In Defence of Prescriptivism

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I thought I’d try something ever so slightly different with this one, this is kind of an introductory exploration of prescriptivism and the debates surrounding it. I think I communicate my own opinions on the topic effectively enough, but the script is a bit more meandering than usual, rather than leading up to a single conclusion as I usually try to do. I would also like to note that I don’t make much of a separation between spoken and written language in this video, because I do not find it instructive or particularly important to do so. Consensus is changed and influenced at different rates and in different ways, but the idea of consensus is still key to them both.

A sequel to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3PT_GBL0CQ&t=1s

The video took a while for reasons largely outside of my control, let’s say on the periphery of my control, but that’s how it is.

Thanks to my patrons!! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=73482298

Sources:

Harris Interactive. (2016). « Les Français et l’orthographe : Enquête Harris Interactive pour L'OBS ». Available from: https://harris-interactive.fr/opinion_polls/les-francais-et-l-orthographe/#:~:text=Des%20Fran%C3%A7ais%20qui%20estiment%20majoritairement,mauvais%20et%201%25%20tr%C3%A8s%20mauvais

Jamet, C. & Pech, M. (2016). «Ognon», «nénufar», accent circonflexe: la réforme surprise de l'orthographe. Le Figaro. Available from: https://www.lefigaro.fr/actualite-france/2016/02/04/01016-20160204ARTFIG00080-la-reforme-de-l-orthographe-de-1990-fait-son-entree-dans-les-manuels-de8230-2016.php

Lobin, H. (2021). "Much ado about spelling: The tumultuous German spelling reform". Word! The Language Column. Goethe-Institut. Available from: https://www.goethe.de/prj/ger/en/kre/spk/22289860.html

Locher, M. (2008). "The rise of prescriptive grammars in the 18th century". In: Locher, M. & Strässler, J. (eds.), Standards and Norms in the English Language, p. 127–147. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter.

Mun D. H. (2023). "Daily NK obtains the full text of the Pyongyang Cultural Language Protection Act". Daily NK. Available from: https://www.dailynk.com/english/daily-nk-obtains-full-text-pyongyang-cultural-language-protection-act/

Oxford English Dictionary. "About the OED". [Last accessed 20/10/2024]. Available from: https://www.oed.com/information/about-the-oed/

Oxford English Dictionary. "water": Pronunciation. [Last accessed 20/10/2024]. Available from: https://www.oed.com/dictionary/water_n?tab=pronunciation#15025239

Sanahuja Cobacho, N.; Sabater, J. & Josep, M. (dir.) (2018). "The Increasing Use of t-glottalling in Received Pronunciation". Grau en Estudis d'Anglès i de Francès, p 63.

Spiegel. (2000). "68 Prozent gegen die neue Rechtschreibung". Spiegel Kultur. Available from: https://www.spiegel.de/kultur/gesellschaft/umfrage-68-prozent-gegen-die-neue-rechtschreibung-a-87579.html

00:00 – Introduction
03:09 – Prescriptions Are Useful
04:03 – Institutional Prescriptivism
06:55 – Consensus Prescriptivism
10:02 – The Oxford English Dictionary
11:08 – Status
12:27 – Prescriptivism Is Good, Actually
15:25 – Credits

Written and created by me
Art by kvd102
Music by me.

#linguistics #language