There is no difference. Neither exists. Grammar is grammar, period.
Prescriptive grammar focuses on establishing rules for "correct" language usage, often based on traditional norms or formal standards, while descriptive grammar describes how language is actually used by speakers. Both approaches have value: prescriptive grammar can set a standard for formal communication, while descriptive grammar helps linguists understand and analyze language as it naturally evolves.
The fundamental difference between UG and prescriptive grammar is that UG is discovered -- like anything in science. People attempt to find out what the rules are that are shared by all human languages. That's UG. Prescriptive grammar is imposed. It doesn't come from scientific investigation, it comes from random, often nonsensical declarations by self-appointed "experts". UG is discovered. Prescription is made up. That's the difference. That's why one belongs to the realm of science and the other doesn't.
As a matter of prescriptive grammar, they are functionally the same. There is no reason why one is right or the other is wrong. As a matter of descriptive grammar, we can say that the phrase "If someone were to" is almost 5 times more common than the other one.
firstly, modern liguistic is DESCRIPTIVE(to describe the way people speak) , whilst traditional grammar is PRESCRIPTIVE(to prescribe the way people speak, or simply, to tell people how to speak and let people know the correct way of their speaking )secondly, tradition grammar pays more attention to the written form of language, while linguistics attaches more importance to speaking than writing.thirdly, tradtional grammar has been restricted mainly to SYNTAX, that is, the way of words making patterns to form sentences, while linguistics has a boarder scope for researching, eg. pragmatics, psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics, ect. which, accordingly, are out of the scope of traditional grammar.of course, there are other differences between the old and new appoaches to language research, such as Diachronic vs Synchronic and so....
Traditional grammar focuses on prescriptive rules for correct language usage, while functional grammar focuses on how language is used to communicate meaning in different contexts. Both approaches analyze syntax, semantics, and morphology, but functional grammar also takes into account the social and situational factors that influence language production. Another key difference is that traditional grammar is more concerned with form, while functional grammar emphasizes the function of language structures.
A descriptive grammar tries to describe the actual structures and forms of a language. A prescriptive grammar is essentially a list of linguistic do's and don'ts.
Prescriptive grammar focuses on establishing rules for "correct" language usage, often based on traditional norms or formal standards, while descriptive grammar describes how language is actually used by speakers. Both approaches have value: prescriptive grammar can set a standard for formal communication, while descriptive grammar helps linguists understand and analyze language as it naturally evolves.
No, today's dictionaries are not purely descriptive. Many dictionaries include prescriptive elements, providing guidance on language usage and proper grammar in addition to defining words. Some dictionaries also aim to reflect changes in language over time while still maintaining certain prescriptive principles.
The fundamental difference between UG and prescriptive grammar is that UG is discovered -- like anything in science. People attempt to find out what the rules are that are shared by all human languages. That's UG. Prescriptive grammar is imposed. It doesn't come from scientific investigation, it comes from random, often nonsensical declarations by self-appointed "experts". UG is discovered. Prescription is made up. That's the difference. That's why one belongs to the realm of science and the other doesn't.
As a matter of prescriptive grammar, they are functionally the same. There is no reason why one is right or the other is wrong. As a matter of descriptive grammar, we can say that the phrase "If someone were to" is almost 5 times more common than the other one.
firstly, modern liguistic is DESCRIPTIVE(to describe the way people speak) , whilst traditional grammar is PRESCRIPTIVE(to prescribe the way people speak, or simply, to tell people how to speak and let people know the correct way of their speaking )secondly, tradition grammar pays more attention to the written form of language, while linguistics attaches more importance to speaking than writing.thirdly, tradtional grammar has been restricted mainly to SYNTAX, that is, the way of words making patterns to form sentences, while linguistics has a boarder scope for researching, eg. pragmatics, psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics, ect. which, accordingly, are out of the scope of traditional grammar.of course, there are other differences between the old and new appoaches to language research, such as Diachronic vs Synchronic and so....
Traditional grammar focuses on prescriptive rules for correct language usage, while functional grammar focuses on how language is used to communicate meaning in different contexts. Both approaches analyze syntax, semantics, and morphology, but functional grammar also takes into account the social and situational factors that influence language production. Another key difference is that traditional grammar is more concerned with form, while functional grammar emphasizes the function of language structures.
descriptive grammar
Grammar is the way a language combines its elements to make sense.
Prescriptive grammarians are individuals who advocate for strict adherence to traditional grammar rules and specific language usage. They believe in upholding language standards and view language evolution as a threat to linguistic correctness.
the " ' " "s" and the space
Traditional grammar is based on the descriptive grammar used to teach Latin for centuries. Generative grammar was conceived originally as a way of describing language structures so that computers might one day communicate using human language.