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> Prescriptivism resists language evolution. Decriptivism allows the language to evolve as fast as people wish to evolve it. This is nonsense. Do you really be
by Aerbil313 4y ago
> Prescriptivism resists language evolution. Decriptivism allows the language to evolve as fast as people wish to evolve it.
This is nonsense. Do you really believe language is subject to intentional human control?
(Of course if a dictator comes and kills half a million people for things including changing language like it happened in my country, then it is, but this is a very rare exception.)
- bsaul 4y agolangage is taught in schools and by parents. It is 100% controlled by humans. you can't learn it by yourself as a baby.
- Aerbil313 4y agoI didn’t mean that. I meant evolution of language is not subject to any person’s desires or will.
- cryptonector 3y agoBut you and I can -by our own choices- resist some evolutions of the language and foster others. We can be anywhere from pedantic prescriptivists to outrageously innovative and everything in between. Our children, relatives, friends, and colleagues can all take cues from our stewardship of the language -- and vice versa.
- cryptonector 3y ago> Do you really believe language is subject to intentional human control? Some, yes. You speak roughly the same language(s) as your parents, friends, teachers, etc. Their influence on how you speak and write -especially when you were young- is quite large.