Attitudes to Standard and Non-Standard English

Question 1

Outline David Crystal on Standard English.

Answer 1

DC states:

That there are multiple ‘stories’ of English yet only one is told.
That dialects have been consciously neglected.
It is ironic that SE is presented as being representative as it is the minority dialect (1% of speakers/writers use it).

Dialect forms of English have been described as ‘quaint’ and ‘eccentric’.

The only forms of dialect that seem to hold some status and prestige are Oxford/Cambridge - ‘sophisticated valleys’.

That this captures an ethos towards English language and it’s use.

Question 2

Define descriptivist.

Answer 2

Descriptivism is a non-judgmental approach to language that focuses on how it is actually spoken and written.

Question 3

Define prescriptivist.

Answer 3

Prescriptivism is the attitude of belief that one variety of a language is superior to others and should be promoted as such.