Theory - Prescriptivism vs Descriptivism

Question 1

Metcalf 2016

Answer 1

DESCRIPTIVISM
The words in use in the current time period are only relevant because society finds those words are the most useful at that time.
We wouldn’t change the words we use if we didn’t think it was beneficial.

Question 2

Aitchison 1996

Answer 2

PRESCRIPTIVISM
Damp spoon - language becomes lazy.
Crumbling castle - language is a beautiful home that should be preserved.
Infectious disease - Language use is infectious, spreads bad habits.

Question 3

Aitchison 2012

Answer 3

DESCRIPTIVISM

Language does not decay but falls in and out of obsolescence due to Darwin’s theory of survival of the fittest.

Question 4

Chomsky 1991

Answer 4

PRESCRIPTIVISM
“I think sensible prescriptivism ought to be a part of any education”
History of bogus rules, superstitions, Half-baked logic, baffling abstract statements.

Question 5

Mackinnon 1996

Answer 5

Attitudes vary from prescriptivism to descriptivism due to
Morally acceptable vs unacceptable
Socially acceptable vs unacceptable
Useful vs useless
Appropriate vs inappropriate
Pleasant vs ugly (taboo)