feedback from instructors.

The natural human tendency to have prescriptive attitudes towards language.

Introducing descriptivism as the linguistic approach that describes language use without judgment.

Descriptive linguists focus on analyzing language as it is used rather than prescribing how it should be used.

The contrast between prescriptivist and descriptive views on double negatives.

Descriptive approach aims to understand language patterns and usage contexts.

Descriptivism acknowledges the validity and uniqueness of all languages and dialects.

The importance of setting aside personal prejudices for objective linguistic analysis.

The necessity to differentiate between personal beliefs and scientific linguistic study.

The value of a descriptive approach in ensuring a fair and unbiased study of language.

Encouragement for students to embrace a descriptive perspective in linguistics.

The significance of this video for anyone new to linguistics or considering studying it.

Closing remarks and thanks for watching the video.

Transcripts

hello everyone welcome thanks for

joining me

in this video i will be discussing the

difference between prescriptivism

and descriptivism in the study of

language in many ways this is the most

important video i have on my channel

because it is often the first concept

that students learn

upon entering an introductory

linguistics classroom

now let's talk about the more familiar

concept here and that is prescriptivism

for most of you

now prescriptivism is the idea that

there are rights

and wrongs associated with language use

whether in terms of speaking or in

writing

so think about your own history as a

student who maybe took an english class

or a foreign language class or a

composition or any kind of writing class

in those classes you very likely

received feedback

spoken or written from your instructor

that say things like

don't split an infinitive don't start a

sentence with a conjunction don't end a

sentence with a preposition

these types of grammatical rules quote

unquote that make for

proper english so you

can actually look at a language class in

particular where you may have even been

corrected or criticized for pronouncing

a certain word or

phrase in that language in the

instructor's view

incorrectly this is again prescriptivism

at work

now we don't need to just talk about

prescriptive attitudes as they exist

in the educational system because indeed

as human beings

we all have attitudes and beliefs about

how

language should be used whether in terms

of speaking or writing this is a

perfectly natural thing

but it is important to understand that

this is not

what linguistics is about linguistics is

about

descriptivism so when linguists say that

they are descriptivists what they mean

is that they just describe

how language is used that there are no

rights and wrongs associated with

language use

there is only what people do with

language

so whereas a prescriptivist might say

something like

you should not use a double negative in

speaking or in writing and a double

negative is something like

i ain't seen nothing well a descriptive

person like a linguist might say well

that's interesting they used

a double negative let's see if we can

isolate the context

in which this construction is most

likely to be used or

let's see if we can identify which

speakers are most likely to use

this construction so it's a much more

descriptive approach they just want to

figure out what's

going on rather than prescribe how

language should be used so at its core

descriptivism acknowledges the right of

every language and language variety to

exist that all languages and dialects

they demonstrate their own uniquenesses

and complexities and they

all therefore exist on a level playing

field

again it is perfectly natural for all of

us as human beings to

harbor these deep held attitudes and

beliefs

maybe things about language that just

rub us the wrong way but it is really

important that we put these prejudices

aside when we are performing linguistic

analysis

or just kind of working in the

linguistics classroom because

in this way we can help ensure a more

objective approach to the study of

language

all right thank you so much for watching

this very brief video it is short but it

is very important to understand

why linguists are descriptive and not

prescriptive

in the meantime i thank you so much for

watching stay safe and be well

and i'll see you soon take care