When someone corrects someone else’s language - this is prescriptivism. It’s the idea that there are right and wrong ways of using language.

We don’t just judge people’s language use for being correct or incorrect, though. There are a number of related judgements too. Maybe we associate a certain accent with the middle class. Or think that people who make spelling mistakes are lazy or less intelligent. This too is prescriptivism.

what is prescriptivism?

  • How we speak, write and sign reflects parts of our identity, such as our regional origins, gender, and ethnicity.

    With prescriptivism often going unquestioned, the associated judgements and social consequences, including reduced potential for social mobility and respect for diversity, also often go unquestioned.

prescriptivism

is

everywhere

When we think about prescriptivism, we might think about grammar books and style guides which instruct people on how to use a language.

But prescriptivism is found in so many other everyday contexts:

In conversations with friends, family and maybe even strangers

On TV, in films, on the radio and in podcasts

In song lyrics

In newspapers and magazines

In all genres of books

Even in graffiti

three different forms

In my research, I’m interested in how prescriptivism comes up in popular culture.

In particular, I’m trying to find examples of three different ways this happens:

1. Correcting someone's language use.

It’s not ‘their’, it’s ‘there’. Don’t drop the Ts in ‘butter’ or the H in ‘hotel’. You might see people correcting other people’s language use, or even correcting their own.

2. Making judgements about language use

You might see or hear people making positive or negative judgements about language use. Again this might be someone else’s or their own.

Maybe it’s linking a certain accent to being posh or rich. Or a judgement about a person’s level of education based on their spelling. Or simply saying they like or dislike the way someone speaks.

3. Judging people who judge language

You might also find examples of people judging prescriptivists, calling them pedants, perhaps, or praising them for protecting the language.

I’m sure there are others ways that I haven’t thought of too!

If you see anything that you think might be relevant, you can let me know about it using this form!