Descriptive vs. Prescriptive

Attribute	Descriptive	Prescriptive
Definition	Describes how things are or how they work	Provides instructions or guidelines on how things should be or how to achieve a desired outcome
Focus	Observation and analysis of existing phenomena	Recommendations or directives for action
Objective	Understanding and explaining the world as it is	Guiding behavior or decision-making towards a specific goal
Subjectivity	Objective and based on facts	Can be subjective and influenced by personal values or beliefs
Use in Science	Used to describe and explain natural phenomena	Used to provide recommendations or guidelines for scientific research or experiments
Use in Ethics	Describes and analyzes moral beliefs and practices	Provides normative principles or rules for ethical behavior
Examples	Describing how people behave in certain situations	Providing guidelines on how to behave ethically in a professional setting

Introduction

When it comes to analyzing and understanding language, two important approaches are descriptive and prescriptive. These approaches provide different perspectives on how language should be studied and used. In this article, we will explore the attributes of descriptive and prescriptive linguistics, highlighting their differences and similarities.

Descriptive Linguistics

Descriptive linguistics focuses on describing and analyzing language as it is actually used by native speakers. It aims to objectively observe and document the patterns, structures, and variations found in natural language. Descriptive linguists study the phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics of a language, without making judgments about what is correct or incorrect.

One of the key attributes of descriptive linguistics is its reliance on empirical evidence. Linguists collect data through various methods, such as fieldwork, interviews, and corpus analysis, to build a comprehensive understanding of a language. This data-driven approach allows linguists to uncover the underlying rules and regularities that govern language usage.

Descriptive linguistics also recognizes the dynamic nature of language. It acknowledges that languages evolve over time and vary across different regions and social groups. Instead of prescribing rules, descriptive linguistics aims to describe the diversity and complexity of language phenomena, providing a more accurate representation of how language is used in real-life contexts.

Furthermore, descriptive linguistics embraces the idea that all language varieties, including dialects and non-standard forms, are equally valid. It avoids labeling certain forms as "correct" or "incorrect" and instead focuses on understanding the systematic patterns within each language variety. This inclusive approach helps to avoid linguistic discrimination and promotes a more inclusive understanding of language diversity.

In summary, descriptive linguistics is an empirical and inclusive approach that aims to objectively describe and analyze language as it is used by native speakers, without making value judgments about correctness or prescribing rules.

Prescriptive Linguistics

Prescriptive linguistics, on the other hand, focuses on establishing rules and norms for language usage. It aims to prescribe how language should be used based on certain standards or authorities. Prescriptive rules are often influenced by historical usage, grammatical traditions, and the preferences of language authorities or style guides.

One of the key attributes of prescriptive linguistics is its emphasis on correctness and adherence to established norms. Prescriptive rules are often presented as the "correct" way to use language, while deviations from these rules are considered incorrect or non-standard. This approach seeks to maintain linguistic standards and promote clarity and consistency in communication.

Prescriptive linguistics often provides guidelines for spelling, grammar, punctuation, and usage. These rules are commonly found in style guides, grammar books, and language manuals. They serve as a reference for writers, editors, and speakers who aim to follow a standardized form of language.

Furthermore, prescriptive linguistics is often associated with formal or prestigious language varieties. It tends to prioritize the language used by educated or influential groups, which can lead to linguistic elitism or discrimination against non-standard forms. Prescriptive rules may reinforce social hierarchies and perpetuate linguistic biases.

However, it is important to note that prescriptive rules can provide a useful framework for effective communication, especially in formal contexts. They can help maintain clarity, coherence, and mutual understanding among language users. Prescriptive guidelines also contribute to language standardization, facilitating communication across different regions and communities.

In summary, prescriptive linguistics focuses on establishing rules and norms for language usage, emphasizing correctness and adherence to established standards. While it can promote clarity and consistency, it may also perpetuate linguistic biases and exclude non-standard forms.

Comparing Descriptive and Prescriptive Linguistics

Now that we have explored the attributes of descriptive and prescriptive linguistics, let's compare them to gain a better understanding of their differences and similarities.

Approach

Descriptive linguistics takes an empirical and observational approach, aiming to objectively describe and analyze language as it is used by native speakers. It focuses on uncovering patterns and regularities without making value judgments. On the other hand, prescriptive linguistics takes a normative approach, seeking to establish rules and norms for language usage based on certain standards or authorities.

Language Variation

Descriptive linguistics embraces language variation and recognizes the validity of all language varieties, including dialects and non-standard forms. It aims to describe the diversity and complexity of language phenomena. In contrast, prescriptive linguistics often favors a standardized or prestigious language variety and may label non-standard forms as incorrect or less desirable.

Language Change

Descriptive linguistics acknowledges that languages evolve over time and vary across different regions and social groups. It studies language change and documents the shifts in linguistic patterns. Prescriptive linguistics, however, tends to resist language change and aims to maintain established norms and standards.

Empirical Evidence

Descriptive linguistics heavily relies on empirical evidence collected through various methods, such as fieldwork, interviews, and corpus analysis. It aims to build a comprehensive understanding of language based on observable data. Prescriptive linguistics, on the other hand, often relies on historical usage, grammatical traditions, and the preferences of language authorities or style guides.

Language Authority

Descriptive linguistics does not rely on a single authority or set of rules. It recognizes that language is a social phenomenon shaped by its speakers. Prescriptive linguistics, however, often relies on language authorities, style guides, or grammatical traditions to establish rules and norms for language usage.

Conclusion

In conclusion, descriptive and prescriptive linguistics offer distinct approaches to the study and use of language. Descriptive linguistics focuses on objectively describing and analyzing language as it is used by native speakers, embracing language variation and change. Prescriptive linguistics, on the other hand, seeks to establish rules and norms for language usage, emphasizing correctness and adherence to established standards. While both approaches have their merits, it is important to recognize the value of descriptive linguistics in understanding the complexity and diversity of language, while also acknowledging the usefulness of prescriptive guidelines in promoting effective communication and language standardization.