问答题 There are two kinds of grammar based on different linguistic points of view. They are prescriptive grammar and descriptive grammar. A grammar may describe how language is actually spoken and/or written, and may not state or postulate how it ought to be spoken or written. But a grammar may also state the rules for what is considered the best or most correct usage. Which grammar is descriptive grammar, and which grammar is prescriptive grammar? Cite some examples to give your reasons.(北师大2003研)
【正确答案】正确答案:The first one is typical of descriptive grammar, while the second one is prescriptive grammar. The descriptive grammar aims to describe how people speak and detail the underlying knowledge. It is believed in descriptive grammar that whatever occurs in natural speech, such as hesitation, incomplete utterance, should be described in the analysis, and not be marked as incorrect, abnormal, or corrupt; modern linguistics is mostly descriptive. Whereas, the prescriptive approach aims to teach people how to speak, read, and write a particular language; in the 18th century, all the main European languages were studied prescriptively. For example, the statement that "in standard English, a double negative is rarely used" is a description, showing how the language is used in standard English, regardless whether it is correct or not. "You should never use a double-negative" is a typical grammar rule that prescribes what should be grammatically correct in the Standard English. As for the spelling, prescription says "judgment" is correct, but description accurately points out that "judgement" is considered by Edited English to be correct too, and a descriptive account for these two different spellings will show how the later one is used and who uses it.
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