Linguistics August 15

LINGUISTICS - GROUP 01
AUGUST 15, 2023
MRS. FLOR ELENA DE MINERO

PRESCRIPTIVE AND
DESCRIPTIVE LANGUAGE
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The primary distinction between both types is
that prescriptive explains how speakers should use
language whereas, descriptive describes how
language is used. Linguistics is the study of language
and its structure from a scientific standpoint,
including syntax, vocabulary, and phonetics.
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What is Prescriptive Linguistics?
The term prescriptive linguistic refers to a set of

norms or rules governing how a language
should or should not be used. Rather than
describing the ways in which a language is used.
Contrast with descriptive grammar also called
normative grammar and prescriptivism.
A person who says how people should write or
speak is called prescriptive linguistics/grammarian.
In other words, descriptive languages do not advise,

they describe the ways in which indigenous speakers
use their language. Descriptive language is a language
test.
Distinctive Features of Human Language.
The principal features of human language are

somewhat distinctive to other languages, especially
that of animals. Some of these features are
specifically attached to human beings. As an
inseparable part of human community, language
has developed science and technology in an
impressive way.
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Social.
In this sense, language is a set of communication signals

by humans in a community. It acts as a representation of
a social group, consisting consensus which allows its
members to interact and to cooperate with each other.
Language constructs social identity and social institution.
It aims at developing culture and establishing human
relations.
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Tool of communication.
Language is the best means of all self-expression. It is
the purpose of language to practice communication
(Hanks 1996). With language we are able to
communicate ideas, feelings and desires to other
people in our community or with other modern or
ancient cultures.
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Productivity.
Language is the process of production. We speak and write to
express thoughts that enable neither speaker nor hearers may both
understand without any difficulties. The language changes, accordingly,
meeting the demands and needs of speech community. It is highly
elaborated effort to produce linguistic units to serve a specific
purpose of communication. This means that the ability of human to
produce new and novel expressions to describe new objects is
infinite and unlimited
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Creativity.
By creativity means that humans can talk about topics

and places that can be seen (tangible) or cannot be
seen (intangible/abstract). Human creates messages
because they can practice the already established
linguistic grammatical units into a new semantic and
communicative aims. Language also triggers creativity
and serve as “the art of common talk” (Carter 2015)
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Arbitrary.
This feature is likely one of the most intriguing one

because it entails the fact that both spoken and written
communications of human language are unique. There is
no linear, inherent or logical relation or uniformity.
Different languages of the world create no direct
connection or in other word no natural link between the
linguistic form and the comprehension or the meaning.
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Symbolic.
A symbol stands for something, a substitution. Language

is therefore a symbol for concepts, things, ideas, objects
and anything that it can represent. It consists of various
sound symbols that are used to denote the objects,
events or meanings. Language holds symbolic power
(Bourdieu and Thompson 1991) and acts as a symbol for
human action.
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Systematic.
The following feature of human language is systematic.

Language is designed systematically. It arranged in
particular system and rules. Every language in this world
has its own consensus to be pronounced or specific
regulation in writing. The emergence of grammar is
evidence that language is naturally systematic and
structured (Goodman 1999).
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Vocal or verbal.
A systematic language requires a complicated

speech organ to produce a set of various sounds.
Only humans are innately given the speech organ to
do such things. Human language is primarily
equipped with vocal sounds as the initial skill
produced by physiological articulatory mechanism.
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Exercise 1. Discuss in the virtual
group, what distinguish language
and linguistics?
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To study linguistics is to expand our insight into one of
the most central parts of being a human: to be able to
communicate through language. By studying linguistics,
or will be able to know how language operates, how
language is employed and how language is changed and
preserved. Linguistics uses the scientific method of
language study that embraces more than form, meaning
and context.
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LINGUISTICS - GROUP 01

AUGUST 15, 2023

MRS. FLOR ELENA DE MINERO

The term prescriptive linguistic refers to a set of

In other words, descriptive languages do not advise,

The principal features of human language are

In this sense, language is a set of communication signals

By creativity means that humans can talk about topics

This feature is likely one of the most intriguing one

A symbol stands for something, a substitution. Language

The following feature of human language is systematic.

A systematic language requires a complicated

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