linguistic descriptivism

Meaning

1. 1noununcountabletechnical

   The approach in linguistics that describes how people actually use language, without saying which usages are correct.

   Grammar: Uncountable, so it takes a singular verb: 'Descriptivism is often contrasted with prescriptivism.'

   Patterns

   • linguistic descriptivism in something
   • a form of linguistic descriptivism

   Her book defends linguistic descriptivism, arguing that linguists should record all varieties of speech equally.

   Linguistic descriptivism does not mean that anything goes; it means the analyst avoids judging usage.

   The debate between linguistic descriptivism and prescriptivism has lasted for decades.

Common combinations

linguistic descriptivism vs. prescriptivism

The course compares linguistic descriptivism vs. prescriptivism in language policy.

a descriptivist approach

She takes a descriptivist approach to grammar, documenting rather than correcting.

descriptivist linguist

As a descriptivist linguist, he studies non-standard dialects with the same care as standard ones.

descriptive grammar

Descriptive grammar aims to state the rules speakers actually follow.

Synonyms and how they differ

descriptivism

The short form of the same term; use it when the context already makes clear that you mean language study.

Opposites

Word family

descriptive adjective

Describing how something is, rather than judging it.

descriptivist noun

A person who supports or practices descriptivism.

descriptively adverb

In a way that describes rather than prescribes.

linguistics noun

The scientific study of language.

Commonly confused: linguistic descriptivism or prescriptivism?

Practice

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