Merriam-Webster is a describe dictionary in that it aims to describe and show how words are actually used by English speakers and writers. In general, the descriptive approach to lexicology does not prescribe how words are used or lays down rules about “correctness”, unlike regulations approach.
We call it the way we see it.
Readers of our online content may sometimes encounter the juxtaposition of two basic schools of thought in lexicography: descriptivism and prescriptivism. At Merriam-Webster, we use a descriptive approach—that is, we write definitions describe or, if you wish, reflect How words are actually used by English writers and speakers. On the other hand, determinism is a tried-and-true approach prescribing (some may say suggest or even command) how words should be used. A purely normative dictionary would ignore the use of living language and rely instead on the ideas of “correctness” outlined in the “rules” that the normativeist imagines should be imposed on language.
In addition, all dictionaries can be classified as descriptive or descriptive, and some search both categories. A descriptive dictionary is a dictionary that attempts to describe how a word is used, while a prescriptive dictionary is a dictionary that specifies how a word should be used. For example, a descriptive dictionary might define desert A place with little water, such as the Sahara, while a regulatory dictionary might define it as a place that receives less than 10 inches of rain per year on average, which would make up the deserts of the North. The Pole and the South Pole, because neither of them get that much rain, although both have a lot of water, will freeze. There is more agreement between descriptive dictionaries than between regulatory dictionaries…. — Martin Naparsteck, Honesty in the use of words2005
There are two main approaches to studying usage: descriptive and descriptive. Prescriptivism involves the making of rules by people who claim to have special knowledge or feelings about a language. Regulatory advice tends to be conservative, changes being viewed with suspicion if not contempt. Description involves an objective description of how the language works as observed in real-life examples of the language. Descriptive advice—almost paradoxical—about the acceptability of a word or structure based solely on usage. If a word or expression is not found in careful and formal speech or writing, good descriptive practice requires reporting this information. — Jesse Sheidlower, AtlanticDecember 1996
Therefore, language recording and cataloging dictionaries can never be prescribed; they must always be purely descriptive, telling the language as it is and not as it should be. —Simon Winchester, Meaning of everything2003
How Descriptivism Works
The task of the descriptive lexicographer is to document the existence of words in a living language and to discover and determine how they are used by searching through the linguistic corpus.Textbook is the plural of corpus, a word for searchable text databases). The corpus of a language provides the lexicographer with evidence of how words, including those that may be considered incorrect or objectionable by some, to ruminate in their work. their identification.
In cases where a particular word is heavily denigrated (for example: Not And despite), the descriptive dictionary consultant is instructed to inform them that the use of the word may be unfavorable. At the entry for despitewe provide a paragraph in which we note that the use of the word still faces considerable resistance, and we even go as far as to advise readers to use notwithstanding instead—this is roughly the same as we put the usage policy in our dictionary.
As language descriptors, we aim to provide objective and accurate reports on how words are used today and how they were used in the past. We are English language scribes, not prescribers, and we are happy to share our findings with you.
Categories: Usage Notes
Source: vothisaucamau.edu.vn
