Approaches in Teaching Grammar

DESCRIPTIVE vs. PRESCRIPTIVE

What is descriptive grammar?

Descriptive grammar, on the other hand, is used by linguists to model languages and make them easier to talk about. It is called descriptive because it describes what native speakers are doing with their language, and tries to build a set of rules that will model the same behavior. "describes" how language is used by its speakers. does not deal with what is good or bad language use.

 E.g.: I am older than her. Explanation: Subject pronouns (she, he, it, and so on) are paired with a verb, whereas object pronouns (her, him, it, and so on) are not. Since the phrase "than her" doesn't have a verb we can see or hear, some speakers choose an object pronoun in the context. E.g.: Me and my dad went fishing.

Examples: Many speakers pronounce -in for the (-ing) suffix In oral speech and most written language we say prepositions at the end of sentences Some dialects of English do not pronounce r after vowels In English, qualifying words often appear between the to and the verb in infinitive phrases: to boldly go where man has never gone before

Descriptive Approach
Observe principles that describe the way the language is actually spoken The goal of the descriptive approach is a description and knowledge of rules (principles) of how the language is actually spoken

What is prescriptive grammar?

Prescriptive grammar is what is taught in high school English textbooks. Its called prescriptive because it prescribes a strict set of rules for language or prescribes how speakers should use the language. Refers to the structure of a language as certain people think it should be used. Rules about the structure of a language.

 deals with what the grammarian believes to be right and wrong, good or bad language use; not following the rules will generate incorrect language

A set of rules and examples dealing with the syntax and word structures of a language,
Examples of common prescriptive rules Do not use aint Do not end a sentence with a preposition Pronounce the -ing at the end of words, not in

 E.g.: I am older than she (is older).] than' is a conjunction; it joins two like forms: "I am older" with "she is older", giving "I am older than she is older", but speakers omit the last part "is older" because it's redundant. Nevertheless, according to prescriptive grammar, 'than' functions as a conjunction, so speakers should use "she" in that context.

Prescriptive Approach
Attitudes toward language based on what is held to be correct by socially prestigious elements and by teachers This attitude evinces complete disregard for the way a community actually speaks

Similarities in Differences
Both are concerned with rules. Des.Gram (linguists): study the rules or patterns. Pres.Gram (teachers, editors): lay out rules about what they believe to be the correct or incorrect use of language.