Descriptivism in Linguistics

Descriptivism is a nonjudgmental approach to language that focuses on how it is actually spoken and written. Also called  linguistic descriptivism,  it contrasts with prescriptivism.   In the article Beyond and Between the Three Circles,  linguist Christian Mair has observed that the study of human languages in the spirit of linguistic descriptivism has been one of the great democratic enterprises of the past two centuries of scholarship in the humanities. . . . In the twentieth century, structuralist descriptivism and sociolinguistics have . . .  taught us to respect the structural complexity, communicative adequacy and creative-expressive potential of all the worlds languages, including socially stigmatized working-class and ethnic speech. (World Englishes: New Theoretical and Methodological Considerations, 2016). Views on Prescriptivism and Descriptivism   Excepting only in certain educational contexts, modern linguists utterly reject prescriptivism, and their investigations are based instead on descriptivism. In a descriptivist approach, we try to describe the facts of linguistic behavior exactly as we find them, and we refrain from making value judgments about the speech of native speakers. . . . Descriptivism is a central tenet of what we regard as a scientific approach to the study of language: the very first requirement in any scientific investigation is to get the facts right. (R.L. Trask, Key Concepts in Language and Linguistics. Routledge, 1999) The Realm of Descriptivism When we observe a linguistic phenomenon, such as the ones we observe on the Web, and report on what we see (i.e., the ways people use language and the way they interact), we are usually within the realm of  linguistic descriptivism.  For instance, if we take inventory  of the specific linguistic features of the discourse of a given speech community (e.g., gamers, sports enthusiasts, technology majors), we are within the realm of descriptivism.  A speech community, as Gumperz  (1968:381) points out, is any human aggregate characterized by regular and frequent interaction by means of a shared body of verbal signs and set off from similar aggregates by significant differences in language usage. Descriptivism involves observing and analyzing,  without passing too much judgment, the habits and practices within speech communities, focusing on language users and uses without attempting  to get them to modify their language according to standards external to the language itself .  Descriptive linguistics aims to understand the ways  people use language in the world, given all of the forces that influence such use. Prescriptivism lies at the other end of this continuum and is usually associated with stipulating rules and norms for language use. (Patricia Friedrich and Eduardo H. Diniz de Figueiredo, Introduction: Language, Englishes, and Technology in Perspective.  The Sociolinguistics of Digital Englishes.  Routledge, 2016) On Speaking With Authority About Language Even the most descriptive of linguists have not shied away from describing theirs as the only acceptable approach to grammar nor from ridiculing and condemning the prescriptivist statements of others. To a great extent, this is a story of a contest about who speaks authoritatively about the character of language and the methods for analyzing and describing it. The story reflects a continuing struggle to gain the exclusive right to speak authoritatively about language. The details reveal that prescriptivism remains entrenched in ostensibly descriptive as well as admittedly prescriptive approaches. For one thing, despite a professed commitment to descriptivism, professional linguists sometimes espouse prescriptivist positions, though not often about particular items of style or grammar. (Edward Finegan, Usage. The Cambridge History of the English Language: English in North America, ed. J. Algeo. Cambridge University  Press, 2001) Descriptivism vs. Prescriptivism [D]escriptivism is like common law, which works on precedent and accumulates slowly over time. Prescriptivism is an authoritarian version of code law, which says precedent be damned: if the rule book says this is the law, thats that. (Robert Lane Greene, You Are What You Speak. Delacorte, 2011) At more rarefied levels, prescriptivism  has become a four-letter word, with scholars arguing that it is neither desirable nor feasible to attempt to intervene in the natural  life of language. A deliberate renunciation of prescriptivism is more like atheism than agnosticism: a conscious nonbelief is, itself, a belief, and a refusal to intervene is essentially prescriptivism in reverse. In any event, in their rush away from prescriptivism, linguists may have abdicated a useful role as arbiters and many have left much of the field open to those stylized as language shamans by Dwight Bollinger, one of the few linguists who was willing to write about the public life of language.  Bolinger rightly criticized  the obvious crank elements, but he also understood the desire, however ill-informed, for authoritative standards. (John Edwards,  Sociolinguistics: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press,  2013) Pronunciation: de-SKRIP-ti-viz-em

