GRAMMER WAR

GRAMMER WAR

Prescriptive is a methodology to language that is apprehensive with an uprising norm or incorrect and correct formulating rules and its usage on these standards. In comparison, descriptive is a methodology of nonjudgmental language that is focused on the correct or actual language custom by its writers and speaker (Stout, Dietrich, et al.). Descriptivism and Prescriptivism are two distinct approaches to linguistic norms and grammar. Prescriptivism explains how language should be used, whereas descriptivism describes how language is used (Schlinger, Henry).

It is also essential to understand that prescriptive refers to the belief that there are correct and wrong to use languages—an attempt to lay down rules stating the proper use of the language. Also, prescriptive elucidates how speakers and writers should practice the language. Grammar is an essential aspect of prescriptive; some of the elements of the primary language addressed by prescriptive are spelling, vocabulary, semantics, syntax, and pronunciations. Some of the texts that greatly aided by Prescriptivism include writing handbooks, dictionaries, usage, and style guides.

Furthermore, Prescriptivism majorly deals with the correct language and language rules use. It usually sees breaking away from these norms as a mistake or an error. Some of its regulations include;

• Ensure not to end a sentence with a preposition.
• Never begin a sentence with a conjunction.
• Ensure not to use twice over negatives.
• Ensure not to split infinitives.

Descriptive is an indulgent approach that analyses how writers and speakers consume linguistically. It is directly different from prescriptive. Furthermore, there is no wrong or right way to use the linguistic form in descriptivism. Besides, it lacks no judgment and does not attempt to provide the users of a language to write or speak ` correctly` descriptivist merely record, analyze, or observe language usage.

Descriptivist learns the language costumed in daily life by a speaker from every path of life. The studies focus on both nonstandard and standard linguistic varieties. An essential aspect to note is that descriptivism is the decisive base for dictionaries, which records vary in usage and vocabulary. Contemporary linguist often uses a descriptive attitude in their studies as this permits them to analyze and learn the real and correct language usage.

There exists a huge relationship between diverse forms of language. The relationship between each form of language is that both of them are seen as complementary. Also, authoritative text, for instance, usage guidelines and dictionaries, commonly integrate approaches and descriptive work (Most, Glenn).

The main difference between Descriptivism and Prescriptivism is that Prescriptivism is a methodology to linguistic that focuses on inaugurating models of incorrect and correct formulating rules and usage based on the standard (Chun et al.). In comparison, descriptive is an indulgent method of language that is focused on actual language usage by its writers and speakers.  Thus, the primary difference is that the former scrutinizes how linguistic should be cast-off, whereas the latter focuses on how languages are customarily used. Primarily, Prescriptivism emphasizes correct usage, while descriptivism does not emphasize on what is wrong or right. This a clear significant difference between the two.

Furthermore, prescriptive is used majorly in fields like publishing and education, while descriptive is cast-off in academic languages. Besides, a more comparison between each of the two forms of languages is that prescriptive emphasis on a common variety of language while descriptive studies on both nonstandard and standard types of linguistic.

Anything that stringent regulations and rules, grammar wharfs a substantial share of fanatical fangirls and fanboys who appreciate debating its ins, outs, and various quirks. Controversies break out in academia, media, and even familiar conversation between associates. After all, a person does not require to know or have an English degree to get steamed up when he/ she uses poor grammar. Some of the controversial rules include

The oxford comma –  Debates concerning whether the Oxford comma should keep being used are comparable to those with the death penalty or abortion. Most grammarians have a take on the subject, and there take is always never wrong or always right ever. And they will still use an insistent voice when conveying it.

Hanged v. Hung – though not as controversial as other grammar rules, individuals still confuse and end up in arguments. They argue on what situation requires “hung” and which sentence requires “hanged.” The later works when describing suicide and executions while former works pretty much anywhere else.

On the other hand, etymologies refer to the study of the origin of works and how their ways vary throughout history. A great example is the tracing a word back to its Latin roots. Two common types of etymologies that exhibit sematic changes are such as Conclusion that its root word is `concl` and from the Latin `concludure. ` The name etymology root is ἐτυμολογία (etumología), itself from ἔτυμον (étumon), that means a great sense of certainty. The etymology for the word silly is seely that originated from west Germanic meaning deserving of pity.

If I would choose a side between the Etymologies depicting the controversial rules, the prescriptive and descriptive for the grammar approach, I would choose modern etymology and descriptive. This is because it focuses on features like language rules and proper usage of words in a sentence.  Writers and speakers will often introduce a counterargument before they concede the said argument has some truth in it. Counterarguments present other points of view, while concessions typically admit the perspective to have some merit. And rebuttals validate how one’s argument delays despite ultimate objectives (Buchi).

Though speakers and writers appreciate the roots of grammar. In my perspective, I would still choose the new etymologies that come with the change of time unlike its roots like Avocado (origin: Nahuatl), Disaster (Origin: Italian/Greek), Handicap (Origin: English or Trivial (Origin: Latin), Whisky (Origin: Gaelic). My good friend Diego loves mixing roots of etymologies in a sentence such as

“Alex, you have a vast `ego, ` that why people have named you as “egotist” since sometime you `act` past you age.” Diego said

An act is a root word that can form acting, while egotist has a root word of ego.

The etymology of the word Pali is indefinite. The etymology might be incorrect, but this is the general sagacity of the term. In etymology, he strived to bargain a Roman explanation of arguments where possible (according to him frater was = fere alter).

Actual English is formed grammar used by either a writer or a speaker in a speech or text. It is easily understandable by known etymologies, prescriptive, and descriptive.

In conclusion it is clear that the Prescriptive and Descriptive are two complementary methods to grammar and approach. The critical difference between the two differs a lot as prescriptive attempts to execute laws to correct usage on the consumer of a language while descriptive analyses the genuine language consumed by writers and speakers deprived of focusing on aspects like proper usage and language rules (Stout, Dietrich, et al).

Work Cited

Buchi, Éva. “Etymological dictionaries.” (2016).

Chun, Joo Hyun, and Sungshim Hong. “Prescriptive Grammar, Descriptive Grammar, and a Linguistic Battle between Grammars.” 영어영문학 22.4 (2017): 83-103.

Most, Glenn W. “Allegoresis and Etymology.” Canonical Texts and Scholarly Practices: A Global Comparative Approach (2016): 52-74.

Schlinger Jr, Henry D. “GRAMMAR WARS.” SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN 316.3 (2017): 6-6.

Stout, Dietrich, et al. “Grammars of action in human behavior and evolution.” bioRxiv (2018): 281543.