8 Questions
What was the main goal of the purists mentioned in the text?
To maintain the purity of language by preventing change
Which century saw the Arabic scholars at Basra supporting the purists' view?
Eighth century
What did the purists believe about language change according to the text?
It is a sign of corruption
Who is credited with writing 'A Short Introduction to English Grammar with Critical Notes'?
Robert Lowth
What did Bishop Robert Lowth believe regarding double negation in English?
It should be eliminated for clarity
What did Lowth's rule 'two negatives make a positive' aim to correct?
Double negation
What was the primary reason for the publication of prescriptive grammars according to the text?
To prescribe rules and prevent language change
'Matilda is fatter than me.' would be corrected by Lowth to:
'Matilda is fatter than I'
Explore the concept of 'the purists' in linguistics who advocate for preserving language purity and avoiding change. Learn about their beliefs regarding language rules and correct usage. Dive into the debate surrounding language preservation versus language evolution.
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