Prescriptive vs. Descriptive Grammar: An Overview, Study notes of English

Download Prescriptive vs. Descriptive Grammar: An Overview and more Study notes English in PDF only on Docsity! 1 Descriptive versus Prescriptive Grammar Eli Hinkel Seattle Pacific University elihinkel@yahoo.com Word Count 2,453 Abstract A descriptive grammar is a study of a language, its structure, and its rules as they are used in daily life by its speakers from all walks of life, including standard and nonstandard varieties. A prescriptive grammar, on the other hand, specifies how a language and its grammar rules should be used. A prescriptivist view of language implies a distinction between "good grammar" and "bad grammar," and its primary focus is on standard forms of grammar and syntactic constructions. Main Text Section 1: Framing the Issue A definition of a descriptive grammar: A descriptive grammar is a study of a language, its structure, and its rules as they are used in daily life by its speakers from all walks of life, including standard and nonstandard varieties. That is, descriptive grammar describes the language, its structure, and the syntactic rules that govern sentence and phrase constructions (Greenbaum & Quirk, 1990). A descriptive study of grammar is non-judgmental, and it does not have the goal of determining what represents good or bad language, correct or incorrect structures, or grammatical or ungrammatical forms (Leech, Deuchar, & Hoogenraad, 2006). A descriptive grammar is typically studied by linguists, anthropologists, ethnographers, psychologists, or other researchers who seek to identify how the grammar of a language is actually used in various contexts and for various purposes. (Books that describe and present the grammar of any language are called reference grammars, or sometimes "a grammar" by non-specialists.) In this light, sentences such as Him and me, we are neighbors or I don't know nothing simply reflect how the language is used by its speakers. Among other considerations, a good descriptive grammar also takes into account cultural and social variables that, in many cases, determine how language is produced and understood. In an academic sense, a descriptive grammar of a language is a theory that has attempts to explain how a particular language works (Leech, Deuchar, & Hoogenraad, 2006). Anthropologically speaking, a descriptive grammar seeks to formulate syntactic rules that are based on the way a language is actually used for communication, but not what these rules should be. A definition of a prescriptive grammar: A prescriptive grammar, on the other hand, specifies how a language should be used and what grammar rules should be followed. A prescriptivist view of language implies a distinction between "good grammar" and "bad grammar," and its primary focus is on standard forms of grammar and syntactic constructions. Among native speakers of practically any language, a prescriptivist approach to grammar often encompasses many ideas, opinions, and judgments about how and when grammar rules should be used. Thus, for example, the sentence Him and me, we are neighbors would be considered ungrammatical because it violates at least two grammar rules: (1) Page 1 of 5 TESOL Encyclopedia of English Language Teaching 2 object forms of pronouns "him and me" should not be used in the sentence-initial or subject-noun position, and (2) only one noun or noun phrase can play the role of the sentence subject, and in this case, "we" (Greenbaum, 1996). Prescriptive grammars supply the rules for using or not using (e.g., ain't or nobody knows nothing) specific grammar constructions. To simplify the descriptive and prescriptive grammar dichotomy and their practical characteristics, most linguists or language hobbyists are likely to be descriptive grammarians who analyze and explain a language's uses while most practicing teachers probably work with prescriptive grammars (Andrews, 2006). Examples of prescriptive grammar rules can be found in practically every guide to "good" language usage, grammar rule book, or grammar guide. The classical examples of prescriptive English grammar rules that seem to be broken more often than not include, for instance: • A sentence (or a clause) should not end on a preposition (also called "stranded prepositions"), e.g., This is what I came here for or Where are you going to?. • Singular subject nouns (or pronouns) should have singular pronoun references, e.g., Every student needs to open their books on page 20 or Nobody did their homework. • In the subject position, the pronoun "who" should be used, and in the object position, "whom" is appropriate e.g., I gave it to who I always give it or Who did you talk to? • With non-count nouns (e.g., money, water, or equipment), "little" or "less" should be used, and "few" or "fewer" is for countable nouns, e.g., I work in a small office with less than 20 people or The crowd that comes here gets fewer and fewer every year. Many similar prescriptivist grammar rules are highly frequently broken by native and nonnative speakers of English alike (more on this below). That is, if prescriptive grammar rules are intended for language users from all walks of life, prescriptions can be less than useful if only a small minority of language users follow them. On the other hand, grammar descriptions and explanations are not without their own conundrums. Section 2: Making the Case The ongoing debate about the usage, usefulness, and purposes of prescriptive and descriptive grammars has been continuing since the early history of writing, literacy, and attempts at language standardization. As a scientific undertaking, descriptive grammars precede prescriptive grammars: a language needs to be carefully and thoroughly studied and described before any sort of prescriptions can be formulated. On the other hand, historically, language (e.g., spelling and pronunciation) and grammar prescriptions have been established and maintained by means of social hierarchy and class- based stratification, as well as by civic institutions that are endemic to all human societies. In a narrow sense, prescriptive grammars can be seen as rules for standard and "proper" uses of language for language users to follow them. For example, a prescriptive grammar would dictate that the sentence There's not enough chairs for everybody should be corrected to state There are not enough chairs for everyone. Prescriptive grammars are often employed for teaching those who use nonstandard or nonnative language forms (Birch, 2005). Page 2 of 5TESOL Encyclopedia of English Language Teaching