david crystal's prescriptivism vs descriptivism

Question 1

What is prescriptivism?

Answer 1

• prescribes how language should be used.
• does not do anything to effect how language is used.
• “standard English”

Question 2

What is descriptivism?

Answer 2

• non-judgemental approach.
• not identifying a correct way of speaking.
• focus on using appropriate language.

Question 3

What does David Crystal say about descriptivism?

Answer 3

accents are all about identity and ‘get to people’.

Question 4

What does John Honey say about prescriptivism?

Answer 4

to achieve equality all children should be taught Standard English and use it in every communicative situation.