Decriptivists & Presciptivists

Studys of prescriptivism and descriptivism in language

12 cards·by TedHoron02

Honey

Believed that the standards of the English language are falling, whereby language is evolving all of the time; the most noticeable of course

Queen's English Society

Represented an autocratic movement and are prescriptive in their view of language and language change

Aitchison

Hypothesised that language should be preserved intact but language has never been perfect and must continue to change in order to cope with

Humphreys

Predicted that text speak will destroy the English language

Swift, Lowth & Cawdey

Contemplated that there is room for correcting, improving and ascertaining the English Language

Johnson

Accredited that prescriptivist attitudes show up in the preface of the dictionary

Millroy

Conceived that children can't speak or write properly anymore, resulting in the golden age of the English language

Truss

Invented a zero tolerance approach towards language by creating the eats, shoots and leaves sentence

Crystal

Concluded that language change is a natural process, accommodating new technology and social change, whereby it is like a tide; it brings in

Rosen

Wrote a letter arguing that the new grammar tests at KS2 level are problematic

Fry

Understood that grammar is not necessary to celebrating the diversity and beauty of the English language

Pinker

Argued that whilst it might upset some people language diversity and change are important for celebrating group identities and diversity