DESCRIPTIVE AND PRESCRIPTIVE GRAMMAR

NOR AIN MANAF PAVITHRAN NUR ATHIRAH SHAFIE

DEFINITION

Descriptive - A grammar that "describes" how language is used by its speakers. - the way a language is actually used by its speakers and then attempts to analyze it and formulate rules about the structure.

Prescriptive - A grammar that "prescribes" how speakers should use the language. - lays out rules about the structure of a language

DESCRIPTIVE GRAMMAR

Descriptive grammar does not deal with what is good or bad language use but forms and structures that might not be used by speakers of Standard English would be regarded as valid and included It is a grammar based on the way a language actually is and not how some think it should be.

PRESCRIPTIVE GRAMMAR

A prescriptive grammar lays out rules about the structure of a language. It deals with what the grammarian believes to be right and wrong, good or bad language use Not following the rules will generate incorrect language.

ADVANTAGES
DESCRIPTIVE

PRESCRIPTIVE

the learner can understand how a native speaker uses the language. Helps them to improve their pronunciation and they start to sound like a native speaker. When the learners talk with a native speaker, they will not get confuse because of usage difference of the language.

more helpful for both nonnative teachers and learners. reduces confusion and ambiguity among students. for beginners learners, it is very useful to be taught how a language should be used.

DISADVANTAGES
DESCRIPTIVE

PRESCRIPTIVE
Learners will be confused when they talk with a native speaker. They will realize that natives do not use the rules in the grammar books. People who learn prescriptive grammar cannot be able to speak or write like a native speaker because they only uses standard grammar books and they do not know how the native speakers use the language. They will probably get bored of learning grammar rules all the time, because prescriptive grammar mostly deals with rules.

the rules are not precise, they are ambiguous, more flexible and changeable in descriptive grammar. difficult for teachers to decide which dialect, which usage of a language to teach. difficulty in communicating with a native speaker from a different part of the country.