Definition

1. Noun:
   • A branch of linguistics that objectively analyzes and describes the structure and usage of a language at a specific point in time: "Descriptive linguistics" focuses on how a language is actually used by its speakers, without making judgments about correctness or prescribing rules. It systematically examines the phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics of a language.

Usage

• "Descriptive linguistics" is used as a singular noun to refer to the academic field or approach. It contrasts with "prescriptive linguistics."
• It is often used in academic, linguistic, and educational contexts.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The professor's research in descriptive linguistics revealed how the local dialect had evolved over the past 50 years.
  • A key principle of descriptive linguistics is to record and analyze language as it is naturally spoken.

Advanced Usage

• "to take a descriptive linguistics approach": to apply the methods of descriptive linguistics to a study.
  • The linguist decided to take a descriptive linguistics approach to understand the new slang terms.

Variants and Related Words

• Descriptive (adj): concerned with or based on description and analysis rather than prescription.
  • The grammar book provides a descriptive account of common usage.
• Descriptivist (n): a person who practices or advocates descriptive linguistics.
  • As a descriptivist, she was more interested in documenting language change than in condemning it.

Synonyms

• Linguistic description: the act or result of describing a language's structure.
• Synchronic linguistics: the study of a language at a single point in time, often associated with descriptive approaches.

Related Phrases

• Descriptive grammar: a set of rules based on how language is actually used, as opposed to how it be used.
  • The dictionary includes a descriptive grammar of contemporary English.

Contrasting Term

• Prescriptive linguistics: an approach to language that sets down rules and norms for "correct" or "proper" usage, often based on tradition or authority.

Noun

1. a description (at a given point in time) of a language with respect to its phonology and morphology and syntax and semantics without value judgments