GROUP 4

Descriptive and Prescriptive

Approach

Rico Anggara Amrullah (E1D020178)

Rindi Rahmatun (E1D020180)
Rismalina Ayunda (E1D020181)
Riyadussolihatil Ulumi (E1D020182)
Rizki Desima Ardira (E1D020185)
 PRESCRIPTIVE APPROACH

Prescriptive approach refers to the rigid rules and regulations of grammar. It is

the traditional approach of grammar that tells people how to use the English
language, what forms they should utilize, and what functions they should
serve. Prescriptive grammar is essential as it helps people use formal English
speech and writing. In addition, "those who follow it (or those who endorse
others to follow it) claim that doing so will help to streamline one's words and
make one's prose more elegant" (Tamasi & Antieau, 2015, p. 24-25). Schools
aim to teach prescriptive grammar to provide people a common standard of
usage.
Examples:

• In English, less goes with mass nouns (e.g. “ less money”), and “fewer”
goes with count nouns (e.g., “ fewer items.”)

• In English, speakers should not split infinitives (e.g., “to boldly go;“)
instead, write or say (“to go boldly.”)

• In English, speakers should not use passive voice (e.g., “The meeting was
held by the university;”) instead, write or say (“The university held the
meeting.”

• In English, speakers should avoid phrasal verbs (e.g., “come over to have
some tea;”) instead, write or say (e.g., “visit me to have some tea.”)
 DESCRIPTIVE APPROACH
Descriptive approach, on the other hand, takes into account the way a language
is understood and used by the people. It is a more practical approach. This is
how native English speakers actually talk and write, and it has no concrete idea
of the way it should be structured (Tamasi & Antieau, 2015, p.28). It is not
saying how it should be used; however, it focuses on describing the English
language as it is used. It is also not saying that there is a right or wrong way to
use language. Writers mostly follow descriptive approach.
Examples:

1. English Adjective order: (opinion, size, physical quality, shape, age,

color, origin, material, type, and purpose (e.g., “This is a beautiful, small,
green, American island.”)

2. Some native speakers say:

• ~ “I am younger than him” instead of “I am younger than he.”

• ~ “He graduated American university” instead of “He graduated from

American university.

• ~ “I ain't going nowhere.” instead of “I am not going anywhere.”

To illustrate the difference between descriptive and prescriptive apptoach, let's look at the
sentence: "I ain't going nowhere." Now, to a descriptive grammarian, there's nothing wrong
with the sentence because it's being spoken by someone who is using the language to construct
a phrase that has meaning for someone else who speaks the same language.
To a prescriptive grammarian, however, that sentence is a virtual house of horrors. First, it
contains the word "ain't," which strictly speaking (and we must be strict if we're prescriptive)
is slang. So, although you'll find "ain't" in the dictionary, as the adage says, "Ain't ain't a
word." The sentence also contains a double negative (ain't and nowhere) which just
compounds the atrocity.
Simply having the word "ain't" in the dictionary is a further illustration of the difference
between the two types of grammar. Descriptive approach notes the word's use in the language,
pronunciation, meaning, and even etymology—without judgment, but in prescriptive
approach, the use of "ain't" is just plain wrong—especially in formal speaking or writing.
Would a descriptive grammarian ever say something was ungrammatical? Yes. If someone
utters a sentence using words or phrases or construction that as a native speaker they would
never even think of putting together. For instance, a native English speaker wouldn't start a
sentence with two query words—as in, "Who where are you going?"—because the result
would be unintelligible as well as ungrammatical. It's one case in which the descriptive and
prescriptive grammarians would actually agree.
 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PRESCRIPTIVE AND
DESCRIPTIVE APPROACH

• There are two distinct approaches to learning a language and are

known as prescriptive and descriptive approaches.
• Prescriptive approach is textbook knowledge and contains rigid
SUMBER KAMI
rules of grammar as it should be used.
BAHAN, ARTIKEL,
DAN•BUKU
Descriptive approach is much more lenient and takes into account
how people speak and write the language.
• Though both approaches have the same basic purpose of explaining
the rules of grammar, they do it in different ways. Descriptive
approach is mostly followed by writers while teachers and editors
are more likely to follow the prescriptive approach.
Hack Seru | Marselina Andriyani
Thank You