Prescriptivism

Essay Feedback

Start by taking in the question carefully

Make sure you understand the quote. E.g.

“Grammar can be good or bad, correct or incorrect.” – Whoever said this is taking a prescriptivist line!!

What does the question require you to do?

It asks you to:

look at the broader issues (this is the main AO for this exam section) – both current debate and arguments from the past

Refer to historical background (context)

Use 4 examples

Give your own opinion

Basic Essay structure for Language Topics exam

Introduction – Give definitions of the main terms in the question if applicable

Context – Discuss the historical background to the issue

Main Body – Use P-E-E as much as possible / use specific egs / possibly refer to context if poss.

Conclusion – Sum up main points and give own opinion

Samples – Introduction

The debate between prescriptive and descriptive views of the English language dates back at least as far as the 17th century. Since then prescriptivists have aimed to regulate their language and provide guidelines for the use of grammar, pronunciation and spelling. Descriptivists aim to analyse and research the language used in society and refrain from passing judgement but rather record and observe.

Sample - Context

In 1660, the poet John Dryden described the English Language as ‘barbarous’. This reflected a growing concern that, as English, expanded lexically and was being used more widely for literature as the influence of the highly regulated Latin waned, the language needed to be standardised. A century later Robert Lowth’s Introduction to English Grammar, as well as other grammarians, attempted to ban the use of a split infinitive or the preposition at the end of a sentence. The trend continues to the present day whenever someone suggests that changes to the language be accepted in the realm of spelling reform or a wider acceptance of non-standard grammar, prescriptive attitude emerge.

Main Body

Prescriptivists argue that regularizing the language will provide a standardized form which will avoid costly errors and allow for clearer communication. With over 1.8 billion people speaking English today this may seem a desirable outcome. However, language development requires a degree of flexibility to allow an extension of the lexicon and the expressive range. The ability of the language to absorb American grammatical constructions such as ‘ain’t’ and to allow for new shades of meaning to be ascribed to existing words such as ‘wicked’ or ‘cool’ adds to the richness of English both as an everyday means of communication and as a medium for literature. (Extend this paragraph by mentioning amelioration/derogation as natural processes and important for the organic development of language)

Main Body

A prime example of prescriptive rule-making is that of the split infinitive. The rule states that an adverb cannot be inserted between ‘to’ and the verb. Bizarrely the precedent was found in Latin where the infinitive was in fact one word: amare – to love. Basing English grammar on the rules of Latin is comparable to applying the laws of football to basketball…

(Extend this by discussing how the origins are lost in the mists of time and that once it is established it is difficult to get rid of and becomes a kind of gate-keeper i.e. a way of allowing some people to feel superior. Therefore creating elitism etc)

USE PEE!!

Stick with P-E-E. This allows you

• to use examples

• and to explain how the examples illustrate your point

• and to do some language analysis

• and to use some linguistic terms

• And to extend your paragraph if you’re aiming for a high grade!