One variety of language has higher value than others, and therefore should be imposed on the whole speech community is descriptive grammar, true or false?
Understand the Problem
The question presents a statement about language variety and its perceived value within a speech community, then asks you to determine if descriptive grammars support this statement.
Answer
False
The statement is false; it describes prescriptivism, not descriptive grammar. Prescriptivism promotes imposing one language variety as superior, while descriptive grammar observes language as it is used.
Answer for screen readers
The statement is false; it describes prescriptivism, not descriptive grammar. Prescriptivism promotes imposing one language variety as superior, while descriptive grammar observes language as it is used.
More Information
Prescriptivism dictates how language should be used, often based on historical rules or perceived notions of correctness. Descriptive grammar, in contrast, aims to document and analyze how language is actually used by speakers and writers, without imposing judgment.
Tips
A common mistake is confusing the goals of descriptive and prescriptive grammar. Descriptive grammar describes language as it is, while prescriptive grammar prescribes how it should be.
Sources
- [PDF] Reading 10 - UpWeGo - upwego.ru
- Full article: Attitudes to prescriptivism: an introduction - tandfonline.com
- Descriptive vs. Prescriptive Grammar | Definition & Examples - Lesson - study.com
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