Questions On Substance Abuse Disorder - 1370 Words

Many people mistake Spirituality for Religion or some supernatural, mysterious occurrence. Large amounts of people think of it as a cult due to their lack of knowledge and their fear of being manipulated. There are seven differences between Spirituality and Religion that will help one understand what spirituality actually is (Davchevske, D. 2014). I will identify the transactions someone with substance abuse disorder should follow in order to rekindle their Spirituality through a recovery process. I have chosen this topic because I believe that everyone needs to have a true sense of who they are, and by believing in your-self gives one the strength to get through the everyday challenges of life. Emotional and spiritual well-being†¦show more content†¦It is first necessary to understand one’s spirituality and the reasoning’s of those beliefs (Doweiko, H. 2015, 2012). A prominent integrative practitioner, Andrew Weil, M.D., states, â€Å"Spirituality has to do with the nonphysical aspects of your being, the part of you that existed before and the part that will exist after the disintegration of your body (Weil, A. 2004). Spirituality has many components, including an awareness of the world surrounding you; a sense of gratitude, astonishment, and love; a performance of kindness-loving towards yourself and others; trusting your heart and listening to your intuition. A good spiritual practice is where a person is able to discover their true nature and self. This is the process of digging through your emotional and physical makeup and reaching the core of who you are as a person. What you believe at the core of your being has great power over what you are creating in your life. In the film Dirty Pictures, Ann Shulgin the wife of Dr. Alexander Shulgin, the godfather to psychedelics stated that; to advance spiritually you have to encounter your monster, your shadow (Dirty Pictures, 2011). One needs to unify their Mind, Body, and Spirit by recon necting their seemingly separate parts. Addiction/Substance Use Disorder is not only a physical disease, but a disease of morality and spirituality. If you’re not seeking help for addition, you are letting your

Narrative Essay Example Free Essays

Narrative essay Main character: genie Setting: swamp Plot: treasure is found There are four genies, which is Jinny, Winny, Tinny and Ninny, they are very good friend and they have living in a forest called The Peaceful Forest. They live in there almost 100 years, unfortunately they only can live 200 years, but they never feel sad about that and they live happily. One day, a devil has come to their place and tells them that there is a treasure inside the swamp which is behind the forest. We will write a custom essay sample on Narrative Essay Example or any similar topic only for you Order Now He asks them to help him to get the treasure and he will give them a bottle of magic water that can help them to increase lifespan as the reward. After that, because the bottle of magic water only have one, so the genies started to become selfish and only think of self and try to get the magic water. But, actually the devil are lie to them, he just want them to help him to get the treasure and he does not have any reward to give back them. The four genies have a simple mind, so they do not think about the devil will lie to them, so they follow the devil to find the treasure and it take about 2 days to reach there. In the middle of the journey, Jinny, Winny and Tinny started to have conflict because they wanted to drink the magic water and do not want to let another to steal. Then, the devil started to smile because he has successful to provoke their relationship. Luckily, Niny, the leader of them which is lovely and kind, she started to tell them not to argue and try to persuade them but she failed because no one want to listen to her words. Few hours later, they reach the place, the devil is so exciting about the treasure that he have waited so long, so he call them to help him jump into the swamp to get it, but all of them are fighting because of the magic water. The devil can’t stand it, so he goes there and stop their fighting. When they all are pushing and pulling each other, the devil accidently felt into the swamp and he feel so painful because his weakness is cannot touch the swamp. The four genies quickly jump into it and try to save the devil, but it was too late, the devil has turn into ash. Unconsciously, Niny saw the treasure is floating on the swamp, so she take it and open it with the three other genies. After she opens it, they all smile to each other and hug each other because inside the treasure box, there was nothing inside. So, it means everything that they argue was a waste of time, and then they go back home and live happily just like before. How to cite Narrative Essay Example, Essays