In language study, what is the difference between prescriptivism and descriptivism, and which approach dominates modern linguistics?

• A. Descriptivism documents actual language use; modern linguistics tends toward descriptivism.
• B. Descriptivism imposes rules.
• C. Prescriptivism documents actual language use.
• D. Prescriptivism remains the dominant approach in all contexts.

Answer: (A)

Descriptivism describes how people actually use language, noting patterns, variation, and change without judging them. Prescriptivism, by contrast, tries to regulate language use, setting rules about what is considered correct or proper. In modern linguistics, the descriptive approach is the dominant one: researchers study real language data from speech and writing to understand structure, usage, and variation.

So, describing actual language use and leaning toward analysis of how language functions in real life is the best fit. The other statements mix up which approach does what—descriptivism does not impose rules, prescriptivism does not document usage, and prescriptivism isn’t the dominant stance in contemporary linguistic research.