![]() ![]() In its most general sense, prescriptivism is the view that one variety of language has an inherently higher value than others, and that this ought to be imposed on the whole of the speech community. As a result, it is easy to hurt, and to be hurt, when language use is unfeelingly attacked. No part of society or social behaviour is exempt: linguistic factors influence how we judge personality, intelligence, social status, educational standards, job aptitude, and many other areas of identity and social survival. ![]() Language, moreover, is a very public behaviour, so it is easy for different usages to be noted and criticised. Arguments can start as easily over minor points of usage as over major policies of linguistic education. And when opinions differ, emotions can run high. Language belongs to everyone, so most people feel they have a right to hold an opinion about it. Popular linguistic debate regularly deteriorates into invective and polemic. It is not easy to be systematic and objective about language study. ![]()
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